Call for Nominations: Director of Women in Science & Engineering
From Dr. Gloria Waters, University Provost and Chief Academic Officer
The Office of the Provost invites nominations and applications from the BU professoriate for the position of director of the next generation of what was previously known as ARROWS (Advance, Recruit, Retain, and Organize Women in STEM). The new organization, tentatively titled WISE (Women in Science & Engineering), will have the primary mission of helping to recruit, retain, and develop faculty.
The director of WISE will work collaboratively at the University and unit levels to develop a variety of activities, groups, and support mechanisms for women in STEM and STEM-adjacent fields across our campuses. This will include direct work with relevant deans and department chairs as the provost’s designee – to help grow and sustain pro-active efforts ensuring greater representation of women faculty in these fields. The director will also oversee a portfolio of opportunities to raise awareness about issues affecting women in STEM and STEM-adjacent research fields, including professional development workshops and skills-building exercises; lectures, seminars and panels featuring leaders inside and outside of BU; information sessions to advertise resources and funding opportunities; and forums for discussing and applying best practices concerning women in these areas of study.
Competitive candidates will have:
- Excellent scholarly credentials;
- A demonstrated commitment to STEM-associated research and education;
- A record of advocating for and supporting the success of women in STEM and adjacent areas;
- The ability to articulate the mission and value of WISE to various groups, including undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty,
- University leadership, and national stakeholders;
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different academic fields and with administrative units around the University; and
- A commitment to creating and sustaining a vibrant, diverse community of students, staff, and faculty.
Candidates should hold the rank of associate or full professor. The appointment is for a three-year renewable term, with an intended start date no later than July 1, 2025, and possibly earlier. The position is part-time, includes a stipend, and reports to the associate provost for faculty affairs. Applications should include a CV; a cover letter addressed to Associate Provost Maureen O’Rourke explaining the candidate’s interest in and qualifications for the position; and providing names, email addresses, and phone numbers of at least three references.
If you would like to nominate a colleague, please include a formal letter of nomination and a CV for that individual. Additionally, if you know of a colleague who may be interested in this role, please share this announcement with them. All interested candidates and nominators should submit applications and nominations to apfac@bu.edu with a copy to provost@bu.edu on or before February 24, 2025. I will appoint a small committee to review applications and interview promising candidates.