Women in the aerospace engineering faculty of higher education

The authors analyze US Department of Education and other available statistics on women and minorities in higher education. Those data are then compared to data collected on aerospace engineering faculty through a structured interview process applied to all US colleges and universities offering a baccalaureate degree in aerospace engineering. The data collected are analyzed to determine whether or not the participation of women in the aerospace engineering faculty is representative of the participation of women and minority faculty in higher education overall. These data are also compared to data on the number of women receiving engineering degrees, with attention given to those receiving doctoral degrees. This research effort offers a demographic analysis of engineering education as it proceeds to apply the general findings specifically to the field of aerospace engineering. The study also offers recommendations on how to encourage increased numbers of women to become engineering educators and analyzes why better representation has not yet been achieved