Thomas Landefeld: Growing Minority Scientists

Thomas Landefeld, professor of biology, gave two lectures at Tennessee State University, in November. As a participant in a faculty development seminar series sponsored by the FASEB (The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology) MARC (Minority Access to Research Careers) Program, he presented “Becoming a Scientist: Considerations for the Minority Student in Choosing a career in Science” and “Reproduction: Mysterious, Magical and Mayhem.”

The former director of the CSUDH Bridges to the Baccalaureate Degree program, Landefeld also spoke at the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) Conference held in Miami in October. With “Minority Scientists: Where are they and why should we care?” he underscores the dearth of minority scientists who remain in academia after graduation.

“Despite the fact that some of the enrollments in grad and professional school, are increasing, the number of minority scientists at the professional level is still dismal,” he says. “More and more are going into industry, such as, pharmaceutical, gene, and technology companies.”

“Whether an institution is an urban or non-urban university, the only ones that are making inroads are those that have made a real commitment to recruit and retain minority students in the sciences,” he says. “For example, Virginia Tech recently announced that efforts by individual faculty in the area of minority and diversity issues will be considered for promotion, tenure and other rewards. Urban universities are often singled out due to their missions and sometimes their demographics. However it is something that all universities need to address.”

Landefeld addressed the student’s own responsibility for professional development with Dr. Phil Ortiz, area coordinator and mentor at the SUNY Natural Science, Mathematics, and Technology Center for Distance Learning. They presented “Career development in the Biomedical Sciences: What can professional Societies do for you” at the SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) annual national conference in October, focusing on the importance of networking and assuming leadership for future minority scientists.

“Networking is probably the most important one,” Landefeld says, naming the top three reasons that students should join professional societies. “Career development and opportunities is another one. Finally, I would say advocacy is the third as the voice of many is usually stronger than that of a few. I recently was able to get Jerome Nwachukwu  (Class of ’02, B.S., Biochemistry), a former U*STAR (Undergraduate Student Training Academic Research) scholar who is now in grad school at NYU on the Minority Affairs Committee of The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He not only networks even more with a select group of scientists but has a voice in decisions made by the society.”

In September, Landefeld served on a panel at the National Association of Medical Minority Educators (NAMME) Conference in Las Vegas, presenting “College Admissions and Strategies” to students from local high schools.

“NAMME is dedicated and committed to issues dealing specifically with minorities in medical fields,” he says. “Through the organization, issues such as standardized test scores, obstacles to applying and getting into schools, and retention are addressed outside of the realm of ‘white privilege.’ Primary education, community, and politics, play a major role in the higher education of minorities, and often in a negative way. NAMME looks at the issues from the perspective of those who are affected by these issues rather than those who do not.”

- Joanie Harmon-Whetmore