Advocates and Allies are faculty committed to taking personal action in support of women and gender equity. This initiative equips faculty with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to drive positive change at personal, departmental, and organizational levels.
According to research published by PLOS ONE, women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM faculty positions across U.S. regions and disciplines, with pronounced disparities between tenure-track and instructor roles. On average, only 19.6% of tenure/tenure-track faculty in U.S. engineering colleges are women, underscoring persistent gender imbalances in academia.
Promoting gender equity in STEM not only enables women and non-binary faculty to thrive professionally but also enhances diversity and innovation within academic environments. Achieving equity requires concerted efforts from everyone, particularly male faculty, who constitute the majority in STEM fields.
In collaboration with Dr. Roger Green and Dr. Canan Bilen-Green from North Dakota State University—recognized leaders in developing programming to support gender equity in STEM—we hosted the “Allies for Gender Equity in STEM Workshops” for NYU faculty in October 2024. These interactive sessions addressed workplace inequities faced by female-identifying and non-binary faculty, often perpetuated by male-identifying colleagues, and provided participants with actionable tools to foster a more equitable and inclusive academic environment at NYU.
_____________________________________________________________
NYU Advocates and Allies Project Seeks New Advocates
The NYU Advocates and Allies Program solicits applications or nominations of faculty to serve as advocates, commencing in the spring of 2025. Faculty from any demographic or rank are welcome to apply, and we encourage candidates who identify as belonging to traditionally dominant gender groups to apply.
Advocates and Allies are dedicated to personal action in support of gender equity and individuals from traditionally non-dominant genders. Our programs provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to effect positive personal, unit, and organizational change. We emphasize collaborative efforts while maintaining accountability to gender-non-dominant individuals. Allies are trained to promote gender equity through personal and local actions. Advocates, who have an established record of support for gender equity, dedicate time and effort to the Advocates and Allies program. Like Allies, Advocates are committed to personal and local action, but they also lead Ally workshops, organize Advocates and Allies activities, and collaborate with colleagues to establish Advocates and Allies priorities and strategies. Advocates join a community of likeminded faculty and staff who care deeply about equity in STEM and want to help realize significant changes here at NYU.
To apply or make a nomination, please submit a concise paragraph outlining why the applicant would be an effective advocate. Submit applications or nominations to James Canary at canary@nyu.edu.
