Haverford Earns High Marks for Faculty Diversity

Increasing the diversity of Haverford's faculty has long been a conscious process at the College—and now it's getting national notice.

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education recently reported that Haverford“leads the way” in its percentage of African American faculty members: Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that the College's 12 black professors make up 7.9 percent of full-time faculty. And according to the 2009 Factbook, there are 34 faculty members of color overall, a full 25 percent of the faculty head count.

“We look to identify and recruit truly outstanding and diverse scholar/educators every time we launch a faculty search,” says President Stephen G. Emerson '74. “Our fundamental respect for diverse backgrounds and perspectives projects during the search process, and so the individuals we most seek are delighted to join our faculty.”

Haverford participates in the Consortium for Faculty Diversity, which allows member colleges to bring underrepresented dissertation-level graduate students to campus for a year, familiarizing them with the school and its professors. And every faculty search committee includes an affirmative action officer who ensures that the College complies with the proper hiring procedures.

“We cast a wide net to have a rich, diverse pool of candidates,” says Senior Associate Dean of the College and Dean of Student Life Steve Watter, who served as affirmative action officer from 1996-2006.“We want our faculty and students to be exposed to as many different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences as possible. And it's important for students to have role models, so that they, too, can aspire realistically to be a professor at the finest institutions in the country.”

The prospect of working at Haverford is attractive to minority faculty for several reasons, says Provost Linda Bell.“There's the advantage of our location, our proximity to Philadelphia, New York, Washington, as well as our relationships with Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore and Penn,” she says.“We also pride ourselves on our notion of community, and a system of governance where every voice is heard. This environment is inviting in particular to those who feel challenged by being underrepresented, because there is no underrepresentation here.”

“Haverford is welcoming because of its unique history, its Quaker values of hospitality and collegiality,” says Assistant Professor of Religion Terrence Johnson, who joined Haverford's faculty in 2006. He wanted to teach here because he was intrigued by civil rights leader Howard Thurman's friendship with Haverford professor and noted Quaker Rufus Jones, and was drawn by the warmth of his department and, he says, the“incredible” students.

“Because of the College's values, I fit in naturally here,” he says.“I've also been privileged to serve on such important committees as the search for Dean of the College. It's remarkable for a junior faculty member to be given that responsibility.”

-Brenna McBride