Kate Arnold

I am the Dean of York Graduate Research School with strategic oversight of the 2400+ Postgraduate Researchers at the University. As a woman in STEM, I am aware of the need for positive role models, allies and mentors at every career stage. Within my academic department, I spearheaded cultural and policy change by leading two Athena SWAN applications and via supporting other departments in their ED&I activities. This led to my external appointment as member and then Chair of Equality Challenge Unit panels.

As Dean, my aim is to widen access and participation to postgraduate research for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants. Research in the USA has shown that of PhD programmes that enrolled and graduated more women and underrepresented minority students than their field, every single one reformed recruitment and selection processes. I believe that RECG will provide a forum to discuss the latent (but powerful) cultural norms, priorities, and perceptions about our standard gatekeeping practices which continue to define who ‘belongs’ in HE and on what basis.