Marlina Duncan, EdD, vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, has been named an Outstanding Woman in Business 2023 by the Worcester Business Journal. She joins six other women named to the list this year, and 96 since the Worcester Business Journal began honoring trailblazing women making a difference in the public and private sector 15 years ago.
When asked about the main obstacles women face to success in the workplace, Dr. Duncan named lack of representation and biases.
“Women are often striving alone in industries and businesses dominated by men. Many women, especially women of color, are facing a double bias. This in turn creates difficulties when it comes to advancement, obtaining funding, establishing partnerships and networking,” Duncan said.
These obstacles, though very much part of her lived reality, have not deterred Duncan from the work she has found a sense of purpose in. Duncan noted that a lack of representation in science and a desire to facilitate a process that ensured students of color followed paths in science is what first brought her into this work. She “has excelled as a change agent with a steady calmness and commitment,” according to Bruce Birren, director of the Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases at the Broad Institute, where Duncan worked as director of diversity initiatives.
Duncan, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Westfield State and a doctorate in science education from UMass Amherst, also served as an associate dean at Brown University in Providence before joining UMass Chan in 2020.
The Worcester Business Journal highlighted one of her most significant achievements at UMass Chan thus far, the establishment of the diversity, equity and inclusion pillar as part of UMass Chan’s strategic plan.
“We realized we needed to operationalize this work and make it a priority,” she said.
The Worcester Business Journal noted that under Duncan’s tenure, the number of staff positions in the Diversity and Inclusion Office has increased, and the Medical School has added more affinity groups for staff members and students.
“While progress has been made steadily, there is a need to recognize change is an ongoing process and the work is not done. The biggest challenge is change. Change is hard for everyone. This work is asking people to reimagine what has been done for such a long time,” Duncan said.
Duncan and her fellow award recipients will be honored in a ceremony on Nov. 1 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester.
