University of Texas at Austin
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

Through the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement (DDCE), the university recruits diverse through the thematic faculty hiring initiative. The Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement works with colleges and schools to identify gaps in scholarships and works to recruit and provide funding for faculty to fill those gaps. Quite often the gaps are in areas that diverse faculty are prominent. For example recent thematic hires included a professor of nursing whose research examines healthcare in Asian American populations and a professor of pharmacy who has been researching the smoking habits of African American college students. The DDCE also provides additional funding for 12-14 faculty members each year who are involved in research or service that supports underserved populations. For example, several of our faculty fellows are involved in projects that help ensure Pre-K-12 students of color advance through the education pipeline; another directs the Social Justice Institute; another engages diverse populations in scientific discussions around issues such as environmental equity, weather forecasting, global warming, space travel, primate behavior, etc. DDCE also provides support for an average of 15 graduate students from diverse backgrounds. These students work as graduate research assistants and graduate assistants in a number of DDCE programs, ranging from the Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence which supports first-generation students to the division’s communications office. The majority are working on doctorates in higher education administration.