Tracy Langkilde made history in 2020, becoming the first female dean of the Eberly College of Science at The Pennsylvania State University. She broke a glass ceiling in her field and aspires to change the perception of what a scientist looks like.
Langkilde was born in South Africa and earned her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in Australia before pursuing her postdoctoral studies at Yale. She began her academic career in 2007 as an assistant professor of biology at Penn State and served as the department head from 2016.
She is a leader in grad and undergrad education and programs, championing initiatives advancing inclusion, equity, and diversity and promoting excellence in research and education. In 2019 Langkilde was named Distinguished Herpetologist, the field’s top honor for her research on adaptations of animals to changes in their environment.
Share the moment or experience that ignited your passion and set you on your current path.
"Nature has always been the most significant source of inspiration for me, and my excitement for exploring different environments and fascination for the animals living in each began as a child growing up in South Africa and Australia. I would spend hours studying animals with a sense of wonder about their behavior, consumed with trying to get in their heads — and from a young age, I was taken with noticing details that others didn’t and making new discoveries.
As a young child – I must have been about 6 years old – I was at a local park in South Africa and got the witness a large tortoise laying eggs. It was such a beautiful and complicated process – she painstakingly dug a nest, laid an egg every few minutes, and then carefully covered them over. I was absolutely enthralled and wanted to learn more about why and how animals do the things they do and share the wonder of this with others.(In case you want to witness this – it looked something like this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwoXgvVJ5nM )
In terms of academic leadership: I didn’t even know what a PhD was until I had finished my undergraduate degree. As a faculty member at Penn State, I got to create new knowledge (that incredible aha moment of discovering something for the first time and being the only person alive to have that information), and to train students in being scientists themselves (and witnessing their aha moments!). I became aware that a leadership role would allow me to have a bigger impact than I ever could in my own research or teaching. It’s incredibly rewarding seeing others rise and meet their potential, together.
As a runner, I have learned to trust in myself and the preparation I’ve invested to complete never-attempted distances on race days. In exchange for the effort, the trail always opens up to a beautiful vista, reminding me why it is worth the effort. In both running and science, I have learned there will always be an obstacle along the way, which is not necessarily a sign that things are going wrong — but rather a sign of growing and pushing into new areas."
We'd love to hear about a significant challenge you've overcome, and the lessons learned along the way.
"I had always been fascinated by why animals behave the way they do and how they adapt to changing environments. After graduating from my undergraduate, I decided that I wanted a research career.
I was told that I would never succeed in graduate school. It was crushing, but I didn’t have a plan B, so I forged ahead. And it worked out just fine. Not because I was brave, but because I was passionate and naïve, and I had people in my corner.
Similarly, I would never have considered taking on a leadership position if it weren’t for mentors supporting and encouraging me. As a leader, I have faced resistance. Challenging and changing the status quo can be scary. But it is necessary and rewarding. Having the support of my bosses at Penn State – knowing that they have my back on this – has allowed me to make important change.
There are many people, including women, who have not fulfilled their potential in science because they were dissuaded. I am fortunate that people saw in me what I couldn’t see in myself and encouraged me to pursue my passion. Without them, I wouldn’t be in this exciting position of leading the Eberly College of Science."
Discuss the impact you aim to have through your work and the legacy you wish to leave
"My goal is to empower and support all of our talented scientists and future-scientists in making their mark by creating an environment at Penn State where everyone can bring their best and whole selves to the table.
We know that some groups are more likely to self-select out of opportunities and feel like they can’t be successful in certain fields like STEM. We need to allow everyone – including women and girls – to see themselves as scientists. Role models matter. I hope that my being in this role at Penn State will help change our perception of science leaders and make others see this as a viable path.
I am proud to be the first woman dean of the Eberly College of Science since its founding. And I am proud to celebrate all the amazing people who have contributed to moving the needle at Penn State. I recognize my privilege and am dedicated to using this to creating a diverse and equitably community in the college. Things are changing for the better. You’ve probably seen the “What does a scientist look like…” experiment where individuals ask school children to draw a scientist. Over the past five decades there has been a shift – from less than 1% of students depicting scientists as female to about 34% by 2016. And – for drawings penned by girls – over 50% depicted women scientists! However, this diversity in perception is less prevalent as children grow older. We think because they are not being exposed to diverse role models. It’s important to note that the scientists they draw are still predominantly represented as white and able-bodied. So, we have work to do. (You can read about the ongoing experiment in this AAAS article: https://www.science.org/content/article/what-does-scientist-look-children-are-drawing-women-more-ever). I inspire others to reach for new heights by pursuing what they love."
What motivates you to challenge the status quo and push boundaries in your industry?
"Science is so cool – and way too important to be exclusive! We have a moral and ethical responsibility to support everyone who is interested in science to meet their full potential.
And it’s good for science. Research shows – over and over – that teams comprising people with diverse experiences and perspectives are better able to solve problems. I’m sure you’ve all had the experience of being in a room with like-minded people discussing an issue. Since you all agree – you are less likely to challenge one-another’s perspectives and think outside the box.
It takes having people with different perspectives to really push us to think differently and develop truly new and innovative approaches to solving the big problems; to be more innovative, make medical advances, provide more supportive academic spaces, and solve important scientific challenges. Who doesn’t want that?! To be able to create this environment, we need to recruit and support a more diverse scientific community – to be a kaleidoscope of cultural backgrounds, life experiences, individual perspectives, and other characteristics that add variety and vitality to science. We need people of all genders, all races and ethnicities, first generation students, those with disabilities, adult learners, and those taking more traditional paths."
What's one piece of advice you'd give to young women aiming to make their mark?
Follow your passion and don’t give up. Ask for help when you need it – we all do. Don’t count yourself out of the competition – there are plenty of people who will do that for you; don’t make it easy for them. The biggest challenges require time and teamwork to solve; find your people and be patient. Learn to trust in yourself and each other, and become a leader who knows that making a difference is always within your individual and collective reach.
How do you define success for yourself, and do you feel you've achieved it?
I define success as using my personal attributes to make a positive impact. I have certainly found a job – several jobs – that bring me great joy and fulfillment. I feel like I am making positive change, largely by empowering the incredible people who I work with at Penn State, including our students, in meeting their goals and doing remarkable things. My current leadership role allows me to do this on a larger scale than ever before. But there’s still work to be done.