UMBC NSF AGEP Alliance Interview Study:

Evaluand was contracted to conduct qualitative interviews in support of the AGEP PROMISE Academy Alliance (APAA, NSF Award #1820971), a project funded by a National Science Foundation grant to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). Evaluand Principal Kirk Knestis interviewed 30 science and medical school and faculty, administrators, and leaders to examine institutional experiences of NSF-supported postdoctoral fellows transitioning into departments across the University System of Maryland, and to understand program- and institution-level factors influencing diversity, inclusion, and equity hiring initiatives and career supports more broadly. The interview protocol was framed to assess awareness, concern, and action across departments with positions supported by APAA funds at the UM Baltimore, UM College Park, UMBC, Salisbury University, and Towson University campuses. Analysis of interview narrative, managed by other members of the UMBC research team, developed summaries of departments’ readiness to embrace, support, and promote faculty diversity and inclusion initiatives for new faculty.