~Mercedes Cevallos/Contributing Writer
The School of Integrated Science and Humanity has announced that Susan Basow, professor of psychology at Lafayette College, will be the keynote speaker at the fifth Annual FIU Women Faculty Leadership Institute.
This event is designed to develop leadership and empower female students at FIU, as well as connect them with women leaders in their area of interest.
Basow is a social and clinical psychologist with a special interest in the psychology of gender. She has led research on the effects of gender on people’s perceptions of others and has studied such diverse topics as women’s body ideals and homophobia in both genders.
In this presentation, the provost’s Council for the Advancement of Women and Minority Faculty will discuss the steps they have taken in the past year to advance the careers of women faculty at FIU.
Followed by the discussion, the panelists will organize small groups to debate and identify goals and strategies that participants would recommend to enhance promotion, equity, and leadership opportunities for women and minority faculty.
In her session, Basow will talk about gender and teaching evaluations, while sharing how to succeed in a competitive and challenging world.
Melinda Hoder, director of communications for SISH, explains how FIU supports women and minorities in the field of science — offering grants to students.
The University’s National Science Foundation provides grants to students with the purpose of conducting researches.
“The grant focuses on women and minority faculty in science in order to increase participation in those fields,” Hoder said.
The 5th Annual FIU Women Faculty Leadership seeks to provide students with knowledge and understanding about the role of women in today’s society, as well as show issues related to equality, education, goals and salaries.
The talk will examine and analyze the success and growth of distinguished women that could inspire other women to take risks.
“In this talk, Dr. Basow will review the research on the many subtle and indirect ways in which gender factors may affect student ratings. She will point out particular risk factors that may make some professors more vulnerable to biased evaluations than others and will conclude with recommendations for the use of such evaluations,” Hoder commented.
“These events have a direct effect on students because there are very few professors, women and minority faculty at FIU,” said Hoder.
Mila Diaz, a sophomore at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, said that she would participate in this discussion.
“The idea of these events encourages women students to continue with their path of education — not only in the field of science but in any career,” she said. “I want to be part of this event because it will provide knowledge about women’s rights in the professional aspect.”
Alexandra Leon, a graduate student at the School of Business, believes that this session is significant for women students.
“In this presentation, students have the opportunity to gain tools for analyzing the relationship between genders, equality and education,” she said. “We as women and students must to join and support this event because it’s worth it.”
Milagros Salazar, a junior student at the School of Architecture, agrees.
“I love discussing social issues because it’s important for each person, especially women, to know about successful women’s experiences and learn the ways and chances that students have in their professional lives,” she said. “Dr. Susan Basow is a role model for all of us. I admire all her work, because she has proven that any woman can achieve anything.”
The event will take place on Thursday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus.
The location is TBA. For more information, call 305-348-4232.
The schedule is as follows:
10:00-10:30: Welcome
10:30-12:00: Keynote: Gender and Teaching Evaluations, Susan Basow, Lafayette College
12:00-1:30: Networking Lunch – Meet and Greet Your Colleagues
1:30-3:45: Panel and Discussion: Advancing Women Faculty at FIU, Provost’s Council for the Advancement of Women and Minority Faculty
About Post Author
