The STEM field demands more than technical expertise—it requires inclusive leadership, humanity, and diverse perspectives. Gloria Thomas, Ph.D., President of Higher Education Resource Services (HERS), underscores this truth in her approach to leadership. “Just because I’m a leader in science doesn’t necessarily mean I’m a leader of people,” she explains. “I can convene and get everyone to buy into my goals. That’s what leading is.”
The Challenge of Belonging: A persistent challenge in STEM is ensuring that women and gender-diverse students feel a true sense of belonging. Many women, especially women of color, invest years in building scientific expertise only to leave the academy due to systemic barriers and a lack of inclusivity. As Thomas observes, “When you’re learning to be more inclusive, you’re learning to value—I mean, truly value—other perspectives, not just give them the floor to say their piece.”
Science also needs liberal thinking and humanist perspectives; and an approach to engaging people in a way that everyone should have a voice.
This highlights a critical issue: inclusion must go beyond performative gestures. It’s not enough to offer a platform; it’s about actively engaging diverse voices, empowering them, and ensuring they influence the direction and goals of the field. Leaders must move away from top-down mandates and instead cultivate collaboration, bringing everyone on board to create a shared vision.
Building Inclusive Leadership: Cultivating inclusive leadership is essential for fostering environments where women and gender-diverse students feel they belong in STEM spaces. This means creating supportive ecosystems with mentorship programs, pathways for advancement, and policies that address their unique challenges and experiences. As Thomas notes, “One of the biggest obstacles for women and gender-diverse leaders at the undergraduate or graduate level is that they’re still a minority in STEM fields. It’s crucial to ensure they feel like they belong in that space too.”
When students and professionals see themselves represented and valued, it affirms their place in the field and encourages them to stay and contribute. Belonging is not just a feeling but a cornerstone for unlocking the full potential of a diverse talent pool.
Beyond Tokenism: Inclusive leadership in STEM requires a commitment to meaningful, systemic change. Tokenism and surface-level inclusion efforts fail to address the deeper issues at play. True inclusion values all voices and builds a culture where everyone can thrive. By embracing this approach, STEM can harness the innovative thinking and fresh perspectives that diversity brings, ultimately strengthening the field.
Thomas’s vision challenges leaders to reimagine how they engage with their teams and communities. “It’s about more than just valuing different perspectives,” she explains. “It’s about empowering those perspectives to shape the future of science.”
About Gloria Thomas:
Dr. Gloria D. Thomas, President of HERS since August 2021, is an entrepreneurial leader with over 20 years of experience in women\u2019s leadership development. She has held key roles at the University of North Carolina, the University of Michigan, and the American Council on Education (ACE). Previously, she directed the Carolina Women\u2019s Center and led initiatives like the NSF-funded TEAM ADVANCE and the NIH-funded PROMISE Study. At the University of Michigan, she was Executive Director of the Center for the Education of Women, and at ACE, she supported the ACE Fellows Program and Women\u2019s Networks. Dr. Thomas earned her B.A. from Swarthmore College, M.A. from Villanova University, and Ph.D. in Higher Education.
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