The Graduate School Experience for Women in Mathematics

• National Information– Read “Has the Women-in-Mathematics

Problem been Solved?• Allyn Jackson, Notices of the AMS, August 2004

• Nebraska’s Story– Before and After Data– The environment for women as described by

former students

Women Faculty in Mathematics Departments

• In 1991, Science magazine reported that the “top ten” U.S. mathematics departments had 303 tenured professors – 4 were women

• 17% of the Ph.D.s awarded in mathematics from 1982 – 1991 went to women

• In 2004, these “top ten” departments have about 300 tenured professors – 16 are women.

• 26% of the Ph.D.s awarded in mathematics from 1995 – 2003 went to women

Who awards Ph.D.s to Women in Mathematics?

• 20% of the Ph.D. granting departments awarded 47% of all Ph.D.s in mathematics. These 36 (of 178) departments awarded 60 or more Ph.D.s during the 8 year period, July 1995 – June 2003.– But only 21% of their Ph.D.s went to women – well

below the national average of 26%– Only 4 of these 36 departments awarded more than 26%

of their Ph.D.s to women• Nebraska – 41.3%• SUNY Stony Brook (AM) – 31.7%• Maryland – 27.4%• UC-San Diego – 27.3%

Nebraska’s Story• Ancient History:

– Prior to 1980, 4 women earned the Ph.D.– 1980s, 23 men, 0 women earned the Ph.D.

• Starting in 1988:– An emphasis on recruiting women.– A new attitude:

If you create a positive, supportiveenvironment in which qualified peopleare expected to succeed, they will.

The Results

• Change takes time– 1 woman received a PhD between Fall 1988

and May 1994

• Last 9 Years – 26 Ph.D.s awarded to women, 39 awarded to

men– 13 of last 26 Ph.D.s awarded to women

What Does it Take?

• A change in attitude (leadership is important)If you create a positive, supportive environment in which qualified people are expected to succeed, they will.– “At first I couldn’t imagine why they would have such confidence

in me, when I had no confidence in myself, but gradually their faithful support wore down my stubborn streak, and I began to believe that I had the ability to succeed in graduate school.”

• A critical mass – “I have felt at home ever since I came to UNL … because being a

female student in this department is nothing unusual … I don’t feel the pressure of having to represent my entire gender as an isolated female in a sea of male mathematicians.”

Comments From Former Students• “It is the consistently supportive, encouraging environment

that makes the department a success in all its endeavors to promote women in mathematics.”

• “The graduate school environment was incredibly supportive, due not only to direct faculty support of students, but also to a strong sense of community among the graduate students. Every graduate student in the program benefits from it.”

• “The environment in the department was wonderful for both women and men. Having a student body which resembles a random sampling of all people contributed to the positive atmosphere.”

• “I have two children, and the faculty of the department has always been flexible and understanding when designing my work schedules.”

Reflections From a Former Chair

What are the secrets to our success?• Job 1. We made it a priority to strengthen the graduate

program, with an emphasis on recruiting women students.• Focus on positive things. We created cash awards for the

outstanding first year student, outstanding qualifying exam, outstanding GTA teacher. We provide funds for students to travel to national meetings.

• A supportive environment. We let students know that we believe they have the potential to be successful and that we want them to succeed.

• Everyone benefited. By focusing on the goal of being more successful at recruiting and retaining female graduate students, we have, in fact, made our program more successful for all students – male and female.

Two programs to consider

• Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics– February 4-6, 2005

• IMMERSE (An anticipated MCTP award.)– Nebraska Intensive Mathematics: a Mentoring,

Education, and Research Summer Experience