Professor-in-Residence at Clark Atlanta University

CHED 1692

Laren M. Tolbert, laren.tolbert@chemistry.gatech.edu, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400
The paucity of African-American faculty members at Research I universities remains a daunting symbol of our failure to achieve diversity at the highest levels of academe. Despite recognized efforts and at several universities in development of underrepresented minority students, particularly African-Americans, few such students are choosing academic careers. While “pipeline” issues surely dominate much of this paucity, it is clear that many otherwise scientifically capable young people of color are choosing careers in more visible fields such as medicine. The presenter has spent two years at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), to examine this issue first hand by teaching classes in organic chemistry and to engage capable students in honest appraisals of their career opportunities. Both successes and disappointments in this effort will be presented, and some of the critical issues involving recruitment of African-American students into scientific academic careers will be presented, particularly the "competition" for careers in the health professions.