Faculty Diversity

Paul Penfield, Jr.

Abstract

The term "diversity" is used today for an environment that welcomes people of many races, religions, genders, national origins, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds, classes, or perhaps other kinds of differences. This paper examines why programs to increase faculty diversity in the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science may be in the department's self-interest. It is a personal statement by the author and does not necessarily represent a department consensus.