Department of Chemistry rated third in nation for percentage of female faculty

Wayne State University's Department of Chemistry has been rated third in the country for its percentage of female faculty by the Open Chemistry Collaborative in Diversity Equity (OXIDE).

For years, STEM fields have been a male-dominated, but with help from OXIDE, a diversity equity initiative co-funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy, women are making great strides across the country in gaining representation among chemistry faculty.

"I think it is important to have women represented in STEM fields for a variety of reasons, including the promotion of a diverse and inclusive environment that is supportive of people from a variety of backgrounds," says Matthew Allen, the chair of the Department of Chemistry.

Simply having more women in the STEM fields isn't enough for Wayne State. Instead, WSU supports the growth, development and overall success of their faculty as well.

"We need to see them progressing into leadership roles, and we need to see that women faculty are winning national awards, that they're getting nominated at the appropriate rate, and that they're successful in all aspects of their career, not just landing the job," says Andrew Feig, a professor of chemistry.

By Carly Adams, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences communications associate