To the Editor:

The recent negative commentary directed at Dr. Mary Sansalone, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Student Life, Nov. 7) raises a number of issues. As we all know, change can be challenging, particularly the transformation of a long-standing culture in which many have become comfortable. At least part of the controversy appears to come from the method by which rapid and substantive changes were implemented by Dean Sansalone. In response to the faculty petition, Chancellor Wrighton convened an independent committee of senior faculty from outside of the Engineering School to review the situation and make a recommendation to him. The committee was provided with extensive documentation to review, and talked to every faculty member from within the Engineering School that wanted to speak with them. Based on a complete picture of the situation, with much more factual material than could be made publicly available, this committee unanimously supported Dean Sansalone.

Another possibility, not considered in the Student Life article, is a conditioned reaction to a woman behaving in such a confident and assertive manner. Numerous studies have demonstrated that this sort of behavior is outside of the typical gender schema for women, and is generally not well received by men and women alike. Often, such behavior by a man would be interpreted as courageous, visionary, and the mark of a strong leader, while a woman with the same behavior might be viewed as rash, aggressive, and abrasive.

Many of our sister institutions are rapidly moving forward to ensure that their university leadership more accurately reflects their student body populations. Our own undergraduate student body and many of our professional schools are already more than 50% women. In contrast, our faculty and administrators do not reflect this diversity, and this has been slow to change. In order to create a climate in which alternative outlooks, governing styles, and dynamic outreach is the norm, we need more Dean Sansalones, not fewer!

In her short time here, Dean Sansalone has advanced a strategic plan for transforming the School of Engineering by brilliantly leveraging the strengths of Washington University across schools. Unfortunately, this and many other accomplishments were not highlighted in the timeline depicted in the November 7th article. It’s worth remembering that transformation does not come about easily, and we should all be alert to the possibility that some of the resistance and discomfort may be attributable to experiencing a woman leader in a traditionally male-dominated culture.

Sincerely,

Ingrid Borecki, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Genetics
The Academic Women’s Network

Sally Goldman, Ph.D.
Professor of Computer Science & Engineering
The Association of Women Faculty

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