AIP Selects Taharee Jackson as First Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Officer

WASHINGTON, October 5, 2020 — The American Institute of Physics welcomes Taharee Jackson as its first AIP Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Officer. Jackson is expected to begin her new role on Oct. 5.

Jackson’s appointment is a direct result of AIP’s commitment to emphasizing diversity and inclusion in the federation and throughout the physics and physical sciences community. She was selected from an initial pool of more than 60 candidates and is looking forward to leading AIP’s diversity efforts.

“I am delighted to join the AIP and am inspired by the institute’s unforced commitment to racial equity, diversity broadly, and change within itself and the federation’s member societies,” Jackson said. “I have been particularly inspired by AIP’s previous work in this arena with ‘The Time Is Now: Systemic Changes to Increase African Americans with Bachelor’s Degrees in Physics and Astronomy.’

“I look forward to working with AIP and its member societies on becoming better allies for one another, our fellow physical scientists, and future scientists-to-be who have not yet found their voice and place in the physical scientific community.”

Jackson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University and a doctorate degree from Emory University. She was an assistant professor of minority and urban education at the University of Maryland in College Park. She also worked for the Department of Defense National Defense University as an expert consultant and a diversity, equity, and inclusion program manager.

Michael Moloney, CEO of AIP, said Jackson will lead a powerhouse team that is focused on developing a diversity program building off the success of AIP’s TEAM-UP report.

“Taharee is an accomplished DEI professional with extensive experience across corporate, government, military, and nonprofit sectors,” Moloney said. “I am thrilled to welcome her to AIP, and I believe we have hired a proven leader as we set out to develop a strategy for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility.

“We look forward to expanding our current program, which has been focused on implementation of the TEAM-UP report, to a broad strategic response to the inequities faced by minority students and faculty, as well as anyone else who might not feel welcome or that they belong, in the physical sciences.”

Jackson’s team will include Arlene Modeste Knowles, formerly the project manager for the TEAM-UP study, who is currently developing implementation strategies built on the recommendations in the TEAM-UP report. 

Jackson said if physics and the physical sciences community hope to “educate, prepare, attract, support, and longitudinally retain scientists of color, women, members of the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and other great minds, we must honestly examine the physical scientific space to see where we might become more welcoming, diverse, equitable, and belonging-based.”

“We must examine how we as scientists and physicists can expand our tent, make more room, and do better by people who have been traditionally hindered, hampered, or outrightly excluded from our spaces,” she said. “We can transform the landscape of physics, physical science, and all of STEM by first facing ourselves and examining where we might change.”

Jackson was very impressed by the recommendations of the TEAM-UP report and developed a personal connection with the stories of the young scientists, recounting some of the roadblocks she faced during her education.

“I was moved to see how I might change the course of how all students of physics are welcomed equally into the worlds of physics and the physical sciences,” Jackson said. “Most importantly, I am deeply interested in how I might prevent future scientists in physics and related fields from suffering the same discriminatory trauma that far too many of us have faced in the sciences. We must do better by these bright, brilliant minds. And we shall!”

In her spare time, Jackson volunteers at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the USO Warrior and Family Center at Walter Reed. She also enjoys interior design, biking, kayaking, all manner of outdoor exercise, baking, and traveling.

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ABOUT AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS

The American Institute of Physics advances, promotes and serves the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity. AIP offers authoritative information, services, and expertise in physics education and student programs, science communication, government relations, career services for science and engineering professionals, statistical research in physics employment and education, industrial outreach, and the history of physics and allied fields.

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