A sponsorship action plan for increasing diversity in STEMM
Wilhelmina M Huston1, Charles G Cranfield1, Shari L Forbes2
1Faculty of Sciences, School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia.
Ecology and Evolution
|March 21, 2019
Summary
Sponsorship can effectively advance women and marginalized groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM) academia. This paper proposes an institutional action plan to implement sponsorship programs, detailing program elements, activities, and selection criteria for leaders.
Area of Science:
- Academic leadership and diversity initiatives.
- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) fields.
Background:
- Significant structural and cultural barriers hinder women and marginalized groups' advancement to leadership in STEMM academia.
- Existing interventions to address this inequity have shown variable success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose sponsorship as a potentially effective intervention to overcome academic leadership barriers.
- To outline a detailed institutional action plan for implementing a sponsorship program in academia.
Main Methods:
- The proposed action plan details three core components for implementation: program elements, typical sponsorship activities in academia, and selection processes for sponsors and protégés.
- The plan is designed for institutional adoption but can also guide individual academic leaders.
Main Results:
- Sponsorship, when implemented through a deliberate institutional program, is suggested as a powerful strategy to promote diversity and inclusion.
- The action plan provides a structured framework for establishing and managing sponsorship initiatives.
Conclusions:
- Implementing a structured sponsorship program is a viable strategy to address the underrepresentation of women and marginalized groups in STEMM leadership.
- The proposed action plan offers a practical guide for academic institutions and leaders committed to fostering diversity and inclusion.
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