a Professor of Higher Education and Sociology at Florida State University. Her research uses developmental and sociological perspectives to examine the mechanisms that shape entry into and persistence with respect to college and career pathways, from secondary school through the workforce. She especially focuses on post-secondary access and success in scientific and technological career fields. Published work includes over 50 peer-reviewed published articles, chapters, monographs, and books, including the award-winning Latin* Students in Engineering (Rutgers University Press). She has held leadership roles on editorial and advisory boards. Her research has been supported by external funders including the Gates
Paper ID #48516Voices of Hope: A Phenomenological Study on Women’s Self-Efficacy in ComputerEngineeringDr. Andrea Ramirez-Salgado, University of Florida Andrea Ramirez-Salgado is an Instructional Assistant Professor in Engineering Education at the University of Florida, where she teaches courses in artificial intelligence and data science. Her research examines how instructional practices shape students’ identities in engineering and computer science, and how these identities affect their career goals and persistence. She is particularly committed to creating inclusive, engaging learning environments that support diverse
curriculum[1]. As a result ofambiguity in their academic training, it has been reported that BME graduates can experiencebarriers to career attainment as compared to those majoring in other engineering disciplines[2],[3].In light of these barriers, many students pursue a BME master’s program to gain deeperknowledge into a specific sub-field of BME and learn new skills associated with this subfield[4].This enhanced knowledge can help students attain their career goals, whether it is advancementin industry positions or pursuing advanced degrees such as the MD and PhD. However, there is agap between the knowledge and skills BME master’s graduates gain during graduate study andthe expectations of potential employers in both industry and academia
orientation, assessment of higher-order thinking, and the development of strengths-based curriculum to support BIPOC students in K-16 STEM learning. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Insights from a Practice-Based Program: Connecting Women to Technology and Advancing Diversity in ComputingAbstractThe Linking Interested Females to Technology (LIFT) program, led by Miami Dade College(MDC), supports diverse groups of women transitioning into computing careers. These includewomen who are pursuing an Associate of Arts in computer science at MDC with plans to transferto four-year universities to complete their bachelor’s degrees, as well as women who havealready earned an associate degree
-course substitution thatmatches the student's career focus is possible.Technician Preparation Programs DiscussionTables 1 and 2 present the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Electrical EngineeringTechnology and Mechanical Engineering Technology programs are respectively offered atBridgeValley Community and Technical College in their two-year, four-semester structure. Thecourse lists within semesters are not prioritized. The programs have a general education andprogram technical elective requirement as well as the same English (English Composition I),mathematics (Technical Algebra and Technical Trigonometry) and physical science (GeneralPhysics I and II) sequence), drafting/computer-aided design (Introduction to Drafting & 2DCAD
Paper ID #49036More than a summer bridge programSehba Midhat Hasan, Tufts University Sehba Hasan is an engineer, educator, and advocate committed to equitable STEM education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering and an MBA in Management . She is currently a Ph.D candidate in STEM education. Sehba’s career reflects her passion for inclusive STEM programming and innovative teaching methods. Her experience includes roles as an Engineering Instructor an Assistant Trio Director and an Associate Director. She played a crucial role in guiding underrepresented students through higher
futureengineering professionals. The research has shown that data-driven research experiencescontribute to both academic growth and the development of lifelong learning skills.Linn et al. (2015) [2] emphasize the transformative impact of undergraduate research onstudents’ career trajectories and academic growth. They argue that these experiences createopportunities for students to engage with real-world challenges, build collaborative skills, anddevelop an appreciation for the research process.Maybee et al (2015) [3] discussed the integration of data informed learning within disciplinarycontexts. By building upon students' prior experiences and aligning data usage with subject-specific learning, the framework fosters both academic development and the
million job openings for cybersecurity experts [1]. And, based on the Bureauof Labor Statistics, the employment of information security analysts, which is one of manycybersecurity career pathways, is expected to grow 33% from 2023 to 2033, at a much faster ratethan the projected average growth of 4% for all occupations [2].To contribute towards addressing the enormous unmet need for cybersecurity professionals, anew B.S. in Cybersecurity degree [3] and an Area of Emphasis (AoE) in Cybersecurity [4] weredeveloped at the West Virginia University (WVU), Morgantown, WV. These programs startedenrolling students in fall 2018. The B.S. in Cybersecurity program was accredited by ABET in2022, for a period of six years. The program is also designated by
Paper ID #48512BOARD # 278: NSF IUSE: Empowering Future Engineers. An InclusiveCurriculum for AIoT and Intelligent Embedded SystemsDr. Andrea Ramirez-Salgado, University of Florida Andrea Ramirez-Salgado is an Instructional Assistant Professor in Engineering Education at the University of Florida, where she teaches courses in artificial intelligence and data science. Her research examines how instructional practices shape students’ identities in engineering and computer science, and how these identities affect their career goals and persistence. She is particularly committed to creating inclusive, engaging learning
engineering background is in advanced manufacturing and design. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025NSF REU Site: Undergraduate Research Experiences on Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure Systems in Smart CiƟesAbstractThe NSF Division of Engineering EducaƟon and Centers-funded REU Site was developed to bringa cohort of students to a large R-1 university to expose students to the criƟcal role of civil andenvironmental engineers in serving society. Students parƟcipated in hands-on interdisciplinaryresearch with faculty teams exploring innovaƟons for Smart CiƟes. Associated cohortprogramming helped students to build basic research skills, to develop their career paths withemphasis on the
academia. Her research centers on the creation of optimal higher education policies and practices that advance faculty careers and student success, as well as the schooling experiences of Mexican-descent youth in the mid-20th century.Jennifer TygretDr. Comas Lamar Haynes, Georgia Tech Research Institute Comas Lamar Haynes is a Principal Research Engineer / faculty member of the Georgia Tech Research Institute and Joint Faculty Appointee at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His research includes modeling steady state and transient behavior of advanced enDr. Canek Moises Luna Phillips, Rice University Dr. Canek Phillips is a Research Scientist at in the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University where his
handling large volumes of data but also about translating these data into actionable knowledge that can drive environmental change. Throughout his career, Hang has consistently demonstrated a commitment to leveraging technology for environmental research. His innovative approaches to data handling and interpretation have made significant contributions to the understanding of environmental behaviors and interventions. As a forward-thinking researcher, Hang continues to explore the intersection of technology, data science, and environmental studies, aiming to contribute further to this dynamic and increasingly crucial field.Karen McNeal, Auburn University Dr. McNeal conducts research in geoscience education
). While rotators can come on temporaryassignment as a VSEE for up to two years or as an IPA for up to four years, most rotatingassignments last two to three years. Rotating program directors facilitate peer review; makerecommendations about which proposals to fund; influence new directions in the fields ofscience, engineering, and education; participate in NSF-wide working groups to create newprograms in cutting-edge areas such as semiconductors or quantum information science andsupport cutting-edge interdisciplinary research; and mentor early career researchers pursuingexternal funding. Several former NSF rotators have shared their rotation experiences through various outlets[3-6]. However, to the best of our knowledge, a panel has never been
eachMCL. The interview protocol was designed to elicit details about the MCLs’ teachingapproaches, notable moments with the math circle participants, and dynamics of their partnership(where applicable). The final interview questions most pertinent to this study were as follows: 1. What skills do you feel you’ve gained through your experiences as a Math Circle Leader? 2. Could you apply these new skills to your future career? If so, how? 3. What role do you think math plays in society?Interview data underwent multiple rounds of inductive coding, following an In Vivomethodology as a first round [2]. One author (ELA) undertook this initial round of coding forthree of the interviews. The other two authors (JC and AN) used the initial
[…] you create concept map […] you know this topic and you create it as a homework. I did not do that. I wanted to, but I was rushed to finish the content.In a theme regarding change, adaptability in instructional style was applied to items coded asdemonstrating change in thoughts, actions, and/or beliefs about teaching and student interactions,as well as openness to adapting based on observed student needs. Following the coding process,each faculty member’s degree of change was scored as 0=No change, 1=Minimal change,2=Moderate change, or 3=Substantial change. Additionally, each faculty member’s career phasewas identified as 0=Beginning, 1=Early, 2=Mid, or 3=Late. Mid-career faculty with 6-19 yearsof experience tended to report that
Through an Alumni Seminar Series and Alumni-Led Jigsaw ActivitiesAbstractThe development of an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) is critical for engineering students as theyprepare to navigate complex, real-world challenges. This project aimed to enhance students' EMby connecting them with early-career professionals through a seminar series and in-class jigsawactivities. In the spring semester of 2024, four alumni, representing diverse career paths inconsulting, water treatment, enzyme manufacturing, and data science, participated in a monthlyseminar series open to all engineering students. Following each seminar, the alumni collaboratedwith the course instructor to design and present a jigsaw activity related to their
sectors in embracing and implementing meaningful DEI practices, leaving significantgaps in representation and inclusivity.The construction industry’s entrenched male-dominated culture poses significant challenges forfemale professionals and graduates, who often face unequal opportunities for career advancement[1]. Similarly, minority groups frequently encounter systemic barriers that hinder their access tocareer pathways equivalent to those available to their peers. This disparity highlights the criticalneed for robust, targeted DEI strategies within the construction sector.Higher education institutions offering Construction Engineering and Management (CEM)programs have begun addressing these challenges by working to close enrollment gaps
furtherspecify what type of engineer they see themselves as or envision for their future careers anddiscussed how the studio aligned with their interests in the context of these subdisciplines of BME.This may be because, as primarily junior-level students, they are currently in the semester wherethey can declare their BME major concentrations within their program, which allowed them tostart aligning their identities with specific fields and career paths. Considering the varied careeraspirations expressed by students through their identity alignments, it is essential to be mindful ofthe diversity of student interests and provide opportunities for them to explore and develop theirunique passions and career goals. This awareness can help support the growth
and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.Lenna Abouzahr, Oklahoma State University Lenna Abouzahr is a junior completing a B.S. in both electrical and computer engineering from Oklahoma State University. She was vice president of her university’s Society of Women Engineers chapter last year, which consists of almost 100 members, and is the current president. She is also a student ambassador for her college. After she graduates next year, she plans to get her master’s degree and pursue a career in the energy and power sector. ©American Society for Engineering Education, 2025 Shifting Perspectives: Motivational Factors for Young Women in Engineering
influence of internships on undergraduate success in engineeringtechnology and related disciplines. While many students opt for summer classes to accelerategraduation, internships are critical for developing practical skills, understanding career paths, andbridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice. Using Kolb's ExperientialLearning Theory as its framework, the research explores how internships enhance activeexperimentation and reflective observation, helping students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world contexts. The study focuses on Architecture, Construction Engineering Technology,Electronic Engineering Technology, and Facilities Management programs, using surveys to assessstudents' perceptions of internships. It
University’s Whiting School of Engineering where he has served on the faculty since 2008 with secondary appointmeRachel E Durham, Notre Dame of Maryland University Rachel E. Durham (PhD, Sociology and Demography, Pennsylvania State University) is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University, and a Senior Fellow with the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC). With a background in sociology of education, education policy, and demography, her research focuses on graduates’ transition to adulthood, career and college readiness, community schools, and research-practice partnerships.Ms. Alisha Nicole Sparks, The Johns Hopkins University Alisha Sparks serves as the Executive
within the Engineering Education Transformations Institute and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He also serves as Deputy Editor with the Journal of Engineering Education and Chair of the Education Research and Methods Division in the American Society for Engineering Education. He earned his Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University, his M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue, and his B.S. in Computer Engineering from Harding. Dr. Huff is a qualitative researcher whose work lies at the interdisciplinary nexus of engineering education research and applied personality and social psychology. An NSF CAREER Awardee, he is committed to fostering care as a central mindset of
Workforce Development National Strategic Plan suggested that early andsustained engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields suchas QIST will help diversify the talent pool for related careers [2]. University-based outreachprograms may provide expertise and facilitate access to quantum technologies, while promotingthe incorporation of QIST in classroom-based STEM instruction [1]-[2].Quantum Education for Students and Teachers (QuEST), a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Division of Research and Learning ITEST Developing and Testing Innovationspartnership between a research university and an urban informal science institution, advancesquantum education, physical science literacy, and the diversification of the
include a select cohort of high school students, veterans, aswell as junior and senior undergraduate students within engineering and biology concentrations.Participants will complete content knowledge questions at the end of each module. Students willalso take the Career Connect Student Survey (i.e., soft skills) and the self-efficacy measures (i.e.,generalized self-efficacy, bioengineering self-efficacy, short form occupational self-efficacy),before taking any curriculum modules and then again after they complete the training program.MeasuresSoft Skills To assess soft skill development, we utilize components of an existing validated survey,the Career Connect Student Survey. This survey measures student self-perceptions in areas suchas time
medical applications, photocatalytic water treatment, solar energy-to-fuel conversion, and thermocatalysis for clean fuel and functional materials production to contribute to the goal of affordable, accessible clean water for everyone, and climate change mitigation. Recently, she has extended her research interests to include work in STEM Education with a focus on interdisciplinary scientist identity, teaching/faculty identity, and impact of multi-tiered mentoring networks on scientist identity and broader impact’s identity.Dr. Jessica C Hill, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Dr. Hill directs Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Morgan Teaching & Learning Center in its mission to support faculty across all career
considering the legal, environmental,and spiritual implications of these efforts. In our experience teaching undergraduate students atmultiple universities, we have learned that a number of engineering students personally rejectthis apolitical orientation [6], [7]. They understand how engineering can uphold oppression, andthey long to discuss critical issues with their peers and their instructors. In aerospaceengineering, the discipline on which this research focuses, we have seen students personallywrestle with concerns about their future engineering careers, such as not wanting to developweapons or work for companies with exploitative labor practices [8], [9].Our project consists of two thrusts—in research and in curriculum development—designed
patternsand themes within the interviews. The process yielded a total of 31 codes consisting of 11 maincodes and 20 sub-codes through three rounds of coding review sessions. After all interviewtranscripts were coded, the frequency and coding types were analyzed. Overall, the courses were found to be highly impactful. Many of the trainees generallyreported a strong sense of engineering identity and self-efficacy for their work. Alumni reportedbenefits not only during graduate school but also immediately in their careers. During graduateschool, they report that these courses pair well with more technical courses and that manystudents included their partner surgeon on their thesis committee. These benefits also includewriting skills and shadowing
-choice decision process. This workintends to inform engineering students, educators, and administrators during the students’development and job choice process, university career center administrators guiding studentsthrough the job search process, company recruiters in their interview and selection processduring the student’s job search, and industry partners in the recruitment, hiring, and retention ofengineering graduates with similar values. The following sections will detail the literatureassociated with influences on students’ job choice decisions, especially engineering students, themethods used to collect and analyze the data, the findings, and a discussion of the implications.IntroductionDecisions about which job to take and what career
theArtificial Intelligence (AI) workforce in this two-year impact study from Fall 2022 to Fall 2024.Thus, our findings are relevant for optimizing pre-college to college education pipelines to meetworkforce needs in engineering, AI, and the Computer Science (CS) industry.To study the impact of the pre-college AI education program on student progression, we conductedfocus group interviews in Fall 2024, two years after the pre-college program. With thematic analy-sis, we quantify student and program outcomes by synthesizing four themes: social and emotionallearning, self-efficacy, career readiness, and program impact. To formally validate human thematicanalysis, we ask: (RQ1) What methods can validate heuristic thematic analysis for reliable studyof
University of North Texas (UNT) College of Engineering and a doctoral candidate in Higher Education at UNT. With a strong commitment to student success, his research centers on the retention of first-year engineering students. Abdal began his career as an academic advisor in the College of Engineering where he served for five years before advancing to his current role where he leads strategic recruitment and retention initiatives. Included is Engineering Your Future - a first-year support program that includes mentors and full-time staff to help students ease their transition into college. His work bridges student development theory with practical, campus-based interventions to foster belonging and persistence among