Imposter syndrome.
Unwelcoming environments.
Feelings of not belonging.
These are the realities so many underrepresented students face while navigating the academic pipeline. Thus, diversifying the professoriate involves providing financial support, mentorship and creating spaces for honest conversations.
“Having those open dialogues to be able to express with others who look like me, who have gone before me and who successfully navigated [the pipeline] was greatly beneficial,” said Dr. Rihana S. Mason, a research scientist at the Urban Child Study Center at Georgia State University.
Initiatives offering these types of support were identified in the book titled, Academic Pipeline Programs: Diversifying Pathways from the Bachelors to the Professoriate.
To discuss best practices of the selected pipeline programs, authors Dr. Curtis D. Byrd and Mason collaborated with SAGE Publishing to commence a three-part webinar series last month.
