engineering, K-12 engineering, and engineering curriculum development.Dr. Marisa K. Orr, Clemson University Marisa K. Orr is an Assistant Professor in Engineering and Science Education with a joint appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson University. Her research interests include student persistence and pathways in engineering, gender equity, diversity, and academic policy. Dr. Orr is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award for her research entitled, ”Empowering Students to be Adaptive Decision-Makers.” c American Society for Engineering Education, 2018 The WISER Experience: Perceived Supports Embedded in a Living-Learning
high school and then considerpursuing a technology-related field in college. In the place of longitudinal data, researchers haveoften relied upon one-time measures meant to predict persistence with no follow-up evidence ofhow students’ intentions actually played out. In our study we examined how survey responses byhigh school girls predicted persistence three years later defined as being tech and computerscience majors [or minors] in college. We also examined other factors that may be influential inthat choice of major. A number of studies exploring field persistence from education to career have used theSocial Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) model which holds that personal, behavioral, andenvironmental factors play a role in career decision
and underrepresented group in STEM fields. Recently, she has been investigating the intersec- tion of education and career path with cultural identity and is developing strategies to inform programming and policies that facilitate recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in academia. In 2012 Dr. Zurn-Birkhimer was presented with an Outstanding Alumni Award from the Department of Earth, At- mospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue University. She also serves on their Alumni Advisory Board. Dr. Zurn-Birkhimer earned her B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Minnesota, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Purdue University.Rachel Ann Baker c American
%, and 4) for at least the last half centuryin the United States, health services baccalaureate degree programs have exhibited the highestfemale-concentration relative to other degree programs. Hence, the climate for male studentswishing to pursue a career in health services is an ideal comparison to be made to female studentsin engineering.For the purpose of this study, gender-balanced departments were defined as having female studentenrollment between 33 % and 67 % (between one third and two third) of the total enrollment inthat department. Six such departments were selected for this study with three from STEM fieldshoused in the College of Math and Science (CSM), i.e. Biology, Chemistry, and Math, andremaining three from non-STEM fields that