ASAP ADVANCE

Small-group Peer Mentoring Decreases Isolation and Increases Career Success for STEM Faculty Women at PUIs
Joanne Smieja, Gonzaga University; Graciela Lacueva, John Carroll University; Roberta E. Sabin, Loyola University Maryland;
Janice Voltzow, University of Scranton; Xiaohui Zhong, University of Detroit Mercy; and Catherine Cronin, Gonzaga University;
Cathleen McGrath, Loyola Marymount University; Christopher Francovich; Gonzaga University

Recent Face-to-Face Alliance Meetings Nurtured Career Advancements

Alliances Optimized Their Face-to-Face Meetings to Creatively Network and Grow

Professionally

ASAP ADVANCE Creates National Networks for 70 STEM Faculty

In 2015, the 15 alliance groups are meeting at a variety of venues across the country to discuss their academic and
professional career goals. Each group was provided a budget of $1,000 per person to gather together at a location of their
choice. Some alliances are using the budget to meet together at academic conferences. Others are meeting to collaborate
on research projects, pedagogies, and career advancement. The variety of meetings reflects the diversity of the members,
their career stages, and academic disciplines.

To date, 8 of the 15 alliance groups have met. When surveyed, 74% of the respondents indicated the
meeting was very useful or useful towards nurturing their career advancement.

Very Useful

Early-Career Biologists Gathered in Phoenix

Who We Are and Who We Represent

ASAP ADVANCE is a five-year, $600,000 horizontal and vertical mentoring network comprised of 70 women STEM faculty from
27 Predominately Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) from across the country. This project focuses on the distinctive environments
of PUIs and the challenges faced by women STEM faculty on these campuses to attain tenure, promotion, leadership roles, and
professional recognition.

Our Networking Structure

The Early-Career Biologists structured their meeting to

allow for two break-out/discussion sessions as well as
an outing to the Desert Botanical Garden. The break-out
sessions allowed them to discuss strategies for student
management, moving publications forward, mentoring
female scientists, best practices and the challenges
of supervising undergraduate research. They also set
aside time to identify and solidify goals and plans for
accountability for the next year that can continue to serve
as topics of discussion in their alliance video conferences
in the future. Their outing to the Desert Botanical Garden
was geared to get them excited about what is new and
tangible in the world of research science and the natural
world -- all good things to bring enthusiasm back to their
teaching and research.

ASAP ADVANCE Organization Chart

Expert/Consultant
Kerry Karukstis, Harvey Mudd
Jill Granger, SBC
Linda Fritz, Franklin and Marshall College

Evaluation/Assessment
Cathleen McGrath, LMU
Christopher Francovich, GU

Hearing from my other alliance members gave me

ideas about how to advance my career - we are all at
roughly the same stage so many of us have the same
questions and challenges.

Phys/CS/Eng
Co-PI Graciela Lacueva, JCU
Co-PI Roberta Sabin, LUM

Graciela Lacueva, JCU

Mary Lowe, LUM
Catherine Mader, Hope
Deborah Jackman, MSE

P2

Biology
Co-PI Janice Voltzow, US

VL Carol Ferguson, SOU

VL Patricia Flatt, WOU

Patsy Brackin, RHIT

Christina Georgakis, NEIU
Rocio Guillen-Castrillo, CSUSM
Suzanne Keilson, LUM
Roberta Sabin, LUM

C1

Kathleen Cornely, PC
Joanne Smieja, GU
Luanne Tilstra, RHIT
Anne Wilson, BU

P3

Marta Dark McNeese, SC

Amy Lovell, ASC
Leah Newman, MSE
Alexa Rihana, UDM
Sudha Srinivas NEIU
Karinna Vernaza, GaU

C2

Chrystal Bruce, JCU

Patty Flatt, WOU
Sarah Kirk, WU
Elizabeth Roberts-Kirchhoff, UDM
Hala Schepmann, SOU

B1

Math
Co-PI Xiaohui KathyZhong
UDM

VL Stephanie Edwards, Hope

M1

Elissa Derrickson, LUM

Carol Ferguson, SOU
Rosemarie Rosell, USTH
Carmen Salsbury, BU
Janice Voltzow, US

Min Deng, MU
Gail Nord, GU
Heather Lewis, NC
Dipa Sarka-Dey, LUM
Kathy Zhong, UDM

Mid-Career Mathematicians: Shannon Overbay, Stephanie Edwards, Rebecca Wahl, and

Stacey Muir

B2

Julie Beckstead, GU
Kristen Blake Bruzzini, MU
Rebecca Drenovsky, JCU
Maia Lario, USTH
Barbara Stebbins-Boaz, WU

M2

Stephanie Edwards, Hope

Stacey Muir, US
Shannon Overbay, GU
Rebecca Wahl, BU

Lopez del Puerto, USTM

Birgit Mellis, USTH
Patricia Soto, CU
Peifang Tian, JCU

P6

P5

Bethany Brinkman, SBC

Raenita Fenner, LUM
Mara London, GU
Shanon Reckinger, FU

Audrey Lee-St. John, MHC

Megan Olsen, LUM
Amalia Rusu, FU
Yanwei Wu, WOU

C3

Nicole Bouvier-Brown, LMU

Kendra Evans, UDM
Katherine Hoffmann, GU
Jennifer Yukna, MU

B3

Key for the Project Organization Chart

Phys/CS/Eng=Physics, Computer Science, and Engineering
HL=Horizontal Leader
VL=Vertical Leader
Senior Career=at least 15 years in the academy
Mid-Career=tenured but before promotion to full professor
Early Career=before tenure
Bold = alliance leader

Stephanie Conant, UDM

Erin Johnson, JCU
Kyra Krakos, MU
Kristin Latham, WOU
Maria Squire, US

M3

Updated February 2015

Networking Toolbox

ASAP ADVANCE communicates with a very participatory, decentralized,

non-hierarchical, informal style to achieve its goal of advancing STEM
faculty careers and ending isolation. ASAP ADVANCE uses a variety of
channels to connect its members including face-to-face virtual meetings,
in-person meetings, E-newsletters and Listserv emails.

The core structure of this project is the alliance. Each alliance has four
to six members of the same discipline (or similar) at a similar career
level. The alliances meet regularly via videoconferencing (WebEx and/
or Google Hangout) to plan career goals, create action plans, and mentor
one another. The alliances gather annually for the personal interactions
that are necessary to foster the formation of a support network. With a
support network in place and with opportunities to meet regularly, the most
lasting career development is likely to occur.
Feedback from alliance member satisfaction surveys and focus groups
indicated that this is where participants are gaining most of their
satisfaction from the program.

The University
of Scranton

Butler University

Dawn Archey, UDM

Vesta Coufal, GU
Vicki-Lyn Holmes, Hope
Mili Shah, LUM
Jennifer Vazquez, US
Jinfeng Wei, MU

Meet Some of Our Alliances

The Heart of ASAP ADVANCE is the Alliance for

Small-Group Mentoring

Hope College
l

Denver
Early Career HL
Kendra R. Evans
UDM

Western Oregon University

University of Detroit Mercy

John Carroll
University
l

20%

30%

40%

50%

Our Participants Experienced Significant Career Advancement

Mid-Career Participants Moved up the Academic Ladder

The University
of Scranton

10%

Moving from associate to full professor is often an obstacle for women in STEM. In 2012, we began with 20
associate professors. Over the past three years, 8 of the associate professors applied for and received promotion to
full. This outcome suggests that peer-mentoring had a positive effect on the womens upward career trajectory. Midcareer participants indicated that alliance membership played a significant role in their decision to seek promotion.

Maryville University

Phoenix

Senior Chemists: Luanne Tilstra, Joanne Smieja, Anne Wilson, and

Kathleen Cornely

The Mid-Career Math Alliance met in mid-January in San

Antonio before the annual national Joint Mathematics Meetings
(JMM), where one of their members was presenting on
mentoring aspects of ASAP ADVANCEs alliance structure.
During their time together, they discussed their views of
success and how those perspectives have changed over time
(since graduate school and since starting ASAP ADVANCE).
They discussed concrete and tangible ways that their current
views of success can be attained.

One part that was especially good was a full morning

session we had discussing the full gamut of successes
in our careers thus far and where we still want to go.
Then we discussed how to achieve those goals. It was a
very open and supportive situation.
Since it was in conjunction with a national meeting,
we were able to introduce our alliance members to
other mathematicians.

Senior-Career Computer Science/Engineering

Alliance Met in Baltimore

These five senior faculty women met to strengthen their

ties and potential for collaboration. They discussed their
research, academic, and intellectual interests and managed
several science-oriented outings. A meeting with a TIAACREF financial planner helped members understand their
financial options. In conjunction with their meeting, the women
participated in the Celebration of Science Week at Loyola
University, Maryland, where they attended the Grand Seminar,
where Nobel Laureate, astronomer Adam Reiss spoke,
and met with local women STEM faculty. Discussion topics
included the needs to increase diversity, inclusivity of nontenure track women faculty, and increased recognition of the
accomplishments of female scientists.

Untenured

Advanced to Full

I got caught up in wanting to continue up the academic

administration network. Talking with my group, I was able
to realize that I want to stay in the classroom. It is the work
that I find most rewarding. I dont feel guilty about doing
what I want to do thanks to discussing this with my group.

Above: The word cloud reflects mid-career participants responses

to the questions, What are some of the best things about your
participation in an ASAP ADVANCE alliance? and In particular, what
types of alliance activities have you found most helpful?

Early-Career
Retention in the Academy

If women leave the academy, it is often at the pre-tenure stage. In 2012, we began with 29 early-career, untenured
participants. Early in the program, one of these participants left the academy and was replaced by another untenured
faculty member. Our retention of 28 of the 29 original pre-tenure participants suggests peer-mentoring may support
the women at this career stage and help to improve retention.

Achieving Tenure

Over the past three years, 20 became eligible to apply for tenure; 19 were successful. The remaining 9 untenured
participants are still in the academy and working towards tenure.

97%

Tenured
Untenured

Retention

95%
Earned Tenure

Senior Computer Science/Engineering Faculty: Suzanne Keilson, Patsy Brackin, Rocio

Guillen-Castrillo, Robbie Sabin, and Christina Georgakis

Milwaukee School
of Engineering

Our discussions of success helped me think more clearly

about what is next.

Senior Mathematicians: Gail Nord, Heather Lewis, Kathy Zhong, and

Dipa Sarka-Dey

40%

Tenured

Gonzaga University

P4Marie

0%

Early-Career Biologists: Stephanie Conant, Maria Squire, Kristin Latham, Erin Johnson,
and Kyra Krakos

Mid-Career Math Faculty Presented at JMM on

ASAP ADVANCE Mentoring

Advisory Board
Caryn McTighe Musil, AAC&U
Elizabeth Ambos, CUR
Kelly Mack, PKAL

Mid-Career HL
Stacey Muir
US

Not at all Useful

Note: The underlined names are linked

to email addresses.

Chemistry
PI Joanne Smieja, GU

VL Mary Lowe, LUM

Senior Career HL
Anne Wilson,
BU

Not Useful

These women keep me sane.

Internal Steering Committee

P1

Neutral

The project involves participating faculty in each STEM disciplineBiology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering,
Mathematics, and Physicsand at each career levelearly, mid-career, and seniorby organizing fifteen small groups of four
to six women each who share both discipline and career level in an alliance. The alliances network in three different structures:
each alliance meets as a group for peer mentoring, career counseling, and personal support; with other alliances in the same
career level for horizontal networking; and with the alliances in their scientific disciplines for vertical networking.

Project Coordinator
Catherine Cronin, GU

Useful

Northeastern Illinois University

Rose-Hulman Institute
of Technology
Cal State
University
San Marcos
l

l
r
l

Loyola
University
Maryland

Acknowledgements:

We thank our institutions for their support: Gonzaga University, John Carroll
University, Loyola University Maryland, University of Scranton, and University
of Detroit Mercy. This material is based upon work supported by the National
Science Foundation under Grant No. 1107034.

Tenured
Untenured