Inclusivity at NIST: 

Update
NIST Core Values

Excellence: We apply rigor and critical thinking to achieve world-class 

results and continuous improvement in everything we do.

Integrity: We are ethical, honest, independent, and objective.

Inclusivity: We work collaboratively. We value diversity of people and 

ideas to attain the best solutions to multidisciplinary challenges. 

Perseverance: We take the long view. We use science and imagination 

to create positive impacts for our stakeholders.

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Building Inclusivity Through Equity 

Steering Group for Equity in Career Advancement 

• Representatives from across NIST – career laboratory staff, 

managers, HR and Civil Rights and Diversity Office

• Key advisor to NIST Director and Associate Director for 

Laboratory Programs 

3

The mission of the Steering Group is to 

identify the causes of apparent inequities in 

promotions at NIST for women and minority 

researchers and make recommendations. 
SGECA Actions to Date 

Created additional training and staff 

engagement opportunities 

Developed and shared new data

analysis tools and other best practices

Advised NIST Director and ADLP on 

promotion criteria, inclusivity summit, 

and more 

Established external contract and 

internal detailees to conduct datadriven investigations

Presented to VCAT in October 2019 
Update: External Study of Promotion Disparity

• University of Oregon COACh to 

analyze career advancement process 

for STEM disciplines; identify critical 

factors in promotion disparity, 

including causes and trends 

• Presented Preliminary Prevention 

Plan to NIST Director and AD’s Jan. 31, 

2020 

• Survey and focus groups targeted for 

March and April 2020 

• Develop sustainable approaches, 

methods, and models that can be 

replicated and/or built upon by NIST 

• Final presentation targeted April 2021 

Dr. Geraldine Richmond 

Presidential Chair in Science and Professor of 

Chemistry at the University of Oregon, member of 

the National Academy of Sciences and a National 

Medal of Science Laureate. Founding and current 

director of COACh, a grassroots organization based 

out of UO with mission to increase the number and 

success of women and underrepresented groups in 

science and engineering. 

Dr. Celeste Rohlfing

COACh board member and senior executive with broad experience in 

federal agencies, nonprofits, and national laboratories. 

Ms. Priscilla Lewis

COACh coordinator. 

Dr. Jean Stockard

Professor Emerita at UO and senior research director for COACh. 

Mathematics and sociology expertise, author on equity issues. 

About the team: 

Other team members include Dr. Pamela Cook, UNIDEL Professor of Mathematical Sciences at the 

University of Delaware; Dr. Mary Silber, Professor in the Statistics Department at the University of 

Chicago; Dr. Jane Tucker, Principal at J. Tucker Associates; Dr. Barbara Butterfield, Senior Consultant at 

Sibson; and Ms. Ernestine Taylor, Principal at ET Consulting and Executive Coaching.
Ongoing Data-Driven Efforts to Advance Equity 

Rotational Assignments to 

Study Equity, Diversity and 

Inclusion 

• All NIST staff invited to apply for 

opportunity to spend up to one 

year on detail to NIST Associate 

Director of Laboratory Programs 

• Pilot effort is partnership 

between SGECA, Office of 

Human Resources 

Management, and ADLP 

• Nine proposals received from 

staff in Boulder, Charleston, and 

Gaithersburg 

NIST computer scientist Mary Theofanos 

Project: “Assess the Inclusivity of Women 

at NIST” 

NIST materials scientist Laura Espinal 

Project: “Inclusivity Network Analysis as a First 

Step to Harness Human and Social Capital for 

Innovation at NIST” 

Presented to VCAT in October 2019 
Update: Assessing the Inclusivity of Women at NIST

Phase 1

Existing HR Data 

Phase 2

Qualitative (Indepth Interviews) 

Phase 3

Quantitative 

Protocol (Survey)

Interpretation

Results 

Behavioral Science Mixed Methods Approach

Purpose: To explore the differences in the 

ways in which men and women experience 

work at NIST. 

1. Quantitative data cannot explain the how 

and why. 

2. Qualitative data can.

How do men and women describe their 

work experiences?

What do opportunities for men and 

women look like at NIST?

Progress:

• Analyzing existing HR data

• Completed 20 of 40 in-depth interviews on 

staff experiences 

• Targeting June for quantitative survey of all 

Federal staff 
Update: Inclusivity Network Analysis

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Proof of concept developed with preliminary data 

in partnership with the Information Services Office

Purpose: develop a method to measure the degree of inclusivity at 

NIST in several areas, starting with how we interact with each other in 

publishing the results of our research. 

Approach: mapping networks and “clustering patterns” of interaction 

among NISTers according to various diversity categories, such as 

general demographics, expertise, and work history.

Impact: writing papers is an activity critical to our mission that could 

be used to highlight contributions from teams that include not only 

feds but also associates, a subgroup in our STEM workforce that at 

times feels excluded. 

Status: completed a lengthy 

internal NIST review for:

- IT security 

- IT privacy 

- Human subjects 
Update: Training Opportunities

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In FY 2020, SGECA is again partnering with Office of Human Resources Management, 

and Civil Rights and Diversity Office to offer training. Sample courses: 

“What’s your 

Micro Trigger”

“Inclusive 

Leadership”

“Difficult 

Conversations in a 

Diverse Workplace”

“Disrupting 

Everyday Bias”

“Bystander 

Intervention”
New 

Mentoring 

Program 

Randomly selected 75 participants from federal employee applicants

Orientation sessions in Gaithersburg and Boulder: 150 mentees & mentors

Matching process is happening NOW 

Training targeted for March 
Organizational 

Ombuds

NIST is piloting an 

Organizational Ombuds

to provide support and 

assistance to members 

of the NIST community 

in addressing workrelated conflicts. 

The NIST Ombuds will:

 Provide a safe place to share thoughts and 

confidences

 Listen without judgment

 Help analyze situations

 Provide information on NIST policies, processes 

and procedures

 Help construct approaches to resolve stated issues

 Refer individuals to other available resources

 Identify trends and systemic issues

 Operate according to the International 

Ombudsman Association's Code of Ethics
Learning 

from Experts
Other Activities 

Ongoing efforts to better understand 

issues where equity, inclusion, and 

diversity require attention and action 

Data analysis on 

demographics, starting 

salaries, time-in-band, 

and more

Teams focused on 

sharing analysis tools 

and implementing 

solutions

Formalizing conduct 

expectations 

Promoting philosophies 

and practices that lead to 

fairness and equity