Colorado College
PA-7: Support for Future Faculty Diversity

The Riley Scholars-in-Residence Program reflects the conviction that a strong minority presence on the faculty of a liberal arts college benefits the entire community. Scholars of African, Asian, Hispanic, and Native American ethnic identity afford the College a diversity of experience and perspective otherwise difficult to attain. The Riley-Scholars program brings in scholars of underrepresented groups and works to mentor them through the process of their dissertation and in ultimately pursuing careers in academia. By their presence as well as their knowledge, not only do these scholars help to create diversity within the teaching staff on campus and help to enlarge the world of their students and colleagues but also support students of underrepresented groups as they too pursue future careers in academia. Academic departments collaborate with the Dean and the President to recruit promising Riley Scholars-in-Residence candidates to provide minority scholars with dissertation and post-doctoral fellowships and to encourage them to pursue careers in undergraduate teaching. Riley Scholars teach two or three courses per year, receive funds to support research and interact regularly with the Colorado College community. Colorado College boasts one of the largest and most successful Riley Scholars program in the country. After completing this program many Riley Scholars continue on to be hired as tenure faculty either at Colorado College or other academic institutions across the country. Currently, there are six Riley Scholar positions filled for the 2015-2016 academic year. A talent acquisition manager serves in CC's Human Resources department to ensure that the institution does all it can to hire and retain a highly talented, diverse staff and faculty.