Hibel: While the number of Americans earning college degrees is at an all-time high, only one-third of these degrees are in STEM fields. Why do you think this is the case and do you see it changing?
Gray: At most institutions a STEM major is much more difficult than a lot of other majors. Adequate preparation is required and the more advanced courses have prerequisites. I think that if an adequate survey could be done, we would find that most STEM majors spend more time studying than do other majors. So in brief, preparation and persistence are in short supply.
I do not see the numbers changing unless more attention is given to K-12 training (and preparation of teachers, particularly at the elementary level). However, better counseling of college and university students (by faculty in the STEM fields, not general ed counselors) would help students get the preparation they lack, get them into the proper sequence of courses, and offer encouragement along the way.
Hibel: What are the implications of this statistic if the number of Americans, specifically women and minorities, earning degrees in STEM fields doesn’t increase?
Gray: I don’t think that there is a critical shortage – a lot of people can be trained to work in the fields without actually being STEM majors. What is needed is better quantitative training in general.
I think a bigger problem is the occupational gender segregation of blue-collar workers.
Hibel: You are the founder of the Association for Women in Mathematics. What was your mission in creating this association and do you think your purpose has been fulfilled?
Gray: The purpose was to encourage more women and girls to study mathematics and to support those already in the field.
The mission has not been totally fulfilled, but when I got my Ph.D. 6 percent of the Ph.D.s in math went to women – for over 15 years the percentage has been at least in the mid-twenties. Not all STEM fields have done as well. Now starting positions and salaries are pretty much the same for women as for men although advancement can still be a problem.
Hibel: In addition to being a statistician and the founder of the AWM, you have an impressive background which includes such things as being an author, lecturer, lawyer, and advocate for numerous causes. What inspired your career path and what inspires you today about higher education?
Gray: I always liked math (and was good at it) and had a very good professor as an undergraduate. I eventually switched to statistics and its applications because I saw a more immediate effect on people and society. I have had help in the form of scholarships and the opportunity to live and work in the U.S. so I would like to help others who need help in a variety of ways. In particular, I think it is important to use the special skills – like quantitative ones – that one has.
I don’t find higher education nearly as inspiring as I used to. I feel higher ed is taking on too much of a corporate nature, with the roles of faculty, teaching, and learning reduced.
Hibel: According to a 2012 paper by Henry Sauermann and Michael Roach, “Even though academic research is often viewed as the preferred career path for Ph.D. trained scientists; most U.S. graduates enter careers in industry, government, or “alternative careers.” What do you think can be done to change this so those Ph.D. mathematicians are more inclined to choose a career in higher education?
Gray: I think most Ph.D.s in math actually do go into higher education. This is not true of statisticians or some other STEM fields. To get more statisticians into higher education, salaries need to go up and more attention needs to be paid to academic freedom and an atmosphere of nurturing learning.
Hibel: What are the consequences if we don’t have enough diversity, including women and minorities, working in mathematics in higher education?
Gray: Mainly the present situation will be self-perpetuating. But also, there are areas of research and application in STEM fields that are more emphasized by women researchers – fields like public health, environment, and equality. These fields may be underserved or under researched if there are not enough women in the field.
Hibel: What are the challenges that women in mathematics face that their male counterparts don’t and how can these be overcome in academia?
Gray: Women can be shut out if their extracurricular interests are different – for example my department is having a NCAA basketball final watching party (with pizza) for students tonight. I doubt that the attendance will reflect that we have quite a few female majors and faculty. Women’s ideas are often neglected until repeated by a man – who then takes the credit.
Lack of accessible childcare affects women more than men and the U.S. in general has woefully inadequate provisions.
Hibel: The American Mathematical Society has resources and career advice for new Ph.D.s seeking employment in academia. What are your top three pieces of advice for a new graduate hoping to enter a career in mathematics in higher education?
Gray:
- Specialize in fields where there is a shortage – statistics, certain areas of applied math (e.g., neuroscience).
- Do some interdisciplinary studying and work with researchers in a field of application.
- Get experience as a graduate student in teaching and in publication of research.
Hibel: The Mathematical Association of America offers resources, professional development, and other support to faculty and chairs in order “to advance mathematics at the collegiate level.” As a current chair of a department of mathematics and statistics, how important of a role do you think the department and the chair has in influencing the success of its faculty? How do you lead and support your faculty and staff in the department?
Gray: The department chair should play an influential role in helping the faculty to develop in the areas of research and teaching, this includes being a strong advocate with college and university administration for adequate financial and other resources. Recognition and reward of merit in research, teaching, work with students, and outreach are important. Consultation and feedback are crucial on a broad spectrum of issues.