The Pandemic’s Unequal Toll on Faculty

Dr. Leslie Gonzales, associate professor in the higher, adult, and lifelong learning unit at Michigan State UniversityWith the Omicron variant spreading rapidly and the fall semester now over, many faculty are reflecting on the ongoing, disparate impact of the pandemic on their careers while bracing themselves for what comes next. The pandemic already compounded inequalities for many women, particularly women of color, and nonbinary faculty in tenure-track roles. Several say they are stretched thin, again.

“I think everyone is just so exhausted,” said Dr. Leslie D. Gonzales, an associate professor in the higher, adult, and lifelong learning unit at Michigan State University in the College of Education. “I have been in academia since 2010, and I have never been more tired. I definitely am not alone. I know women of color especially have experienced loss after loss. And the university just keeps plugging along.”

Gonzales stressed that as COVID-19 disproportionately hit communities of color hardest beginning in March 2020, faculty of color are often more likely to know family members or friends who have passed away from the coronavirus.

“What happened in the first 18 months or so of the pandemic cannot be forgotten,” said Gonzales. “People are still coping with those losses.”

In addition, Gonzales highlighted the ongoing childcare challenges facing faculty who are caregivers, particularly women and nonbinary people. Gonzales has a teenage child who has been boosted, which she said lowers a stress she felt with Omicron. But for faculty who are parents of children under five years old who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, no such relief has surfaced.

“I’ve watched many of my academic colleagues who are parents continue to struggle, especially those with children under five,” said Gonzales. “They are still working in really volatile daycare situations, which have been happening since March 2020. They are under perpetual strain. This speaks to the country’s need to recognize that a caregiving infrastructure is a must for working families.”

For years long before the pandemic, research already outlined how female faculty and faculty of color in tenure-track roles often do more mentoring and university service work than their white male colleagues. Yet this workload does not advance their careers given the tenure review process prioritizes research and publications over service, teaching, and mentoring labor.