BizJournals: Two Years in, President Barabino 'Works to Boost Diversity, Inclusion'

May 4, 2022

On May 2, 2022, The Business Journals published an interview with Olin College of Engineering President Gilda A. Barabino, highlighting her work to boost diversity and inclusion at Olin, as well as in the fields of science and engineering. 

In the interview, titled Olin College president works to boost diversity, inclusion in science and engineering fields, and now two years in as president of Olin College and president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Barabino shared the work ongoing, work that still needs to be done and what she has discovered so far.

For example, from the opening of the article: "Barabino said she wants to give faculty members more opportunities to engage with corporate partners to stay up on the latest industry needs and trends, and she talked about what she’s learned from operating the college during the pandemic."

In one of the following questions, the interviewer, Hilary Burns, Higher Education Editor, asks Barabino to share more about her recent writing in which she called out that “opportunities and entryways into STEM careers are unequally available to all members of society” and to share how Olin addresses the concern.

President Barabino's answer to that question as quoted from The Business Journals:

"I think about who's already in the field and then how they dictate who else gets to come into the field. Part of making sure that we are more equitable in how we provide opportunities is the ability to help people understand the relevance of our fields to their lives. It's important to do that early. So, pre-college — even kindergarten. Help these young people understand how science and engineering is relevant to them and how it can actually enhance their own lives so they can see that it's not some unreachable, unattainable activity or profession that's only for some.

Then you have to continue that connection throughout their academic careers. You have to have opportunities for people to see people like them, which means you have to have teachers who are more representative of the demographics of society. A place like Olin that was founded on crossing disciplines and solving real-world problems. It was also founded on having gender equity. This idea that you start out with creating an institution that has equity in mind from the very beginning — and crossing the disciplines — is important for us to think about how we work across boundaries and break down unnecessary barriers."

Read the full May 2 interview on The Business Journals website here.

Access a pdf of The Business Journal's interview here.