Equity and distinction in STEM postsecondary education: An introduction to this anthology of practice

This introductory chapter to the book, "Equity by Design in STEM Higher Education: Communities of Practice, Action Plans and Institutional Change," describes a series of STEM faculty communities of practice, the rationale for these equity-oriented faculty development efforts, and the literature and theories of change that inform these efforts. The chapter suggests that STEM faculty are key equity actors in postsecondary institutions, and that there is much to learn from their stories of growth, struggle, and action to ensure inclusive and equity-oriented campuses across the USA. This introductory chapter summarizes the chapters of this book, situates the work in the current sociopolitical context, and points to the possibilities that emerge when faculty learn in community with one another around a shared purpose.