University of Kansas Professor Donna Ginther Receives Carolyn Shaw Bell Award for Advancing Women in Economics

The American Economic Association (AEA) has awarded the 2025 Carolyn Shaw Bell Award to Donna Ginther, the Roy A. Roberts & Regents Distinguished Professor of Economics and director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing the status of women in the economics profession.

Addressing Systemic Barriers for Women in Economics

Named in honor of the founding of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession, the Carolyn Shaw Bell Award highlights a career dedicated to removing obstacles for female economists. Professor Ginther’s extensive research portfolio focuses on labor markets, gender disparities in employment outcomes, and wage inequality. Her work provides critical data-driven insights into the persistent barriers that hinder the advancement of women in economics and broader STEM fields.

Through rigorous analysis and dedicated service, Ginther has worked to make the profession more inclusive. Her efforts extend beyond academic papers to practical interventions designed to support women at every career stage, from graduate students to tenured faculty.

Evidence-Based Interventions: The Impact of Mentoring

A cornerstone of Ginther’s work is the development and testing of interventions to improve career outcomes for women. She has collaborated on randomized controlled trials to measure the effectiveness of mentoring workshops for pre-tenure female economists. These studies have demonstrated that structured mentoring can significantly improve retention rates in academia and increase the likelihood of achieving tenure at top-ranked institutions.

Key findings from this research indicate that participants in mentoring workshops see tangible benefits, including:

• Increased publication output.
• Higher success rates in grant applications.
• Expansion of professional co-author networks.

These results underscore the value of formal support structures in navigating the competitive landscape of academic economics.

Research Driving Policy Change

Ginther’s scholarship has directly influenced policy changes within academic institutions. Early in her career, her research on gender gaps in tenure achievement contributed to the adoption of “stop-the-clock” policies. These policies allow pre-tenure faculty to pause the tenure clock to manage caregiving responsibilities, such as childbirth, without jeopardizing their career progression.

Currently, Ginther is part of a collaborative team funded by Co-Impact to address cultural issues within economics departments. This initiative aims to transform the environment of academia—specifically conferences and seminars—through surveys of department chairs and focus groups with graduate students. The project seeks to implement peer-to-peer mentoring and other programming to foster a more equitable culture.

Mentorship and Legacy at the University of Kansas

Beyond her research, Professor Ginther is recognized as a pivotal mentor at the University of Kansas. Graduate students attest to her profound influence on their professional development. Mumtahina Islam, a fourth-year economics doctoral student, credits Ginther’s guidance with shaping her research and strengthening her professional identity.

Lilly Springer, a doctoral candidate in economics, described Ginther’s mentorship as transformative, noting that her support reinforced a sense of belonging within the profession. Ginther’s commitment to the next generation of economists ensures that her impact will be felt for years to come.

Professor Ginther formally accepted the 2025 Carolyn Shaw Bell Award at the 2026 AEA/Allied Social Science Associations meeting in Philadelphia.