ASCB Minorities Affairs Committee Goals: "Strengthening the Chain of Success"

The Minorities Affairs Committee of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB-MAC) is an active standing committee of the Society with an aggressive agenda and a goal of inclusion. Its mission is fourfold: (1) To increase diversity among the ASCB members; (2) To bring issues related to minorities in science to the attention of ASCB members; (3) To assist in the professional development of minority scientists and in the education of minority science students; and (4) To provide opportunities for faculty members at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) not only to advance their research and teaching effectiveness, but also to establish long-term professional relationships with ASCB members. The Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) began at the ASCB in 1980 as an ad hoc committee called the Minority Affairs Committee. It was the brainchild of Winston Anderson who, at a breakfast meeting (during the annual meeting) with the Society president, Bill Brinkley, and others, including Peter Satir, discussed the role and presence of minorities in the Society. The MAC has now begun to examine more carefully trends in the number of minority students at various points in the pipeline leading to scientific careers, and it serves as a resource regarding these issues. The theme of MAC activity for the next few years is "Strengthening the Chain of Success--by Strengthening Each Link." New directions for the MAC include expanding the number of national laboratories with which the Committee is affiliated and expanding the Linkage Fellows Program to include more MSIs. MAC's recent accomplishments and programs are presented.