training and mentoring of the fellows. • To expose NSF-selected and supported SBIR/STTR Phase II companies and our nation’s entrepreneurship ecosystem to the untapped pool of high-level talent from underrepresented and historically underserved groups. • To provide SBIR/STTR Phase II companies with talented STEM doctoral-level engineers who can bring the most current technological skills and training from the academic sector to apply within their companies. • Increase the visibility of the IPERF program among U.S. small business stakeholders in the public and private sectors.Based on the COVID-19 pandemic experience, especially in remote/online participation, theIPERF team effectively implemented innovative
Paper ID #45167Technology and Society: Incorporating ethics, inclusion, and societal understandinginto computer and technology and engineering education curriculum design.Dr. Carrie Prior, Excelsior University Carrie Prior is the Associate Dean of the School of Technology at Excelsior University. In this role, she leads the school and contributes to the College’s leadership team, fostering a culture of innovation while supporting the strategic and operational direction of academic programs. Before joining Excelsior, Carrie served as a senior international officer in both public and private higher education settings. She is
Paper ID #45179A Strategic Program Overhaul: Increasing the Success of Women in EngineeringTechnologyLeah Mackin, Rochester Institute of Technology (CET) Leah Mackin is the Assistant Director for Student Belonging and Inclusion for the College of Engineering Technology. In her role, she serves as Advisor for Women in Technology (WIT) a program dedicated to celebrating the success of students in the College of Engineering Technology and beyond. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 A Strategic Program OverhaulIncreasing the Success of Women Students in Engineering Technology
Paper ID #45181Fostering an Inclusive Community Among Electrical Engineering Studentswith Mixed-Reality Technologies at a Hispanic-Serving InstitutionPreeti De Maurya, New Mexico State UniversityHilda Cecilia Contreras Aguirre, New Mexico State University Hilda Cecilia Contreras Aguirre received an Ed.D. degree in Higher Education Leadership from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), and an M.Sc. from the University of Technology of Compi`egne, France. She is now a researcher at New Mexico State University (NMSU). She focuses her research on qualitative studies addressing minority and underrepresented student
Paper ID #45200Impact of Generative AI Technologies on Blind and Visually Impaired Students:A Case StudyMr. Lance Leon Allen White, Texas A&M University Lance White is a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University in Interdisciplinary Engineering with a thrust in Engineering Education. He is working as a Lecturer in the Engineering Academic and Student Affairs unit teaching first-year engineering in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M UniversitySara Amani, Texas A&M University Sara Amani is currently a doctoral candidate in the Multidisciplinary Engineering Department at Texas A&M University. She has
. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Advancing Accessibility: Leveraging Technology to Empower Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in STEM Higher Education Sunday D. Ubur* Sarah Over† Computer Science, Virginia Tech University Libraries, Virginia Tech Comer Cozette‡ Denis Gracanin§ University Libraries, Virginia Tech Computer Science, Virginia TechAbstractThis systematized review examines the current technological interventions aimed at enhancingaccessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students in STEM higher education. The studyidentifies key barriers, evaluates the effectiveness of
Paper ID #45197Gendered Impacts of Code Critiquers on Self-Efficacy in First-Year EngineeringStudents.Mary Benjamin, Michigan Technological University PhD Student in the Dept. of Civil, Environmental, & Geospatial Engineering at Michigan Technological university.Laura Albrant, Michigan Technological University After completing a bachelor’s degree in computer science, Laura Albrant decided to challenge how she viewed software development, by switching departments. Currently working towards a master’s degree in human factors at Michigan Technological University, Laura pursues interests on both sides of the fence
Paper ID #45288Bridging Educational Equity Gaps: A Systematic Review of AI-Driven andNew Technologies for Students Living with Disabilities in STEM EducationKevin Zhongyang Shao, University of Washington Zhongyang (Kevin) Shao is currently a first-year Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Washington, Seattle (UW). His research focuses on human-computer interaction and STEM education, particularly in developing user-centered, inclusive, and responsible AI technologies to enhance the accessibility and personalize learning for post-secondary STEM students. His current work
. in Educational Policy and Planning from UT Austin. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Strategic Insights into Recruiting and Retaining Women in STEM at Minority-Serving InstitutionsIntroductionThe culture in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is often perceived as awelcoming and inclusive environment—where success is believed to be the result of objectivelydetermined merit, training, and hard work [1], [2]. A space where if we have the knowledge,training, and skill set coupled with enough ambition to do the job—and do well at our job—wewill naturally progress up the ladder of success via promotions and other forms of
students. Particular expertise in creating mutually beneficial partnerships and pro ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Insights and Updates on Identity Constructs Among Hispanic Engineering Students and Professionals: A Longitudinal StudyBackground and MotivationThe significance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields indriving innovation and economic growth in the United States cannot be overstated. STEMoccupations have seen a remarkable growth of 79% since 1990, with projections indicating anadditional 10.8% increase by 2031 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). This expansionunderscores the critical role that STEM plays in sustaining the nation's global
’ STEM degrees.BackgroundIn 2017, researchers from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) sought to understand thesuccess rates of students who began their postsecondary education at a community college inpersisting and completing bachelor’s degrees in engineering and technology. Their hypothesiswas that community college women were moving out of these majors at higher rates than theirmale counterparts, a phenomenon that has historically been seen in four-year STEM programs[1]. With community colleges serving as a popular pathway for underrepresented students inSTEM, efforts to increase diversity in engineering and technology professions must considerways to increase success of students who begin their studies at a two-year college. Given
Paper ID #45250Work-in-Progress: Development of an HBCU/Research 1 Collaborative toIncrease African American Semiconductor Manufacturing ResearchersDr. Laura Sams Haynes, Georgia Institute of Technology Dr. Laura Sams Haynes is faculty and Director of the Office of Outreach in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Laura is passionate about developing and launching various outreach initiatives for K12 Atlanta Public Schools (APS) partners, including students and school counselors, as well as fostering HBCU partnerships, collaborations, and pathways, often with a focus on NSF
Paper ID #45131Utilizing Campus Engagement for the Development of an ADVANCE FacultyLeadership InitiativeLisa A Kunza, South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyDr. Brooke Lamonte Long-Fox, South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyDr. Lance A Roberts P.E., South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Utilizing Campus Engagement for the Development of an ADVANCE Faculty Leadership Initiative Lisa A. Kunza1,2, Brooke L. Long-Fox1,2, and Lance A. Roberts3 1Center for Sustainable Solutions, South Dakota School of Mines and
State University (Ph.D.).Ellen Wang Althaus, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Ellen Wang Althaus, PhD (she/her) is a collaborative and innovative leader forging new initiatives and building alliances to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In her current role as Assistant Dean for Strategic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign she • Leads the strategy enhancing the Grainger College of Engineering (GCOE)’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. • Develops robust structures to support faculty and staff appropriately
Paper ID #45217Hiring Practices to Build a Diverse Team at Wakr Forest Engineering: TransformingEngineering Education and Broadening Participation in Engineering is Possible!Dr. Olga Pierrakos, Wake Forest University Dr. Olga Pierrakos is a STEM Education Program Director at the National Science Foundation and a Professor at Wake Forest Engineering. She is the Founding Chair of Wake Forest Engineering (2017-2022) who led the program from launch to accreditation achieving unprecedented outcomes, including Wake Forest Engineering becoming the most diverse, most innovative, and highest ranked academic unit at Wake Forest
Paper ID #45182Examining Gender Differences in Engineering Students’ Reflections on CombatingSystemic RacismSakhi Aggrawal, Purdue University at West Lafayette (PPI) Sakhi Aggrawal is a Graduate Research Fellow in Computer and Information Technology department at Purdue University. She completed her master’s degree in Business Analytics from Imperial College London and bachelor’s degree in Computer and Information Technology and Organizational Leadership from Purdue University. She worked in industry for several years with her latest jobs being as project manager at Google and Microsoft. Her current research focuses on
Paper ID #45254A Student-Centered, Theory-Informed, Integrated Model to Academic andCareer Advising to Educate the Whole Engineer: Transforming EngineeringEducation and Broadening Participation in Engineering is Possible!Dr. Olga Pierrakos, Wake Forest University Dr. Olga Pierrakos is a STEM Education Program Director at the National Science Foundation and a Professor at Wake Forest Engineering. She is the Founding Chair of Wake Forest Engineering (2017-2022) who led the program from launch to accreditation achieving unprecedented outcomes, including Wake Forest Engineering becoming the most diverse, most innovative, and highest
Polytechnic Institute and State University Jacob Grohs is an Assistant Professor in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech with Affiliate Faculty status in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and the Learning Sciences and Technologies at Virginia Tech. He holds degrees in Engineering Mechanics ( ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Who are we? Research- and Practice- Informed Insights for Relevant Background Recognizing
Paper ID #45225Motivations for Engineering Faculty Engagement in an Inclusive PedagogyProgramDr. Renee M. Desing, University of Washington Dr. Renee Desing is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Washington. Her research interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion in the engineering classrooms and workplaces. Dr. Desing graduated from Ohio State with her Ph.D. in Engineering Education, and also holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the Pennsylvania
Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She holds degrees in chemistry from Wofford College (B.S.), North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (M.S.), and Louisiana State University (Ph.D.).Ellen Wang Althaus, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Ellen Wang Althaus, PhD (she/her) is a collaborative and innovative leader forging new initiatives and building alliances to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In her current role as Assistant Dean for Strategic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana
Student-based Recommendations to Increase Accessibility in Undergraduate Engineering Programs: “If there’s people who can’t access it, then it’s not accessible.” Emily Landgren Maura Borrego Walker Department of Mechanical Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering Engineering University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA Austin, TX, USA emilyland@utexas.edu maura.borrego@austin.utexas.eduAbstract—This research paper explores what
, holding degrees from both the College of Engineering and the School of Education. Her passion for education led her to become a dedicated K-12 STEM Educator. In this role, Jesika is committed to introducing and inspiring students from diverse backgrounds and cultures to the intricacies of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). With a specific focus on encouraging underrepresented students, Jesika has been actively involved in developing and implementing curriculum. Her innovative approach aims to cultivate a love for STEM subjects and motivate students to pursue higher education in these fields. Over the past five years, Jesika has played a pivotal role in directing various summer enrichment programs
study the issue of the gender gap and the factorsaffecting it [11].Solving the gender gap is of interest to scientific education [12]. Despite the implementation ofmany policies to reduce the gender gap, the difference in the rate of women and men in the fieldof engineering, especially in Middle Eastern countries, remains significant. These differences canalso have negative effects on scientific and technological progress [12]. The “credentialsequilibrium” described by Salehi-Isfahani [13] refers to a system in which educationalqualifications in the Middle East were primarily aimed at securing public sector jobs rather thanfostering broader economic productivity. This factor has led to high youth unemployment andinefficient use of educational
Discriminatory Work Environment factor, underscoring the influence of these factors on workplace experiences. Further, a third of women reported experiencing harassment or discrimination in their current role, indicating this is a persistent issue in the engineering and technology workplace. Our analysis has identified professional stagnation, isolation, and overwork as harmful elements of workplace climate in addition to harassment and discrimination. Future work should investigate these areas and support efforts to improve workplace culture and climate.I . Introduction Diversity in engineering fields is vital to ensure greater innovation and problem
Background Engineering is largely dominated by cisgender, heterosexual, white men (ASEE, 2023; Lee et al., 2020) LGBTQ+ people in engineering must contend with a heteronormative and hypermasculine climate. (Miller et al., 2020; Cech and Waidzunas 2011) TGNB people face additional discrimination and alienation both on campus and within engineering. (Haverkamp, 2018; Haverkamp et. al. 2019; Campbell‐Montalvo et. al. 2023)Despite broader efforts to improve diversity on college campuses, science, technology,engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors remain largely dominated by cisgender,heterosexual, white men [3], [4], [5]. In order to create change and
education such as broadening participation in engineering, teaching technology innovations, and engineering entrepreneurship, as well as EEE discipline-based topics such as energy-water-environment nexus and sustainable biomanufacturing. Previously, Dr. Zhang was a Teaching Assistant Professor of Engineering at West Virginia University and has successfully led and expanded their summer bridge program for incoming first-year engineering students called Academy of Engineering Success (AcES).Lynette Michaluk, West Virginia University PI, is a social sciences researcher at the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in STEM Education. Her research interests include broadening access to and participation in STEM. She
industrial and systems engineering (BS and MENG), higher education and student affairs (MSEd), and engineering education (PhD).Malle R Schilling, Arizona State University Malle Schilling is an Assistant Professor in The Polytechnic School. Malle’s primary research areas focus on rural engineering education and how rural students access engineering pathways, and community engagement to address wicked problems through collaboration and systems thinking.Dr. Jacob R Grohs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Jacob Grohs is an Assistant Professor in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech with Affiliate Faculty status in Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and the Learning Sciences and Technologies at
. P., Ko, M. G., Friedrich, P., Jenkins, M., Bryan, M. J., ... & Hayes, S. N. (2017). Speaker introductions at internal medicine grand rounds: forms of address reveal gender bias. Journal of women's health, 26(5), 413-419.Freeman, B., Marginson, S., & Tytler, R. (2014). The age of STEM: Educational policy and practice across the world in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Routledge. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=TxwcBQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&d q=Freeman,+Marginson,+and+Tytler+2015&ots=KnnQxxzaFP&sig=C6tp_NJHu5tvuso EYVpl_PtWoQ0Galinsky, A. D., Todd, A. R., Homan, A. C., Phillips, K. W., Apfelbaum, E. P., Sasaki, S. J
Paper ID #45255Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Members’ Personal and ProfessionalPerspectives on Diversity, Equity, and InclusionDr. Yvette E. Pearson P.E., University of Texas at Dallas Dr. Yvette E. Pearson is the former Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at The University of Texas at Dallas. A Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), she is recognized globally for nearly 30 years in higher education, particularly for her work to advance sustainability, access, and opportunity in STEM education and practice. Her
Paper ID #45202Empowering Hispanic Engineers’ Success Towards Graduate Education withHybrid MentorshipFederico Cifuentes-Urtubey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Federico Cifuentes-Urtubey is a Ph.D. Candidate in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research develops wireless system privacy enhancements for Wi-Fi protocols. While at Illinois, he interned at Apple, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Sandia National Labs. He served as the Graduate Ambassador in the SHPE chapter on campus to support a community of Hispanic graduate students in engineering. He has