Policies & Governance

The AWM’s mission is to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in the mathematical sciences, supporting individuals and institutions as we all work to make a more just and equitable community. Achieving this vision relies on the continued efforts of AWM’s committees and the work that they do. The AWM is governed by an elected Executive Committee. AWM’s bylaws and committee handbooks guide how AWM manages its business, and the Election Lifecycle indicates how nominations and appointments happen for the Executive Committee.

AWM Guiding Documentation:

Nominate for the Executive Committee

Are you interested in serving on the Executive Committee? Do you have a colleague to recommend?

Nominate Here

The timeline for AWM election cycles is below. All references are to the AWM Bylaws.

even year Nov. 24 Newsletter Ed. puts into copy for Jan. Newsletter a request to membership for suggestions (due by 12/15 to Pres.) for officers to be elected upcoming odd Fall [4.4(b&c)].
odd year Jan. 1 Newsletter carries notice described above.
odd year January Exec. Comm. mtg. Exec. Comm. appoints and charges a Nominating Comm. [President implements] [4.4(b) part 1]
odd year Feb. 1 There is no change in the individuals making up the Executive Committee. (The President-Elect becomes President and the President becomes Past President)
odd year Feb. 15 President and Past President forward suggestions received from members to Nom. Comm. Chair by 2/15.
odd year May 1 Nominating Comm. reports their slate to President & President to Executive Committee.
odd year May 24 Newsletter Ed.  puts proposed slate into copy for July issue with petitioning rights and regulations from end of 4.4(b).
odd year July 1 Newsletter appears which has slate and petition notice as above.
odd year Sept. 1 “Before September 1” a petition (20 members’ signatures) for a name to appear on ballot must reach President [4.4(b)] who notifies Newsletter Editor.
odd year Sept. 24 Newsletter Editor fixes copy for ballot for November issue.
odd year Nov. 1 Newsletter  ballot appears in Nov/Dec Newsletter [4.4(c)] and returned ballots must reach the Clerk by December 15. [4.4(d)]
odd year November Executive Committee appoints or reappoints a Newsletter Editor, Web Editor and a Meetings Coordinator. [4.2]
odd year December If any offices are contested on the ballot, Clerk should notify all concerned immediately after December 15 so January meeting travel plans can be modified if desired.
even year Jan. Exec. Comm. mtg. At the January Exec. Comm. meeting at JMM in even years, the Executive Committee is composed of the “old” officers because all new officers take office February 1.
even year Feb.1 New officers assume their offices.

This Conflict of Interest Statement applies to all people on committees or who otherwise represent AWM. A copy of this conflict of interest statement passed by the AWM Executive Committee, Vancouver, 8/16/93, shall be published once a year in the AWM Newsletter, and any member serving as an officer or on a committee shall be advised of the policy upon undertaking her duties.

A conflict of interest may exist when the interest (financial or other) or concerns of any member of AWM, or the member’s immediate family, or any group or organization to which the member has an allegiance or duty, may be seen as competing or conflicting with the interests or concerns of AWM.

When any such potential conflict of interest is relevant to a matter requiring participation by the member in any action by AWM or any of its committees to which the member belongs, the interested party shall call it to the attention of AWM or the committee and such person shall not vote on the matter. Moreover, the person having a conflict shall retire from the room in which the organization or its committee is meeting (or from a conference call) and shall not participate in the final deliberation or decision regarding the matter under consideration.

The foregoing requirements shall not be construed as preventing the member from briefly stating her position in the matter, nor from answering pertinent questions of other members, as her knowledge may be of great assistance.

The minutes of the meeting of the organization or committee shall reflect when the conflict of interest was disclosed and when the interested person did not vote. When there is a doubt as to whether a conflict of interest exists, and/or whether a member should refrain from voting, the matter shall be resolved by a vote of the organization (or its committee), excluding the person concerning whose situation the doubt has arisen.

2024 Diversity Task Force Action Report

Introduction

In spring 2018, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) leadership formed a task force whose charge included to “understand and improve how AWM functions, and to consider new initiatives that would promote inclusivity in our organization.” The task force was asked to read background documents; gather input from AWM leadership and membership as well as the broader mathematical community; and to engage in direct discussion that would lead to a report with recommendations to be prepared for the AWM Executive Committee. The task force report is here.

Much has changed since 2018, including a major disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and a new management model for the AWM. Nevertheless, the AWM took the recommendations suggested by the task force seriously. This report is intended to detail a few of the initiatives undertaken over the past six years and to record changes in AWM demographics and structure. 

Task Force Recommendation 1: A greater effort should be made so that the top positions (President, President-elect, Treasurer, Clerk and Newsletter Editor, Meetings Coordinator and Media Coordinator) have ethnic diversity. 

Achievements: Since 2018, the officers and the executive committee have seen a significant increase in representation by women of color. This increase can be attributed to an intentional effort on the part of the nominating committee, led by past AWM presidents, to create a more diverse slate of candidates. There are fifteen Executive Committee members including the seven officers explicitly mentioned in recommendation 1.

  • In 2018, there were no women of color among the AWM officers; the Executive Committee (EC) had 30% women of color.
  • In 2020, women of color made up 14% of AWM officers and 47% of the EC.
  • In 2022, women of color made up 43% of AWM officers and 40% of the EC. 
  • In 2024, women of color made up 86% of AWM officers and 63% of the EC. 

Task Force Recommendation 2: A greater effort should be made so that there is ethnic and non-binary gender-conforming diversity in AWM plenary speakers and other AWM programming. 

Initiatives: 

  • The AWM updated its mission statement in 2021 and again in 2024. In both cases, input from the community drove the changes, designed to modernize the language and be more gender-inclusive. 

Mission Statement (2018): The purpose of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to encourage women and girls to study and to have active careers in the mathematical sciences, and to promote equal opportunity and the equal treatment of women and girls in the mathematical sciences.

Mission Statement (2021): The purpose of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to create a community in which women and girls can thrive in their mathematical endeavors, and to promote equitable opportunity and treatment of women and others of marginalized genders and gender identities across the mathematical sciences.

Mission Statement (2024):The purpose of the Association for Women in Mathematics is to create a community in which women and girls can thrive in their mathematical endeavors and to promote equitable opportunity and gender-inclusivity across the mathematical sciences.

  • The language in the call for participation for the AWM poster sessions and AWM workshops was revised to welcome a more diverse set of participants and to include nonbinary mathematicians. Further, the Meetings Portfolio has committed to requesting post-event reports to capture demographic information of organizers, speakers, panelists, etc.
  • The AWM/MfA Essay Contest and the Mentor Network Committees have updated the language on their websites to include women and others of marginalized genders. The SK Days webpage emphasizes that the events are open to all.
  • The EvenQuads Committee has advertised the EvenQuads playing cards through the NAM newsletter and hopes to expand their marketing efforts to SACNAS and Indigenous Mathematicians for the next deck. They are considering translating the biographies of women into Spanish.
  • The Awards Portfolio has made a concerted effort to change the profile of AWM award recipients over the past six years. A Canvassing Committee was established to encourage nominations of underrepresented populations for AWM Awards and the selection committees were asked to participate in training on implicit bias. An oversight committee was established to review and approve all award recipients with an eye toward diversity. The Mary and Alfie Gray Award for Social Justice was established to reward the vigorous and imaginative application of the mathematical sciences to advancing the cause of social justice, defined as promoting a just society by challenging injustice and valuing diversity. The description of the Alice T. Schafer Prize, given for excellence in mathematics by an undergraduate woman, was revised in an effort to broaden the definition of excellence in mathematics and encourage applications from institutions that are under-resourced. 
  • The Publications and Research Communities portfolio is still relatively new, but has already contributed toward the shared goals of furthering inclusion and diversity. For example, members of the RCCW/RN Committee organized a panel at the last AWM Research Symposium that specifically focused on how to increase and encourage diverse participation in our research workshops and conferences. The AWM launched a new journal, La Matematica (LaMa), created specifically to be a high-quality journal with an editorial board that is representative of all communities and that solicits submissions from a diverse audience.

Achievements: From 2019–2024, more than 50% of the following public presentations have been delivered by people who present as women of color:

  • AWM Research Symposium* (50% in 2019, 67% in 2022, 80% in 2023)
  • Falconer Lecturer (67%)
  • WeSpeak Series (67%)

Task Force Recommendation 3: The AWM could explore and strengthen partnerships (e.g., sponsorship of joint programming, membership reciprocity agreements, joint grant proposals, etc.) with other organizations such as SACNAS, NAM, SPECTRA (LGBTQ mathematicians), Project NExT, International Mathematical Union, (DC area) Caucus for Women in Statistics, associations/organizations with a focus on women mathematicians in other countries, etc. 

Initiatives: The AWM has had a presence at SACNAS (NDiSTEM) for two years and will consider making this a more permanent feature going forward. In 2024, AWM had a table at the Modern Math Workshop (MMW) that precedes the NDiSTEM meeting. AWM had a table at the Project NExT event before MathFest and has been advertising our events through the Project NeXT director, who serves on our Education and Outreach Portfolio Committee. The Mentoring Network, the Essay Contest, and the EvenQuads project have all made a concerted effort to advertise to a diversity of communities. 

In the spirit of collaboration, the AWM has provided exhibit space at JMM to EDGE and the Smith PostBac program. Other organizations also have been offered a booth, including the Caucus for Women in Statistics and the Women in Math Education (the pandemic interrupted, and they were unable to use this space). AWM has established a strong partnership with the National Alliance of Actuarial Women and Allies (NAWA), as well as other groups wishing to sponsor women in mathematics (Jane Street, the Society of Actuaries, Citadel, CCR, Math For America, LUZCO technologies, Tower Research Capital). AWM was able to sponsor the EDGE Program in 2023 for their 50th Anniversary. AWM has appointed representatives to the organizing events in advance of the International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia, in collaboration with the IMU Committee on Women 

Task Force Recommendation 4: AWM should develop a systematic long-term strategy to address the pipeline issue in a number of ways. First, develop methods to get people involved at an earlier stage in their careers. Secondly explore the possibility of innovative leadership

sharing with partner organizations.

Initiatives: AWM leadership has made a concerted effort to appoint committee members from different backgrounds and at varying career stages. Constituents are more routinely rotated into and out of these positions in order to give new people the opportunity to serve. The Playing Cards Committee welcomes many volunteers (around 300) for a variety of tasks. Student chapter members have been appointed to a few committees including the Membership Portfolio, the Mentor Network Committee, the Student Chapters Committee, and the new Communicating Employment Opportunities Series. Significantly, the Membership dues structure has been changed.  In particular, AWM Student Chapters are asked to enroll their chapter and their chapter members so that we can better engage with them and keep them in the pipeline throughout their careers. More resources have been allocated to serving the student chapters, including staff support and a new virtual seminar series on careers in mathematics. 

Achievements: The AWM has experienced a demographic shift in membership, not entirely attributable to actions taken by the Association. The change in management companies and the pandemic also impacted our membership. AWM had 3,294 individual members and 208 Institutional members and sponsors in 2018. In 2024, there were 3,460 individual members and 298 institutional members and sponsors (109 of these are student chapters, which were not recorded in the 2018 counts). The number of complimentary memberships (students and faculty or staff sponsored by their institutions or student chapter members) in 2018 was 2,250. In 2024, that number increased to 2,440. Student chapter members increased from 198 to 1,073 (the number of faculty and student nominees correspondingly decreased from 2,052 to 1,376). 

Task Force Recommendation 5: Have an AWM presence – roundtable, lunch, featured speaker, etc. – at regional MAA meetings. These attract faculty from less research oriented venues – liberal arts colleges, community colleges, and university faculty more focused on teaching. In particular, in some regions, there is good representation of faculty from minority-serving institutions, and there could be even more if some effort were put into it. Getting these new audiences would provide new leadership recruitment opportunities, and organizing an AWM regional event would be good training for members and perhaps future leaders. 

Initiatives: The MAA has funded a new lecture series intended to bring AWM Speakers to regional MAA conferences https://maa.org/maa-section-lecturer-series/#AWM-Speakers. AWM has an increased presence at MAA MathFest and has made a concerted effort to sponsor an Invited Paper Session and other novel sessions. 

Task Force Recommendation 6: Develop metrics to measure the progress AWM is making in matching public statements to actual policy. 

Initiatives: The AWM Policy & Advocacy Committee made a number of statements between 2018 and 2024 covering related topics:

  • 2018 Policy Statement on Diversity and Inclusion
  • 2018 Statement of AWM Concern for Transgender Civil Rights Protections
  • 2018 Statement of Deep Concern about the Location of ICM2022
  • 2019 Response to Dr.Thompson’s Letter in the AMS Notices (regarding Diversity Statements)
  • 2020 Solidarity with the National Association of Mathematicians
  • 2020 Strike for Black Lives
  • 2020 Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping
  • 2021 Statement in Support of AAPI Community
  • 2022 Reiteration of Concerns around the 2022 ICM
  • 2022 Concern for Transgender Civil Rights Protections
  • 2022 On the Supreme Court Decision to Repeal Roe v. Wade
  • 2023 Statement on Protests in Iran 
  • 2023 Statement on Opposing Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Transgended Legislation
  • 2023 Statement on 2023 AWM Research Symposium
  • 2023 Statement on Opposing Legislation that Limit DEI Programs

In addition to these statements, the AWM signed on to several endorsements that support inclusivity. 

  • 2022 Request for U.S. Administrative Support Ukrainian Scientists
  • 2022 CBMS Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Mathematical Sciences
  • 2022 Supporting Section 80303 in America COMPETES Act 
  • 2022 Support for LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act (H.R. 4716)
  • 2022 Letter to Senators on the Senate Women in STEM Caucus
  • 2023 Data Science and Literacy Act Endorsement
  • 2023 Endorsement of the Reintroduction of the LGBTQI+ Data Inclusion Act
  • 2023 Endorsement of the Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act
  • 2024 Endorsement of the Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act

Finally, AWM Hill days not only work as a means to advocate for women in mathematics, but are a great way to engage younger mathematicians. The Government Advocacy Committee (GAC) subcommittee of the P&A has worked with groups outside the traditional pipeline, including a diverse high school STEM chapter and a college which primarily serves first-generation college students.

Task Force Recommendation 7: Continuing engagement of the work being done on inclusion in other/related disciplines may be important as the AWM moves forward in its work and partnering with organizations listed in item 3. 

Initiatives: The AWM has Initiated and supported programs that educate the AWM community about issues of race, gender, and class, and those that  develop key skills such as leadership and collaboration. AWM held workshops in 2020 and 2022 (Moving Toward Action, Aligning Action at Crossroads) to provide a baseline education in racial, ethnic, and gender harassment awareness and mitigation. At JMM in 2021, the AWM organized a panel on Equity, Ethics, and Bias in Math as a way to share expertise on these issues with our community. Many of our executive committee and meetings committee members are trained as MathSafe Volunteers for the JMM.

Room for Growth: The AWM remains committed to increasing representation in leadership and being inclusive of all communities and voices. 

As approved by the AWM Awards Selection Committee, 2022.

Purpose:  A recipient of an honor, award, or prize (“award(s)”) of the AWM is expected to not only meet commonly held standards of professional behavior, ethics, and integrity (see [3]), but also to continue to act as an advocate for the inclusion of women and other minorities in mathematics. These award(s) are intended to encourage work that furthers the goals of the AWM and/or enhances the prestige of the AWM within the mathematical profession broadly considered.  The goal of the AWM is to encourage the participation and advancement of women in mathematics.  Failure to meet professional standards can discourage participation and persistence in mathematics and thus hinders the work of the AWM.  Similarly, actions that clearly discourage women and minorities from pursuing or remaining in mathematics, even when they do not fall under the category of unprofessionalism, go against the mission of the AWM and its efforts to make mathematics a more inclusive field. Therefore, all awards granted by AWM are subject to this Revocation Policy. In the rare case that the winner of one or more AWM awards no longer meets this expectation or ceases to merit the awards(s), the AWM may revoke the award(s). A revocation may or may not be accompanied by a public announcement.  See the Scope and Procedures below.  

Scope:  This statement of policy and procedure applies only to awards available to individuals over the age of 18 (it does not apply, for example, to winners of essay contests whose entrants are often students less than 18 years old).

     The AWM will, in its sole and absolute discretion, consider and act on formal, fully documented requests for revocation of an award.  Such requests must provide a clear statement of the alleged serious breach of professional integrity or professional ethics, or of the actions that clearly discourage the participation of women and minorities in mathematics. For sample statement(s) of professional behavior, code of ethics, and integrity see [4, 5].  Each request for such a revocation will be handled consistently with the procedures below.

Examples of breaches of professional standards include (but are not limited to): 

  1. serious, damaging or intentional plagiarism and self-plagiarism, misrepresentation of sources, inaccurate citations;
  2. exploitation of junior faculty, postdocs, students, or other members of our community
  3. physical violence, threat, or coercion aimed at furtherance of professional goals;
  4. sexual misconduct, harassment, bullying;
  5. retaliation for reporting violations of professional standards; or
  6. retaliation for refusing to accommodate unprofessional demands.

Breaches of professional ethics/misconduct might also include discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, biological sex, or gender identity.  Harassment and/or retaliation for reporting harassment or misconduct may constitute a breach of professional ethics.  This policy applies to activities wherever they take place.  For the purposes of this policy, the alleged misconduct may have been directed against a superior, a peer, a subordinate, student, or other vulnerable person in the course of professional activity.

A formal request for revocation of an AWM honor or award must be signed, submitted in writing, and include a credible basis for consideration (see the Procedures below). For the avoidance of doubt, any person is permitted to submit a formal request for revocation, including, but not limited to, former or current AWM directors, officers, agents or employees. Media reports alone will not suffice as a credible basis.  AWM will consider only requests for revocation submitted within four years of the publication of information on which the request is based.  AWM will not consider requests for revocation if the honoree/award winner is deceased. Revocation may be accompanied by a public statement.   If the award included prize money or travel reimbursement, the AWM will accept repayment, but not demand repayment of monetary prizes.  Other benefits of the award will be ended.

Procedures: 

  1. A request for revocation of an award must be submitted in writing to the AWM Executive Director, or if submitted by the AWM Executive Director to the chairperson of the Executive Committee (the “Chair”).  It may be submitted by postal mail or by email.  If submitted by email it must include an electronic signature.  It must detail the alleged misconduct and sources so that AWM can consult to verify the alleged misconduct.  It must provide supporting documentation. The identity of the requestor will be kept confidential, except as required by law.  The request must include a signed written agreement to maintain confidentiality of the matter until AWM concludes its review and makes a decision. 
  2. A credible basis for consideration of possible revocation must include (i) a report or formal announcement of investigative findings and/or actions by a credible body, or (ii) a signed formal admission of the conduct by the honoree.   Credible bodies include (a) a federal or state agency (e.g., NSF or Dept of Education);  (b) a professional society affiliated with the CBMS, including the AWM itself; (c) an accredited academic institution; or (d) a court of law.  AWM will not consider requests for revocation made more than 4 years after such evidence is publicly available. 
  3. The AWM Executive Director (or a deputy approved by the AWM Executive Committee) will review the request and recommend to the AWM Executive Committee whether it is substantive and contains sufficient documentation for further action.  The Executive Committee may then dismiss the request or proceed with the Procedures. 
  4. AWM will not investigate the allegations in a written request for revocation beyond verifying the documents. 
  5. If the Executive Committee decides to proceed, it will form a 4-member ad hoc Revocation Panel to hear the case.  This panel will consist of four AWM members willing to serve until the case is resolved.  The Panel will set a reasonable timeline for its work and a reasonable deadline for receiving any responses under items 6 and 7 below. The expectation is that this work will be completed no later than six months from the time the Panel has been formed. 
  6. The Executive Committee will notify in writing the person (“respondent”) whose AWM award is under consideration for revocation, stressing that the matter will be treated confidentially until a decision is reached.  The respondent will be offered a chance to resign the award before the Panel makes its decision.  The respondent may review the documentation of the request and submit a response to the Panel, either in writing or by telephone/videoconference.  Such a conference will have a structure devised by the Panel, will have limited time and scope, and will not include a lawyer or other adviser to the respondent. 
  7. The Executive Committee will also notify the chair of the committee that recommended the award and allow that chair to present a response to the revocation request. This is an exception to item 4.
  8. After its deadline for responses (see items 6 and 7) the panel will consider the question of revocation taking into account the documentation of the original request and any responses received.  Upon completion of its deliberations, the Panel will vote on a motion to revoke the award by a secret ballot offering the options “revoke” or “do not revoke.” All Panel members must vote during this secret ballot. If at least three of the four Panel members vote to revoke, the award will be considered revoked.  There will be no option of reconsideration or appeal. If the award is not revoked, and the Executive Committee determines that some infraction did occur, it may send a letter of reprimand (with or without educational materials intended for restorative justice). 
  9. The Panel will then present a summary report to the AWM Executive Committee, including the result to revoke or not to revoke, but not including the vote tally nor the names of those voting for or against the revocation.  The Executive Committee will share this report and the outcome of the vote with the respondent, the author of the original request to revoke, and with the chair of the committee that recommended the original award. 
  10.  If the award has been revoked, the Executive Committee will decide, in its sole and absolute discretion, whether to make a public announcement of that fact and how to publicize it.  The announcement may include a brief statement of the relevant background and factors leading to the decision. 
  11.  In cases where the award is not revoked, but there is evidence that the Honoree discouraged the participation and advancement of women in mathematics (via any of the items listed under Examples of breaches above), the panel may recommend that the Executive Committee issue a lesser penalty than award revocation, for example a reprimand letter (see item 8 above).
  12.  If additional information comes to light after a decision has been made, the AWM Executive Committee will determine whether the issue should be reopened. In such a case as it is reopened, the process will return to Step 5 with an initial invitation to original ad hoc committee members. When original members are unable to participate, new members will be included in the ad hoc committee. 
  13.  After Step 10, the AWM President should disband the Panel with thanks for its hard work.  In general, a Panel member should be excused from service on all subsequent Revocation Panels, except as outlined in Step 12. 

Process for approval and amendment of this proposed policy:  

(i)  The Awards Portfolio Committee will discuss and amend this document as it sees fit, by majority vote if consensus is not reached.  

(ii) The document will then be submitted to the AWM Executive Committee for approval and implementation.  

(iii) This Policy and its Procedures will be reviewed at most every 3 years, or at the discretion of the AWM Executive Committee.  

(iv) Requests for revision will be submitted to the Awards Portfolio Committee for consideration/approval as in (i/ii).

Acknowledgement:  AWM gratefully acknowledges the examples of related policies published by the AAAS and the Societies Consortium, which were helpful in drafting this policy.  

  1. AAAS Council Fellow Revocation Policy, retrieved April 15, 2020.
  2. AAAS Statement on Scientific Freedom and Responsibility, retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. AAUP Statement on Professional Ethics, retrieved April 15, 2020. 
  4. MAA Welcoming Environment, Code of Ethics, and Whistleblower Policy, retrieved April 15, 2020.
  5. AMS Ethical Guidelines, retrieved April 15, 2020.