HSPH Urges Support of Women

The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) Faculty Council sent a letter to University President Lawrence H. Summers last Friday calling for the continued support of HSPH women, marking the first formal response from any Harvard school other than the Faculty of Arts and Sciences since Summers’ controversial January comments about women in science.

With the intention “to convey our concerns and our hopes,” the one-page letter also addressed broader HSPH issues including the move to Allston and the promotion of a Global Health agenda.

The council praised Summers’ recent efforts—including his creation of the Task Force on Women Faculty and the Task Force on Women in Science and Engineering—and encouraged public reporting on the progress of women faculty.

According to the letter, 31 percent of HSPH’s faculty and 59 percent of its student body are female.

“Many of the faculty deal in the sciences, and many of the faculty are women, so we have a pretty informed constituency on that topic,” said Professor of International Health Jennifer Leaning ’68, who chairs the six-member Faculty Council.

The council acknowledged Summers’ recognition that his “words and actions...have not always been consistent” with Harvard’s values.

In their letter, the council members also mentioned the “resource constraints” plaguing HSPH and noted that Summers has begun to help HSPH address these concerns.

“Summers has been very forthcoming in providing funds and raising awareness among donors of the University that the School of Public Health is a deserving cause,” Leaning said. “We have already experienced the benefits, we appreciate his help, and there is more needed.”

She added that HSPH does not have the robust endowment that the Faculty of Arts and Sciences or some of the larger schools have.

The Council ended their letter with an invitation asking Summers to visit HSPH.

“We are inviting [Summers] into a process with us...Hopefully the letter speaks for itself and creates the environment for subsequent conversation,” Leaning said.

The letter came as the result of two special faculty meetings as well as phone and e-mail discussions, Leaning said.

Approximately 50 faculty members attended each of the two special all-faculty meetings, which took place in late February and early March, said HSPH Director of Communications Robin C. Herman.

A balance of men and women, junior and senior faculty, attended both meetings, Leaning said.

“There was a broad range of opinion [at the faculty meetings] but there was a strong overall sense for the need to look forward,” she said.

Leaning added that the letter’s respectful tone was important “particularly since we are urging upon all members of the University that there be a tone of respect and civility.”

According to Leaning, the Faculty Council hoped the letter conveyed “the proper balance of concern, constructive criticism, and specific positive suggestions for how to move forward.”

While faculty at the meetings mused over the letter’s tone, they generally agreed on what issues to address, Leaning said.

“The issues of gender and women in science...consumed the greater share of the discussions,” she said.

—Staff writer Lulu Zhou can be reached at luluzhou@fas.harvard.edu.