Current Statistics
National-level data presented by the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences indicate that women and minorities are seriously underrepresented in STEM faculties, and that their proportions decline rapidly at higher ranks (e.g. full professors).
Iowa State’s institutional research data show that women are even fewer and farther between in STEM departments at Iowa State. The following stsatistics show proportions of women faculty both nationally and at ISU.
- At the national level, women constitute 43% of junior faculty, and 28% of senior faculty in STEM fields.
- At ISU, women constitute about 46% of junior faculty (assistant and associate professors), and only 9% of senior faculty.
- More specifically in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, women make up only 10% of senior faculty.
Both the NSF and the NAS have identified diversification of the professorate as a very high priority for the U.S. to maintain its position of scientific and engineering leadership.
