Creating a more diverse faculty
Last year, Yale added 28 world-class scholars, teachers, researchers, and mentors to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). These appointments have enhanced the professoriate and significantly increased diversity at the Graduate School.
The newest hires are almost evenly divided by gender: 15 men and 13 women, including two women in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology; one in computer science; one in statistics; one in economics; and one in philosophy—all departments where women have been underrepresented. Three of the new hires are of African descent and six are of East Asian or South Asian descent. To further promote diversity, Yale created a deputy provost for faculty development and diversity who has met with each of the FAS tenure appointment and promotions committees to train them on issues surrounding diversity, including best practices for overcoming implicit bias.
At a meeting of the department chairs, Tamar Gendler, dean of the FAS, announced a three-year initiative that includes adding eight additional “half slots” each year to enable departments to hire faculty over and above their normal slots. These half-slots, if combined with existing ones, could bring as many as 24 additional faculty members to the university who will enhance diversity, promote interdisciplinary studies, and strengthen Yale in other ways.
More recently, in response to student debate on campus, both the College and the Graduate School are collaborating with faculty to diversify and expand undergraduate course offerings. This initiative benefits both the undergraduate curriculum and the graduate students who will learn to teach across a broader array of cultural concerns. The Graduate School will also be offering substantial additional fellowship funding to recruit students from underrepresented groups.
Teaching fellows
Learning to teach is a fundamental part of a graduate education. At Yale, all doctoral students serve as teaching fellows, and although the timing and nature of assignments vary by department and program, the goal is the same across all disciplines: to prepare future faculty members and professionals to communicate their expertise and transmit their skills to students, colleagues, and the general public. This year, 11 graduate students, chosen by their own students and supervising faculty, were celebrated as Prize Teaching Fellows. The honorees were Anya Adair (English), Andrew Hogan (history), Susanna Kimport (math), Ah Rume (Julie) Park (cellular biology), Mark Rodgers (music), Raphael Sarfati (applied physics), Tomoaki Sasaki (pharmacology), Kamala Schelling (music), Julie Sinclair (chemistry), Kyle Skinner (Italian), and Arber Tasimi (psychology).
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