THE NEED FOR RESOURCESAs the umbrella of underrepresented groups spreads wide, it is hard to describe and provide resources for every single category. Indeed, the definition of underrepresented groups aims not to describe a specific type of individual, but rather to describe those who are not a specific type of individual.Because of this, I have included sections below with resources compiled from various individuals I have reached out to for resources, organized by what groups of individuals that the advice is most likely to apply to. With this said, the advice here could apply to anybody, even those who are not studying mathematics, or to those considered traditionaly advantaged in mathematics. And, one can (and should) argue, that it is a responsibility of those who are traditionally advantaged in academia due to their background to be aware of resources available to our friends and colleagues who come from underrepresented backgrounds. The resources here are compiled in no particular order than that which comes to my mind. As such, you will find that sections on the LGBTQ+ community and Women in mathematics are closer to the top (as both of my siblings fall into these categories), then ethnic backgrounds shortly after, followed by other items as they came to me from the individuals who provided me with resources. To that effect, I would like to thank the kind folks at AWM, Spectra, and the Ronald E. McNair Scholars program for their support and contributions in forming this webpage. I would also like to specificaly thank Dr. Janet Vassilev and Dr. Maria Cristina Pereyra of the University of New Mexico, for their specific contributions. GENERAL RESOURCESIf you come from an underrepresented background, or are otherwise traditinally disadvantaged in acadmia, a wonderful place to start is with your university's branch of the Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program. Their website at UNM can be found here.It is also good to be aware of the various items which those who have grown up around academia are aware of. In particular, familiarize yourself with the research opportunities available to you. A good starting point is looking into Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs. These are opportunities to participate in research (often done over the summer) as an undergraduate, while being supervised by a professor. These usually take place at universities other than your own, and serve as a great place to network. You can find a list of resources for these below.
Another great resource for those in mathematics is BRIDGES, a conference held at the University of Utah to support a diverse group of individuals. I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of individuals who went to BRIDGES, and they have had nothing but good things to say about it. Should it be a concern, I can personally speak to the fact that the University of Utah is quite inclusive with its policies. A link to the BRIDGES website can be found here. Similar conferences can often be found, but BRIDGES runs consistently, and is worth looking at. For just about everyone who is served by this page, check out Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics. They have resources for everyone, including students as young as those in middle school. I would also recommend, for those who need encouragement in tough times, the book Living Proof, published by the Mathematical Association of America. The corresponding blog posts for new stories are linked on their website. Another great resource for everyone is the Agora helpline. They are a crisis center associated with the University of New Mexico that is open to all. As they put it, you do not need to be "in crisis" to call or recieve help. Their services are available to all. MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITYThe first and foremost resource available to members of the LGBTQ community in mathematics is Spectra, the LGBTQ+ society for mathematicians and allies. You can find their webpage here, and I would encourage you to look through it. There, among other resources, you can find a list of members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies at various universities. Many of these individuals are open to being contacted about the culture at their university. I would also urge those who identify as women, transgender, or nonbinary to look at the "Women in Mathematics" section, as many of the resources there will likely be of use to you.You may also look into PFLAG, a national organization dedicated do helping members of the LGBTQ community. They have local chapters near most universities. It is also worth looking at local community resources. If you are in need, there are often many local therapists who specialize in LGBTQ patients. Look for local resources, such as the LGBTQ Affirmative Therapists Guild of Utah, or similar resources in your region (I primarily list Utah as this is a particularly difficult area to find somebody in). WOMEN IN MATHEMATICS For women in mathematics (or those who identify as transgender), a great place to start is with the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). You can find their webpage here, and it is worth bookmarking. I would also recommend reaching out to any women or transgender faculty members at your institution, as, in my experience, they often have a pile of local resources that they are willing to share with those who are interested (just see my list of contributors to this page). DIVERSE ETHNIC GROUPS IN MATHEMATICS For those who are from diverse ethnic groups (in mathematics this traditionally means anything other than Caucasian), a good first resource is the Center for Minorities in the Mathematical Sciences. For this particular group of individuals, resources often depend more on your particular ethnic heritage. For your convenience, I have unpacked the above link into a list below, but more items may have been listed on the website above. So if you don't see something for you listed here, check there! dwhavens@unm.edu |