Faculty Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Elizabeth L. Travis, Ph.D., FASTRO
Associate Vice President
- Careers
- Faculty Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Office of Women Faculty Programs was established in 2006 with a mission to recruit, retain and promote women faculty. In pursuit of this mission, we built programs and provided skills and knowledge; analyzed and shared data; recommended policies; and contributed scholarship.
In May 2016, the office officially opened with a new name "Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion" that reflects an expanded charge to be the model for cancer centers in the recruitment, retention and advancement of a diverse faculty by implementing best practices and creating an inclusive institutional culture where women and minorities chose to be. Most notably, our charge now includes men and women. While goals like increasing numbers of minority and women faculty in leadership remain the same, our approaches in support of unique challenges will change. One of our early tasks will be to assess the challenges of the minority faculty so that we can appropriately adapt our strategy.
Education, policy, recognition and scholarship continue to drive our efforts in creating a culture and an environment where all diverse points of view are valued. Our vision is to be the primary destination for women and minority physicians and scientists in cancer treatment and research in support of MD Anderson's vision to be the premier cancer center in the world.
Supporting Our Faculty
Summer program for underrepresented individuals in the Houston area
The Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine is a 10-week summer program designed to develop and nurture high school and undergraduate students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, in the areas of academic science and medicine.
Legends and Legacies
The women profiled in these autobiographical essays represent diverse ages, background and cultures and various professional roles, from clinicians and physician scientists to basic scientists and veterinarians. “Legends and Legacies” is the cumulative story of women who overcame hardships, biases, and their own self-doubts to pursue their passion for research and helping others. These stories of passion, perseverance and success serve as an inspiration to young women considering a career in science or medicine as well as a road map for working women in terms of balancing work and family. All of the women physicians and women scientists in this book strive for a better quality of work life by balancing work and family.
As women scientists and women physicians enter the workforce in ever increasing numbers, leaders who are academic mentors and recognize the value of optimizing talent by improving the quality of work life will hopefully find this a valuable resource and discussion tool not only for young women in medicine and women in science but for all young professionals. All of the women in this book speak to the importance of at least one academic mentor in the realization of their dream.
ORDER LEGENDS AND LEGACIES NOW
Legends and Legacies: Personal journeys of women physicians and scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center
“Legends and Legacies” features the inspirational stories of 26 accomplished women physicians and women scientists on the faculty of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. “Legends and Legacies,” a 231-page hardcover book is edited by Elizabeth L. Travis, Ph.D., associate vice president for Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion.
Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award
Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion (formerly Women Faculty Programs) established this annual endowed award and lecture in 2008 in honor of Dr. Kripke. Dr. Kripke, a world-renowned immunologist was the first woman to chair an academic department – Immunology – at MD Anderson. Later in her career she was appointed its executive vice president and chief academic officer. Throughout, she has been an effective advocate for expanding opportunities for women in science and medicine, including serving as first chair of the Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities and founding chair of the Women Faculty Organization. She was also instrumental in creating the role of associate vice president for Women Faculty Programs. Dr. Kripke retired from MD Anderson in 2009 and currently holds the title Professor Emerita. She served as the chief scientific officer of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas from 2013 to 2016.
For further details on the nomination process, please review Criteria and Nomination Instructions
For questions:
Devan Ford-McCartney, Ed.D., Project Director
Women and Minority Faculty Inclusion, MD Anderson Cancer Center
713-792-6142
facultyinclusion@mdanderson.org
Diversity Data
41%
Women Faculty
53%
Non-Caucasian Faculty
52%
Women & Minority Faculty Leaders
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