Lisette Farias Vera – New Junior Academic Leader for WISE

”The WISE (Women in Science and Education) network is an initiative that follows KI's Strategy 2030, which among other things, aims to ensure equal conditions and career paths for all employees. Accordingly, the network was created to strengthen KI's strategy by consolidating qualification opportunities for women seeking a career in science and education. As such, this is a network for anyone who identifies as a woman/female junior and senior researcher and teacher.” Please sign up here to get notification for upcoming events.

What does this role entail? What will you do? 

”As a Junior Academic Leader, I will work closely with the Senior Academic Leader to organize knowledge-exchange events and career-related resources to bring together KI's female scholars and address their career needs. I will focus on raising awareness within KI of the needs of the members, as well as creating solutions by supporting members in developing their skills and shaping the conditions that can help them to pursue and achieve their academic goals.”

What made you apply for the assignment? 

”As a female and Latina scholar, I have followed the robust international and national evidence on gender inequality in academia, and witnessed the many obstacles women face in perusing their careers. These insights have shaped my personal life and work. For example, one of my lines of research has focused on problematizing the gender binary and gender construct in occupation-based research and examining gender differences in mothers' and fathers' occupational balance, and the sociocultural shaping of mothers' work after maternal leave. I feel very committed to supporting meaningful knowledge exchange, problematizing career possibilities for female scholars, and working solution-oriented to address their career challenges, as well as bringing best practices to the forefront of KI.”

What can you contribute? Do you have experience with similar networks? 

”I have previous experience as an elected board member of ENOTHE (European Network for Occupational Therapy Teaching in Higher Education) for a period of six years, concluding my term  this year. My position at ENOTHE has allowed me to gain insight into how networks work. During my period at ENOTHE, I have tried to find ways to improve collaboration between members and to provide opportunities for members to connect and learn from each other. I have also been part of other networks as a member, which has also provided me with an understanding of the types of expectations that members may have of their representatives.”

What are you most looking forward to in this role?

”To engage in discussions on gender equality with members from various institutions within KI with the purpose of identifying potential challenges and examining their root causes. My work is informed by critical social theory, which means that I look forward to problematizing what is taken for granted or "the ways things are" in academia at KI. I am excited to contribute to this position by bringing together a diverse range of scholars to identify new ways of doing and thinking about problems and solutions. ”