Confronting Implicit Bias in Your Day-to-Day Life

Fred Smyth the director of undergraduate studies in the department of psychology at the University of Virginia. He directs the Full Potential Initiative, an NSF-funded longitudinal study of the development and influence of implicit attitudes about intellectual ability and academic belonging. An ongoing focus of Fred’s research is the causal role that varying implicit associations may play in shaping identities and contributing to perseverance in scientific studies and careers. His publication topics have included analyses of ethnic and gender differences in science graduation at selective colleges, standardized testing in college admission, comparisons of web- and laboratory-based implicit cognition experiments, and the relationship between implicit and explicit attitude measures.

Anne Etgen is a professor emerita in the departments of neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral sciences, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology and women’s health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Her research focuses on determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which the ovarian steroid hormones regulate brain function. In addition to being an internationally recognized leader in the field of neuroendocrinology, Etgen has also dedicated much of her career to fostering the recruitment and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities in science. She has an impressive record of mentoring female graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who went on to establish successful careers in research, academics, and the pharmaceutical industry. At the national level, she has worked on multiple programs aimed at promoting diversity and advancing women in neuroscience. Etgen earned her PhD from the University of California, Irvine.

Kathie L. Olson is an associate professor of neuroscience at George Mason University. In addition her work in the area of hormones and behavior, Olsen has demonstrated immense commitment to promoting the professional development and equitable treatment of women in science throughout her career. She designed an NSF funding mechanism focused on mid-career development for women in science and engineering, and later strengthened programs designed to increase opportunities for women in the sciences. As deputy director of NSF, Kathie co-sponsored a White House conference on girls in science and technology with the Department of Education and helped to develop educational materials for girls interested in scientific careers with scientific organizations and the Girl Scouts of America. Kathie earned her PhD from the University of California, Irvine.