Proactive strategies for an inclusive faculty search process

Each faculty search for new academic colleagues consumes significant time and energy for all parties involved, from the applicants to the search committee, other engaged colleagues, and leadership that aid in negotiations along the way. The goal here is to present specific approaches employed in a recent search process that were designed to contribute to an inclusive search process. Challenges and opportunities presented by performing the search during a global pandemic are incorporated. The detailed description of each step in the search should both be helpful to those planning their own faculty searches and to applicants who will benefit from seeing the process demystified. A case study on an inclusive faculty hiring process at Emory University provides advice for institutions creating their own hiring panels and workflows.

Automated summary

This article presents specific approaches utilized in a recent faculty search process to contribute to an inclusive hiring process, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by a global pandemic. The detailed description of each step in the search provides guidance for institutions planning their own faculty searches and insights for applicants in understanding the process.