Faculty members of color, in particular, pay an “identity tax,” which is exacerbated for women of color. They are asked to do more mentoring for students—especially students of color—as well as leadership and diversity work on campus. While this work is less valued for promotion, faculty members of color express that these responsibilities can give their work special meaning.
KerryAnn O'Meara
KerryAnn O’Meara is Professor of Higher Education and a Distinguished Scholar Teacher at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). Her research examines faculty careers and academic rewards systems with a particular focus on organizational practices that support and limit the full participation of women and historically minoritized faculty. Current NSF-funded projects examine equity in hiring, workload, promotion and tenure policy reform, and equity-minded reform of discretionary spaces in academic affairs. KerryAnn has completed both longitudinal and randomized control trials on faculty retention and workload reform projects, showing positive results from evidence based interventions. She is a sought after speaker, consultant, and partner on reforms to make academe more inclusive for women, faculty of historically minoritized identities, and scholars engaged in newer forms of scholarship. She consults with universities on promotion and tenure policy reform, faculty development programs, and organizational practices that sustain equitable workloads.
