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Long-Term Impact of Humanitarian Engineering Projects on Views of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Preliminary Qualitative Results from Alumni

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

NSF Grantees Poster Session

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--42054

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/42054

Download Count

319

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Paper Authors

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Kirsten Dodson Lipscomb University

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Dr. Kirsten Heikkinen Dodson is an associate professor and chair of mechanical engineering in the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering at Lipscomb University. She graduated from Lipscomb University with her Bachelors degree before completing her Doctoral Degree at Vanderbilt. Upon completing her research at Vanderbilt, she joined the faculty at her alma mater where she has focused on thermal-fluids topics in teaching and humanitarian engineering topics in research. Currently, she is investigating the connections between humanitarian engineering projects, professional formation, and views of diversity and inclusion.

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Courtney Deckard Lipscomb University

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Hannah Duke Lipscomb University

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Elizabeth Buchanan

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Justice White Lipscomb University

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Justice White is an undergraduate student in the Raymond B. Jones College of Engineering at Lipscomb University. Justice is studying mechanical engineering and is currently research the connections between humanitarian engineering projects, professional development, and views of diversity, equity, and inclusion within engineering.

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Abstract

This paper details a poster presented in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Grantees Poster Session for the 2022 ASEE Annual Conference. The study, aptly titled, aims to examine the ‘Long-Term Effect of Involvement in Humanitarian Engineering Projects on Student Professional Formation and Views of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).’ As part of the larger study, this poster details the results from alumni (n=19) of the Lipscomb University engineering program collected through an open-ended questionnaire. The research team performed an inductive coding analysis of the qualitative data to understand the connections between humanitarian engineering projects, professional formation, and views of DEI. Quantitative results as well as data from other participant groups, including current students and non-alumni engineering professionals, will be presented elsewhere. Emergent codes showed that participants found both outward and inward value in serving others. Outward value reflected a better quality of life for the person benefiting from service while inward value provided personal satisfaction, learning, or growth for the participant. This inward value was also evident with respect to views of DEI where participants mentioned learning or growing from past events. Two participants directly mentioned a connection between their experiences with humanitarian engineering projects and their views of DEI. Additionally, the codes connected to existing literature in engineering education as well as theories like empathy, identity development, and emotional intelligence. These results are promising for this study and will be expanded upon through interviews where these connections will be examined at a deeper level.

Dodson, K., & Deckard, C., & Duke, H., & Buchanan, E., & White, J. (2022, August), Long-Term Impact of Humanitarian Engineering Projects on Views of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Preliminary Qualitative Results from Alumni Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--42054

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