Advocates and Allies

The Advocates and Allies project at RIT is specifically designed for academic settings to support men faculty, in consultation with women faculty, in gender-equity efforts.

In 2015, RIT created the Advocates and Allies program through funding from the National Science Foundation Grant No. 1500604 titled, “Engaging Male Colleagues in Institutional Transformation for the Advancement of Women Faculty.” The Advocates and Allies project at RIT is based on an innovative approach designed by North Dakota State University to involve faculty men intentionally in the transformation of departmental cultures and practices. Our method, based on the NDSU approach, is specifically designed for academic settings to support men faculty, in consultation with women faculty, in gender-equity efforts and includes two essential components:

  1. Recognize the implicit and explicit intersectional manifestations of gendered discrimination
  2. Effectively and systematically generate individual behaviors and institutional policies that interrupt inequities and foster gender justice.
     

Mission


The mission of the Advocates and Allies program is:

  1. Introduce men to knowledge, skills, and strategies to effect positive personal, departmental, and institutional change
  2. Emphasize men working with other men while maintaining accountability to women
  3. Build a supportive network of men allies who are committed to gender equity 

Nearly 100 RIT faculty men have attended Ally training and taken action, primarily within their own department. Common actions taken include:

  • Speaking up at meetings regarding gender diversity and equity
  • Act as an active bystander to support an inclusive, civil work environment
  • Invite women colleagues to collaborate on research
  • Nominate women colleagues for awards
  • Serve on a committee as a gender equity proponent in place of their women colleagues to reduce the inequity of service loads
     

Tips for Being an Advocate and Ally

Advocates are faculty men who support faculty women by working toward improving gender diversity and equity. These advocates have a strong commitment to supporting women faculty in their department, colleges, and the university. They are aware of institutional dynamics and structural bias while showing an interest in learning about issues of discrimination and privilege in the workplace. The advocates are active and effective proponents of gender diversity and equity.

  • Faculty men with a strong commitment and record of supporting women faculty in their department, colleges, and the university
  • Active and effective proponents of gender diversity and equity
  • Committed to increasing their understanding of gender bias and its impact on the academic careers of women.
  • Expected to have an awareness of the dynamics of institutional and structural bias and privilege and be interested in learning about issues of discrimination and privilege in the workplace.
  • A group that meets regularly (monthly) and works toward specific goals and outcomes, discusses recommended readings and case studies and is involved in the development and delivery of training programs for male faculty who are interested in becoming Allies.

Here are suggested actions that one can take to be an ally for women faculty:

  • Tell women (and men) faculty that you are an ally
  • Ask women faculty about their experience with departmental climate, and listen to their answer
  • Ensure women faculty members have equal opportunity to speak during meetings
  • Ensure women faculty are invited to informal departmental gatherings
  • Talk to women faculty about their research
  • Nominate qualified women for awards, honors, and positions
  • Volunteer to serve on promotion, tenure, faculty search, and other committees with specific purpose of being an ally for gender equity
     

Workshop Offerings

Upcoming workshops

Recent Past Events

This workshop explored the factors that underlie underrepresentation of women faculty in the STEM academic workplace and the arguments for the changes needed in the academy in order for women to fully participate. Participants were engaged in active discussions which were culminated in highlighting actions and what participants could do to get started.

Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing by Corbett and Hill explores the factors that underlie underrepresentation of women in the engineering and computing workplace. This repost argues for changes in the academy in order for women’s full participation. The report emphasizes the need to combat stereotypes and biases, emphasize the social relevance of STEM, cultivating a sense of belonging and changing the environment.

The teaching circle dedicated to systematically reviewed the chapters in the report, connecting the content to RIT and reflecting on action that we could take to change the work environment.
 

Breakfast brainstorming session among the Advocates and AdvanceRIT Director. Focus of discussion was on programing for the following year, recap of the past year, and possible strategies to expand Advocate and Allies participation.

Resources

Poster and Guides

Bias and Gender Diversity Quick Reads 

PI Team and Advisory Board

Betsy Dell

Professor
Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
College of Engineering Technology

Carol Marchetti

Professor
School of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Science

Marcos Esterman

Adjunct Faculty
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Margaret Bailey

Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Sharon Mason

Professor
School of Information
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences

Elena Sommers

Principal Lecturer
Department of English
College of Liberal Arts

Laura Shackelford

Professor
Department of English
College of Liberal Arts

Lea Michel

Professor
School of Chemistry and Materials Science
College of Science

Robert Garrick

Department Chair
Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology
College of Engineering Technology

Silvia Benso

Professor
Department of Philosophy
College of Liberal Arts

Taj Smith

Executive Director for Culture and Diversity Education
Diversity and Inclusion

College of Liberal Arts

Javier Espinosa

Associate Professor
Department of Economics
College of Liberal Arts

Michael Laver

Professor
Department of History
College of Liberal Arts

Vincent Serravallo

Associate Professor
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
College of Liberal Arts

College of Science

Larry Buckley

Senior Associate Dean
Dean’s Office
College of Science

Nathan Cahill

Professor
School of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Science

Christopher Collison

Professor
School of Chemistry and Materials Science
College of Science

Scott Franklin

Professor
School of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science

Golisano College of Computing and Information Science

Rajendra Raj

Professor
Department of Computer Science
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences

Stephen Zilora

Professor
School of Information
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences

Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Marcos Esterman

Adjunct Faculty
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Edward Brown

Associate Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering

Ruben Proano

Associate Professor
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
Kate Gleason College of Engineering