Shirley Malcom was born on September 6, 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama to Lillie Mae and Ben Mahaley.
She went to George Washington Carver High School, Malcom was a top student and graduated in 1963. She then attended the University of Washington and received her B.S. degree in zoology in 1967.Malcom went on to attend the University of California at Los Angeles where she graduated with her M.A. degree in zoology in 1968. She taught high school biology in Los Angeles before attending Pennsylvania State University where she obtained her Ph.D. degree in ecology in 1974.
Shirley M. Malcom currently serves as a Senior Advisor and Director of SEA Change at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Dr. Shirley Malcom is a renowned scientist and educator who has dedicated her career to promoting diversity and inclusion in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She has made significant contributions to the advancement of underrepresented minorities and women in these fields, and her work has had a lasting impact on the scientific community.
Dr. Malcom currently serves as the Director of Education and Human Resources Programs at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). In this role, she works to increase the participation and success of underrepresented groups in STEM fields through a variety of programs and initiatives. She is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, and she has spoken extensively on the importance of creating a more diverse and equitable scientific community. Throughout her career, Dr. Malcom has worked tirelessly to break down barriers to entry for underrepresented groups in STEM. She has been a vocal critic of the systemic biases and discrimination that exist in the scientific community, and she has worked to create opportunities for marginalized groups to succeed in STEM fields. Her efforts have helped to increase the representation of women and minorities in scientific research, and she continues to be a leading voice for diversity and inclusion in STEM.
In addition to her work at the AAAS, Dr. Malcom has also served on a number of advisory boards and committees dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM. She has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the National Science Board Public Service Award and the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences. She is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the field of STEM education, and her work has inspired countless individuals to pursue careers in science and technology.
Dr. Shirley Malcom is a true visionary in the field of STEM education. Her dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in science has had a profound impact on the scientific community, and her work continues to shape the future of STEM research and education. As a pioneering scientist and advocate for underrepresented groups, Dr. Malcom serves as a role model for future generations of scientists and educators. Her passion and commitment to creating a more diverse and equitable scientific community will continue to inspire change and innovation in the years to come.
She talks about the racial and ethnic compositions of PCAST, her interactions with other members of the committees, and the letter-type reports PCAST submitted to the President and why letters worked better than full-length reports. She details what it was like serving as a Black woman on these committees and her later work at AAAS, including working with STEMM Equity Achievement Change [SEA Change]. Malcom also mentions other diversity work, talking with George W. Bush about improving education in schools, and interacting with Congress and PCAST as a part of AAAS. She inspires me to work hard for what i want and not quit.