Auburn is hosting a conference in honor of diversity research in Auburn Oct 29th and 30th at the Auburn University Hotel and conference center.

Speakers from all over the U.S. and Auburn’s own researchers are coming together to share their experiences and discuss current affairs in diversity research that is relevant to understanding the differences that matter.

Allison-Jones Farmer is one of the many faculty members at Auburn University currently conducting diversity research. As associate professor in the College of Business her initiative is the study of retention issues regarding women in colleges of business.


Find more videos like this on The Loveliest Village
“We are focusing on women nationwide who have obtained a PhD. In accounting and have left the tenure-track program.” said Farmer.

Researchers at Berkley have been studying this phenomena and have reported that, “Statistical information shows that at nearly every stage of an academic career – from securing a tenure track position to achieving associate and full professor status – married women (both with and without young children) leak out of the academic pipeline at a disproportionately high rate,” according to UC’s initiative website.

Many reports have come out lately that suggest that parenting and academic careers can be difficult. The same goes for many career options. With more and more women receiving PhDs it is important that these great minds can be used to help further education utilize their intelligence.

UC discusses in their recent initiative that although women now earn 50% of PhDs granted to U.S. citizens, women remain significantly underrepresented among tenure-track and tenured faculty.

At UC women represent only 27% of all tenure-track faculties. This is why they have launched an extensive program that encompasses many changes and policy creations. With changes in demographics there must be changes in policy.

This is important for any college to adapt if it wants to keep these productive contributors that can enhance research and growth within the university.

“Colleges and universities need to address both the structural and cultural issues necessary to provide flexible career paths which meet the needs of both the institution and faculty,” said Kathleen Christensen, program director for Workplace, Workforce and Working Families at The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

“Policies alone will not achieve the flexibility to attract and retain the best and the brightest and remain competitive in the global economy. What is needed is a profound change in cultural norm in which flexibility is viewed as a strategic mean to achieve institutional excellence.”

With more and more women receiving PhDs it is important that these great minds can be used to help further education utilize their intelligence. It is important for every college to invest time and support in their faculty.

Diversity research at Auburn covers a wide variety of issue which makes Auburn on the cutting edge of bring equality and awareness. Support in this felid of research is both essential and intriguing.