2008

AWIS Reports on the Pay Gap in the STEM Professions
April 23, 2008

Press Release: AWIS attended a national press conference on Capitol Hill to urge Senate members to pass the Fair Pay Act of 2007, also known as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831). AWIS developed and disseminated a report on the Pay Gap in the STEM Professions. (NOTE: The Senate failed to pass the bill that evening, with 4 votes short of the 60 needed to move it forward. Click here to read more)

AWIS Supports Increased Funding for STEM Programs

April 15, 2008

AWIS joined the STEM Education Coalition and supporting organizations in letters urging congressional members of the Senate and House LHHS and CJS Appropriations Subcommittees to increase funding for STEM programs for FY2009.
Read the letters here:

Appropriations for Math & Science Partnerships & Math Now:

To the Senate
To the House 
Appropriations for education programs in America COMPETES:
To the Senate
To the House

AWIS Launches New Coaching Program for STEM Professionals
April 15, 2008

You know AWIS as a networking and mentoring resource – Now try us as you move to the next stage of your career. If your life could use a little boost, check out our new Coaching Program. Specially designed for women in STEM fields, our one-of-a-kind team of professional coaches has put together some great packages to meet your work-life needs.

AWIS and Latinas in Computing Partner to Provide Students Access to E-Mentoring Program Through MentorNet

April 10, 2008

Check out this great new opportunity to expand your support network.

AWIS Participates in Diversity and Innovation Caucus Listening Meeting

February 28, 2008

The U.S. House Diversity and Innovation Caucus (D&I Caucus), which is chaired by Rep. Silvestre Reyes (TX), held a stakeholders’ listening meeting at the Library of Congress with over 80 women, minority, and science/technology/engineering/mathematics (STEM) stakeholder groups. AWIS was one of 30 organizations to submit a statement on diversity. Read all stakeholder responses here.

Announcing the 2008 AWIS Fellows

February 17, 2008

The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) has announced its 2008 Class of Fellows. The six women and one man will be formally recognized at an awards ceremony and reception held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in Boston, Mass. Press Release

AWIS President in The National Journal

February 9, 2008

AWIS President Phoebe Leboy comments in The National Journal about AWIS' support for the Gender Bias Elimination Act, H.R. 3514, which is sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX).  Click here to read the article.

AWIS President Addresses the Leaky Pipeline in The Scientist

January 8, 2008
The Scientist has published an article written by AWIS President Phoebe Leboy, PhD.,

on the disproportionate representation of women faculty at the tenure ranks at top research institutions. Dr. Leboy addresses factors influencing the "leaky pipeline" and its effects on the advancements of women scientists from the post-doc level to tenure track. Read about Dr. Leboy's findings and her recommendations for "fixing the leaky pipeline."

2007

AWIS Spearheads Letter of Support for the Gender Bias Elimination Act

November 8 , 2007
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX) introduced the Gender Bias Elimination Act of 2007 (H.R. 3514), which calls on federal agencies and academic insitutions to improve their policies to remove gender biases against women in STEM. The bill includes some of the recommendations made in the National Academies' report Beyond Bias and Barriers.   Along with 77 STEM, education, and women's organizations, AWIS thanks Rep. Johnson for her leadership in introducing the bill. Click here to read the letter.

AWIS Commends Congressional Leaders on Passing America COMPETES Act

September 6 , 2007
Along with other members of the STEM Education Coalition, AWIS  looks forward to more resources being directed toward the education of women and underrepresented minorities in science with the passage of the America COMPETES Act. Read our letter to the leaders in Congress who made it happen: Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell and Representatives Nancy Pelosi and  John Boehner.

AWIS Congratulates Rep. George Miller on Passage of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

August 16 , 2007
AWIS joined with the National Committee on Pay Equity and many other women's organizations to thank Rep. George Miller for his leadership in promoting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which recently passed in the House. The letter also encouraged Rep. Miller to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is currently stalled in the House. Though President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law in 1963, American women and minorities still make far less than white males. Read about the action encouraged by AWIS and others here.

AWIS President Goes Beyond the Glass Ceiling

July 5, 2007
In a special report in the journal Nature, titled Beyond the Glass Ceiling, Donna Dean, AWIS President, comments on why there are so few women and under-represented minorities in the top professorial ranks in academia. Read the full report here.

AWIS Thanks Rep. Reyes for Creation of House Diversity and Innovation Caucus

June 4 , 2007
As part of the STEM Education Coalition, AWIS expressed gratitude to Rep. Silvestre Reyes for establishing the new Diversity and Innovation Caucus in the House of Representatives. Read the letter here.

National Board of AWIS Applauds Princeton for Expanding Family-Friendly Policies

April 3, 2007
AWIS President, Donna Dean, congratulated Princeton for their groundbreaking initiatives to make academia more woman-friendly and family-friendly.  In a letter to the University’s President, Dr. Shirley M. Tilghman, Dean noted that Princeton’s new policy for graduate students, extending childcare assistance and maternity leaves with financial support, is another great step forward on behalf of young women who wish to become successful scientists without sacrificing a family life. Read the full article here >>>

2007 Class of AWIS Fellows Announced in San Francisco

February 18, 2007
Press Release:  San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom declared February 18th, 2007, “Women in Science Day” in honor of the 2007 Class of AWIS Fellows.  The 10 men and women of the Class of 2007 were recognized at an Award Ceremony held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) at the San Francisco Hilton.

2006

AWIS Announces Election Results

November 6, 2006
Press Release:  Your votes are in!  Phoebe Leboy has been elected President-Elect.  Joan Herbers and Karen Houseknecht will join the Executive Board as Councilors.  For more information, click here>>>

AWIS And MentorNet Partner To Expand Opportunities For Academic E-Mentoring

September 21, 2006

Press Release:  Donna J. Dean, President of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), and Carol Muller, Founder and CEO of MentorNet, the E-Mentoring Network for Diversity in Engineering and Science, announced today that the two organizations will extend their partnership.  Read more >>

AWIS Mourns the Passing of Dr. Estelle Ramey, Founder

September 9, 2006

Press Release:  Dr. Estelle Ramey, one of AWIS' founders, passed away September 8, 2006, at her home in Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 89.  Read more>>

AWIS Appoints Janet Bandows Koster, MBA, as Executive Director
June 19, 2006

Press Release:  Donna J. Dean, Ph.D., President of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) today announced the appointment of Janet Bandows Koster as executive director. Bandows Koster will assume her position on July 5, 2006. Read more >>

AWIS Executive Director Announcement
March 13, 2006

2005

New report: Gender Differences Among Contingent Faculty: A Literature Review
November 22

Women on the Rise Article
November 16
The Scientist has published an article about the increase in women faculty. President Elizabeth Ivey, Executive Director Nancy Bakowski, and Councilor Sonya Summerour Clemmons are quoted in the article. Additionally, an article by Nancy Hopkins in the same issue takes a look back at the past ten years of women faculty.

A Hand Up Press Release
November 9
AWIS has issued a press release about the mentoring guide A Hand Up. Copies of the book can be purchased through our publications order form.