The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has established an institutional membership with the Association for Women in Science, the United States’ largest multi-disciplinary organization for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The university has been an affiliate of the national organization since 2015 after faculty and graduate students from the School of Natural Resources identified a need for a chapter on campus. Becoming an institutional partner furthers the university’s commitment to advancing women’s equity and inclusion on campus.

“The Association for Women in Science works with institutions like ours to create a culture that not only values and respects all people but also encourages risk taking and open mindedness,” said Steve Goddard, interim associate vice chancellor for research. “These are the attributes we need to solve the complex challenges of today.”

The membership will also help the university in its pursuit of enrollment, research and industry engagement goals set by Chancellor Ronnie Green.

“We cannot simply work harder to achieve those goals,” Goddard said. “We must find new ways of doing things, which will require a confluence of diverse ideas and approaches. I encourage all of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators to participate in the Association for Women in Science.”

A steering committee of nine individuals, each of whom will receive complimentary membership in the Association for Women in Science, will guide campus activities related to the new membership.

Judy Walker, interim associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs, and Deb Hamernik, interim associate vice chancellor for research, will represent academic leadership on the steering committee. Mary Bomberger Brown, founding member of the Lincoln chapter and a research assistant professor in the School of Natural Resources, will serve in one of the seven remaining positions.

The university will identify six other faculty members to serve on the steering committee. Members will serve one- or two-year terms and can be reappointed.

Faculty interested in serving on the steering committee should send their curriculum vitae and a brief paragraph expressing interest by May 24 to Juanita Jackson-Stoner at jjackson3@unl.edu.

Association for Women in Science membership on a complimentary basis for all qualified undergraduate and graduate students is included as part of the institutional partnership agreement.

Previous Association for Women in Science activities on campus have been led by the affiliate group steering committee. Its creation and guidance in the previous two years were led by Brown, Jenny Dauer, assistant professor, and graduate students Johnica Morrow, Jessica Burnett and Hannah Birge. All are part of the university’s School of Natural Resources.

Affiliate activities included a Women in Science luncheon held earlier this year. Discussions started during the luncheon led to the university establishing an institutional membership with the national association.

For more information on the Association for Women in Science, click here.

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