Professor Stone began her journey at Colby in the Spring of 1999. The science division, departments like Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, and Mathematics did not have many women in them at all; she was hired along with two other female biology professors on a tenure track. On the topic of the “Forum for Women in Science in Science at Colby College,” Professor Stone did not seem to have much information, however she did recall that the forum and plan may have been a result of a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Grant which then supported and provided the funding needed for an organized women in science conference. Seeking positive trends for gender equity , Colby has made strides to support female faculty across campus. They had a support group for female faculty, organized by the provost, in which there has been discussion and support for women faculty on campus. It is active on campus for faculty members four to five times a year. She remembers there have been about 50 women who would come to these events each time they were held. They are for all departments. Women in other male dominated fields (Economics and Philosophy for example) would also show up. Topics of interest were determined by those attending. Generally the participants were younger women in male dominated departments overall that were looking for a place of solidarity and community. This upcoming September, Colby will be starting a childcare facility option, which she believes is a great option for all professors, not just female professors.
The Clare Boothe Luce Program is a fund started by Clare Boothe Luce, a wealthy philanthropist, author and politician, who was married to Henry Luce, who also started Times magazine. Upon her death she had dedicated funds to be given out to women in science. There are many scholarships that one can be granted. Colby is one of several schools eligible for the women they hire to apply and gain access to these funds. The funds, however, were viewed more as a form of budget relief for the college that covered salaries, research supply money, student research positions rather than going straight to female scientists’ own initiatives. Stone discussed how this grant was more than just a win for her academic career. A fond memory she has was at the 100th anniversary celebration of Clare Booth’s birth held in South Carolina where women from all over the country came together to meet, discuss and inspire one another. Stone remembers it as an empowering moment for women to all congregate and foster solidarity and mentorship. Often the organizations established for women do more than just help their careers. They are places of community and solidarity. Please see the full document for the full interview.
Professor Bevier joined Colby’s Biology department in the Fall of 1999, the same year as Professors Bevier, Stone and Tilden. On this, Professor Bevier says that she felt very welcomed and respected by the Biology Department. She suspects that in part, Colby’s past difficulties retaining female professors led to this significant push to hire female professors in Biology. To make up for past discrepancies between the sexes in pay, Colby implemented changes in contract letters, increasing the pay of female professors. This was a drastic shift away from the previous attitudes towards women in Biology just a couple decades prior. Referencing the 50s and 60s and her role model Marty Crump, Professor Bevier discusses with us how biological sciences have been male dominated. As the years have passed, major strides towards equity in the field have been made. Despite having mainly male professors while at Indiana and UConn, Bevier never felt slighted because of her sex. In fact, her male advisor was one of the people she attributes with giving her the confidence to pursue a PhD. Now, biology is a discipline that has a ton of female representation. One possible reason for this may be the qualitative aspect of biology that appeals to women over math-heavy, more threatening seeming sciences. Another barrier in academia that Bevier highlights is the impositions of expectations for women and motherhood. Biologically, the timing of reproductive age and that of starting a career overlap significantly. On the Forum for Women in Science in Science at Colby College hosted in 2003, Bevier recounts what it was like being a new professor. The event, in her opinion, resonated well with Colby’s goals for the new millennium, and helped drive home Colby’s desire to make female professors feel welcome, valued, and supported. Please see the full document for the complete interview.
When Professor Millard joined the Colby Community in 1991, there were more female majors in Biology than men, but the same was not true of Chemistry. Additionally, retaining female professors seemed to be an issue for the college.Women staff often left with reasons ranging from feeling isolated to students’ sexist perceptions of their toughness. Millard recounts that the environment for female professors when she came to Colby was pretty awful. In general there were very few women. Even the tone of the school was not apt to include female professors, with departmental invitation letters including such wording such as “come over for a BBQ with your wives,” which was clearly geared towards male staff. Furthermore, it was very difficult for women to be in such a demanding job, with colleagues and students constantly making snide comments, and with a chair that didn’t believe that gender problems existed at all. On the Forum for Women in Science in Science at Colby College, Millard recounts that workshops were held for both men and women in New England with panels on gender biases and teacher evaluations. The president of the college at the time, William Drea “Bro” Adams, had no idea how many endowed scholars were women in science. Professor Millard was the first woman at the junior level to become a full professor at Colbyand the first chair ro have started at the junior level at Colby. As far as positive strides against gender biases at the college are concerned, Millard explains that daycare programs at the school, forums with outside speakers, and a strong supportive female base with additional support from younger male professors all helped to alleviate some of the tension present in the school. Please see the full document for the complete interview.
Professor Hannum joined Colby’s Biology department in 2001. When she first entered the community, there was a distinct lack of female professors and all the senior staff were male. On the topic of the “Forum for Women in Science in Science at Colby College,” Professor Hannum explains that she was not one of the organizers for the forum, but participated in some of the programming. Regarding positive strides for gender equity at Colby, Professor Hannum highlights the expansion of roles of women in the field and workshops on gender issues in the classroom. Fortunately, Professor Hannum has never felt personally limited by her gender, with support from both male and female mentors throughout her life. In her opinion, the main cause of gender bias, especially in the sciences, is the perception that women are supposed to be the main caregivers in their families. Please see the full document for the full interview.
Curated by Fariel LaMountain