Penn’s Action Plan for Faculty Diversity and Excellence made a commitment to create a fund in support of interdisciplinary research on topics related to equity, inclusion and diversity. This Penn Excellence through Diversity Fund was established in the 2012-2013 academic year. Seven projects were funded in its inaugural cycle, in support of both faculty research and initiatives to advance the pipeline to the professoriate of members of historically underrepresented groups. The projects, listed with principal investigators, are:
• “The Penn Pathways” faculty development program provides an opportunity for approximately 20 assistant professors in STEM fields to address fundamental challenges in STEM careers and leadership development. Stephanie Abbuhl (Medicine) and Stewart Friedman (Wharton).
• “The Penn Program for LGBT Health” will develop an LGBT health program at Penn with the goals of improving LGBT institutional climate and visibility, patient care, research, health education and community outreach. Baligh Yehia (Medicine).
• “Imaging the African American Nurse” will create and develop an interpretive website chronicling the experiences, challenges and accomplishments of African-American professional registered nurses during the era of segregation. Jean Whelan (Nursing).
• “Diversity in Academic Nursing: A Time to Build” is a forum that will assemble diversity officers from leading schools of nursing to discuss strategies and best practices to promote and sustain diversity, primarily in academic nursing faculties. Nancy Tkacs (Nursing).
• “The Summer Undergraduate Research Program” is a ten-to-twelve-week summer internship that will introduce promising undergraduates to research in health services, population health, and clinical epidemiology. Mark Pauly (Wharton).
• “The Ward: Race and Class in Du Bois’ Seventh Ward” is a research, teaching and public history project committed to continuing W.E.B. Du Bois’ unfinished work of promoting the full humanity of all people. Amy Hillier (Design).
• “Introduction to Diversity in Doctoral Education and Scholarship (IDDEAS)” is a two-day program that seeks to attract a diverse group of prospective doctoral students and introduce them to business research at the doctoral level. Eric Bradlow (Wharton).
• The School of Dental Medicine’s partnership with the School District of Philadelphia’s Randolph Career and Technical High School and Hampton University brings students from underrepresented backgrounds to Penn to learn more about careers in dentistry. Beverley Crawford (Dental Medicine).
• The Alliance of Minority Physicians aims to develop leaders in clinical, academic and community medicine, through active recruitment, career development, mentorship, social opportunities and community outreach geared toward underrepresented minority faculty, house staff and medical students. Iris Reyes (Medicine).