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Faculty Diversity
Theodore J. Sheskin
To The Editor:
Academe reports in the Nota Bene section of the November–December issue that in the last decade faculty diversification has not progressed in top departments of chemistry, chemical engineering, and physics. Although the number of Ph.D.’s awarded to blacks has more than doubled, only one black assistant professor has been hired by a top chemistry department in that time. Several chemistry department chairs assert that the pool of candidates of underrepresented minorities remains very small. Others suggest that universities cannot match salaries offered by industry. One step that universities can take to address this issue is to encourage black graduate students in science education to change their majors to science or engineering. These students have already demonstrated an aptitude for science and a commitment to a career in teaching. Incentives such as offers of financial assistance and mentoring may persuade them to pursue careers as university professors of science.
Theodore J. Sheskin
(Industrial Engineering)
Cleveland State University
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