The workshop's interactive format equips and supports men to serve as effective allies for gender equity in their department, college and university. It's a guided conversation with opportunities to ask questions and practice skills in scenario-based exercises, said D. Raj Raman, Morrill Professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and a workshop planning member. The Iowa State debut of the workshop occurred in a virtual format last January.

"I think asking men in privileged positions, which includes our Iowa State faculty, to educate themselves about gender equity is a real win -- for everyone. Men need to engage in these conversations," Raman said.

Roger Green, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at North Dakota State University (NDSU), Fargo, who led his first allies workshop a dozen years ago, will lead all three sessions.