In the past five years, it has been an honor and privilege to help foster the advancement of IAC women faculty through a range of initiatives.  These have included: 

 1) focused luncheon discussions each year on topics such as such as publication productivity, the interface of teaching and research, and climates for diversity by gender, race, and ethnicity;

 2) cross-college events on topics such as “what makes a proposal fundable,” and equity in tenure and promotion;

 3) annual workshops on “grants and proposals” in collaboration with the IAC associate dean for research;

 4) materials for advancement posted on the Resources page of this website and on the IAC ADVANCE Professor website at http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~mf27/links.html;

and 5) the IAC-ADVANCE listserve.

In this next phase of the institutionalization of ADVANCE, I will continue the listserve for IAC women as a means of communication, information, and exchange, and also the regular announcements on the Women, Science, and Technology (WST) Center listserve to showcase accomplishments of faculty.  In the continuing period, I plan to give particular attention to discussion and events focusing upon “strategic advancement” and productivity, satisfaction, and success. This involves our attention to critical transitions between academic ranks, from assistant to associate, and associate to full, and to sustained advancement for those at full, senior ranks—and to the organizational and institutional climates, cultures, and practices that support the flourishing of faculty. 

You—our IAC women—are exceptionally talented, and responsive collectively in ways that are a continuing inspiration.  It is a privilege to stand with you—and work together.