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[diverseenough]

Hello Everyone,

I post on these forums occasionally, but decided to post under a pseudonym for this post. I recently received a recommendation to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship "for Academic Diversity." As my research interests are far from mainstream, I was immediately encouraged by the prospect of proposing how I could contribute to an environment of intellectual diversity. Then, I read the announcement and realized that the goal of academic diversity was not to be achieved through interdisciplinary engagement of diverse research specialties but through the hiring of individuals who market themselves as representatives of "different races and ethnicities, nationalities, gender identities, abilities, economic status, and sexual orientation."

I admit that I am incredibly naive and should have immediately realized that, hence the pseudonym, but I hope that some of you will be generous enough to indulge my curiosity and answer a couple questions which are prohibiting me from applying for this position.

1) Have you ever marketed yourself as a diverse hire and, if so, did you find yourself conflicted about your "diverse" identity? I would be able to categorize myself in the last three aforementioned categories of diversity but I find myself conflicted about revealing aspects of my life and myself, really, which I typically keep to myself and would rather not flaunt as the essence of my identity.

2) If you ever have marketed yourself as a representative of a "diverse identity" group, how does that instant labeling and self-categorization effect your experience at your job? Do your colleagues threat you like one of the team or do you feel pegged as "the diversity hire"?

As I write these questions, I am beginning to think that I should not apply for this post doc. I work very hard to separate my professional life from my private life and don't know if I have it in me to divulge my personal experiences, experiences which none of my references have the faintest idea about because I honestly never thought they had anything to do with my work as an academic and don't really consider them the cornerstones of my identity. Okay, I have blathered on enough. I do hope some of you will respond to my questions on regarding the issue of self-identifying as a "diversity" representative and if being a representative inhibits your ability to simply be a professional at your job.

Thanks a bunch.     

[yellowtractor]

DE, we've gone through some of this on earlier threads, most recently the "unannounced diversity hire" thread.  The consensus has been that you do not "market yourself" as a "diversity hire."  You market yourself in terms of your qualifications in your field of study and/or practice.

That said, many--perhaps most--schools in the USA and elsewhere are interested in cultural diversity on their faculties and will jump at the chance to consider, and possibly hire, a specialist in X who also just happens to be Y (fill in the blank).

There are ways to telegraph this in your cover letter or c.v., without making a separate, distinct issue in your candidacy.  It's possible that, being Y, your scholarly interests involve or include a good bit about Y.  It's possible that one of your professional memberships is "Y's in X."  List these--among your other stellar qualifications--and an attentive SC will take the hint, if ethnic or cultural diversity matters to them.

As for your second question, I vaguely recall a string of threads on just this question 2-3 years ago.  Let me see if I can unearth any of them.  I've known colleagues who felt that their being Y (and even being a diversity hire) had no effect whatsoever on their reputation, self-conception, progress through the T&P process, etc.  And I've known colleagues who felt that being Y became one of the defining features--if not the defining feature--of their professional lives, in terms of their research, campus presence, and student advising.  Sometimes in a good way, sometimes not.

[yellowtractor]

Here are a few of the threads I was remembering:

http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,57127.0.html ;
http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,49263.0.html ;
http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,42700.0.html ;

and especially
         
http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,41340.0.html .

[kedves]

It sounds as if there are two issues here.  One is whether to apply for this postdoc and how much privacy you would give up by applying for or getting it.  The other is whether to suggest at your "diversity" quality when you later search for jobs.  Does the latter necessarily have to follow from the former, or could you cross that bridge when you come to it? 

I'm not diverse in any way, including culturally and academically, so I can't answer your questions about how it feels to be categorized that way.

Here's a past thread about a sort-of-related topic, not as relevant as Yellowtractor's finds but maybe of interest:  http://chronicle.com/forums/index.php/topic,62839.msg1368100.html#msg1368100 

[systeme_d_]

I'm going to post here not because I have been a "diversity hire" but because I have some experience with diversity-based postdocs.

First, "diversity" postdocs are not simply "diversity hires."  They are postdocs that, at some universities, are simply postdocs, and at others, often lead to tenure-track employment.  In both cases, the universities in question are trying to diversify their faculty, and expose their students to young scholars of diverse backgrounds (i.e. not just straight, able-bodied, well-heeled Euro-Americans, who tend to comprise the majority of faculty at many US institutions).

I strongly support (and have served on hiring committees) of "diversity postdocs" at my institution.  At my place, these postdocs almost inevitably lead to TT jobs.  Without saying too much, I will note that my midwestern university really needs some faculty (and undergraduate) diversity, and these postdocs have helped us to meet those goals.  We've managed to hire (and retain!) fantastic people because of these positions -- folks who otherwise might have limited their job searches to major cities and coastal areas.  We hope that when they arrive here in the cornfields they will find a very supportive and welcoming environment in which to begin their careers.

The beauty of these postdocs is that they provide some really close mentorship by senior faculty in their fields.  The senior faculty and the university help them with research, with teaching, and with negotiating administrative bureaucracies of all sorts.  Teaching loads are light, so it is a terrific "ease-in to the TT" kind of position.  Our undergrads (of all sorts, perhaps especially the rich white kids) also benefit tremendously by having these postdocs as professors and role models.

Intellectual diversity also counts, at my place, when evaluating applicants.  When applicants can bring innovative and cutting-edge research areas and expertise to the table, that's a mark of an optimal candidate.  Interdisciplinarity (particularly in the humanities) is a big plus for us.

Our [Donor Name] fellows are full colleagues.  They are sought-after, and respected by all and sundry.  Our fondest hope is that we can keep them around after the postdoc ends.  I personally collaborate with one current "diversity" postdoc, and serve as a mentor to one who is negotiating the tenure process.

In sum, if I can accomplish anything by this post, I would hope that it would be to encourage you to apply.  If you have any questions at all, please PM me if you think I could be helpful to you.

[punchnpie]

I was a diversity hire. For my institution, that meant that the dept got half of my salary (I'm not sure for how long) from the university rather than the department budget.

We are in a very white area. It can be hard to recruit diverse candidates here, despite our top 10/20 ranking in many departments. I don't have an issue with the uni helping things out by sweetening the salary pot.

As far as I can tell, being a diverse hire gets me into a few special exhibits and receptions and that's about it. No one cares what research I do, whether it's diverse (whatever that is) or mainstream. I think, considering the demographics of the state, that just being a diverse person with different life experiences than most of my students, and bringing some of those experiences into the classroom is enough. You should see my students' eyes get big when I tell them about personal experiences such as not being able to eat inside some restaurants or seeing ads that said 'colored' or 'negro' for jobs and housing.

If the higher ups started bugging me about doing more minority-related research, I think I'd have a problem. But if they are willing to hire me for me and what I bring, I don't have a problem with being a diverse hire. Personally, I think I'm more of a role model for women going to grad school with kids, than the racial thing, since we have no black students and few of any other minority.

[aandsdean]

A number of SLACs--e.g., Hiram College in Ohio--have "diversity postdocs" for exactly the reason systeme_d articulates.  They are a great opportunity, if you're interested in working at a SLAC, to get some experience about what the work at such a school is like, and, as s_d says, to provide some great learning opportunities for your students.

While I certainly understand why people are uncomfortable with using their personal identities to get jobs or other opportunities (well, everyone except white guys, who do it all the time), this situation is likely to be somewhat different from a regular job search, and the terms therefore change a bit as well.

In other words, if it's an opportunity that's otherwise of interest, I'd at least inquire further.

[diverseenough]

Thanks Yellow Tracker and Kedves for the links. I've read them but Kedves sums up my real concern and, after reading the suggested threads, I'm beginning to wonder if my real diversity lies in my apparently unique concern about sacrificing my privacy and forcing myself to alter the way I identify and present myself.

Thank you Systeme_d_ for your very informative post. It was really helpful to understand why a university would set up a post doc based on the physical and/or psychological attributes of an academic. I think if I were racially or ethnically diverse then I could imagine how my visual presence could have an positive impact on the perceptions of my colleagues and students. Thanks for making it clear how their personal experiences broader the perspectives of your students, punchpie.

Since my diversity is not visually obvious, I would have to publicize details from my private life in order to fit into one or two of the diversity labels listed on the fellowship application. I guess this would be much easier if I was younger and part of the Facebook generation. Unfortunately, I'm not an exhibitionist and really never considered becoming one in order to enter an academic career. Thanks Aandsdean for your advice. Although I am not a white male, I do identity as a person first and foremost and tend to automatically disregard the signifying attributes of my female body and the possibility of identifying myself through the type of person I should desire to have sex with. Androgyny and asexuality may qualify me for the diversity label, but I doubt that most universities are looking to promote these characteristics to their students.

[kedves]

Although I am not a white male, I do identity as a person first and foremost and tend to automatically disregard the signifying attributes of my female body and the possibility of identifying myself through the type of person I should desire to have sex with. Androgyny and asexuality may qualify me for the diversity label, but I doubt that most universities are looking to promote these characteristics to their students.

I don't want to make this more difficult for you--but don't be so sure about that.  I've been teaching deviance and social control for 10 years, and transgender, intersex, celibacy, and sexual orientation spectrum/fluidity/self-determination issues are some of the most consistently of interest.  (Sadly, fat is the human characteristic they are least tolerant of, although we push at that attitude.)  I've seen a young goth woman giving a presentation about her subculture and what that did for a bisexual man who wrote about being teased by his floormates.  First, there might be more awareness than you are thinking and second, someone who is different can be inspirational to someone else who is different--even if it is not the same difference. 

I'm white, straight, and look more girly than I am, and students share all sorts of things with me and blossom as they start to tell more people or are just relieved that someone knows.  My heart often aches for my students and I am very proud of them.  So I can only imagine how powerful it would be to have someone closer to an identity or maybe an area of human experience to relate to. 

I know this might sound crazily hopeful and pressuring toward a "credit to your category."  I don't know at all what you are going through or what this would be like.  I am conservative by personality and very private--I would never keep a journal under any circumstances--so I do understand that part of it.

How much would you have to publicize beyond the application?

[diverseenough]

Yes, that is the question. I could definitely make the cause that my life experiences flow seamlessly in and out of various gender theories  and I do bring a different perspective, or at least a different sensitivity, to the courses I teach on sexuality. The problem is that theories can be fascinating but falling outside of the binary (gay or straight, masculine or feminine, etc) tends to provoke anger when the classroom discussion has ended.   

[kedves]

This is going to be my last post in the fora for a while because of other things going on, so I'll just say that what might be good for students could be different from what might be good for you.  You would be making yourself more vulnerable if you were out about your identity or situation.  I don't know how you feel about that.  You wouldn't have to speak in the classroom about things, but people might know. 

I wonder if there is any way for you to think through or practice the various scenarios, keeping in mind the distinction between postdoc and job.  You have to do what is good for you at the time--for no one else but you.  What that is, though, I can't know.  I am wishing you the very best.

[gplm2000]

Why are you worried about this issue? Diversity is one of the primary reasons to hire faculty at 21st Century universities. Take advantage of all that they offer. For the most part students don't care who you are, it matters more to the university admin. than the real world. A good example is a recent leadership award made by the Jepson School at the Univ. of Richmond. The merit award went to an alumnus who has been successful in starting and managing the Family Council. But once the diversity police realized that the organization is for family values, all hell broke lose. The Dean of Jepson was castigated, denigrated, embarrassed by the university staff and president. There is no freedom of expression or diverse views in higher education.

My point is that one should use their "diversity" to get/achieve through special consideration as much as they can. It will payoff in the long run. You have a tactical advantage, why not make use of it?

[barrylover]

Intellectual diversity also counts, at my place, when evaluating applicants.  When applicants can bring innovative and cutting-edge research areas and expertise to the table, that's a mark of an optimal candidate.  Interdisciplinarity (particularly in the humanities) is a big plus for us.

[mon_cher_or]

I am not a postdoc but just a grad student who receives a diversity award (in the form of money) which funds a significant part of my tuition+salary. I am not white and male but I can tell you I am certainly not so diverse physically either. The reason they gave me the award was because culturally I am an extremely rare hybrid of things (think a dog who meows), which convinces them I can bring the department (good) differences. Most dogs don't meow so it's a fun reason to be hired as a diversity fellow if you do get the postdoc gig. I am not sure what the fellowship in question entails but for mine, I just have to perform a year's commitment for the award which is done with nobody in my department. If that's the norm for most diversity award/hire, then you should be able to keep "it" low-profile too. It's not like they will introduce me as "Miss Diversity" in the department meeting.

[dr_mcmom]

. . . Androgyny and asexuality may qualify me for the diversity label, but I doubt that most universities are looking to promote these characteristics to their students.

But "promoting these characteristics to their students" is not the reason institutions want diverse hires.  It's your perspective on topics, shaped as a function of your life experiences as YOU, that they wish to expose their students to.  Not the same old cookie.  Your worldview (or your ideas on aspects of your discipline) will likely be more different that the minions of white-bread students who share similar backgrounds.  So your ideas, shaped by who you are and likely dissimilar to most others, is the diversity they seek and wish to expose students to. 

Sorry - just realized how old this thread was.