Virtual Conference
July 26, 2021
July 26, 2021
July 19, 2022
Minorities in Engineering
Diversity
15
10.18260/1-2--37944
https://peer.asee.org/37944
872
Elizabeth Turochy is an graduate research assistant at Auburn University pursuing a masters degree in civil engineering.
Michael Perez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Auburn University specializing in construction and post-construction stormwater practices, methods, and technologies. Michael earned his Ph.D. in 2016 and M.S. in 2014 in civil engineering from Auburn University. He earned his B.S. in 2012 from Florida State University with a double major in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Michael conducted research at the Auburn University – Erosion and Sediment Control Testing Facility investigating and improving Alabama Dept. of Transportation sediment basin and inlet protection standard practices using large-scale testing techniques. He assisted in the design and development of a rainfall simulator, sediment barrier, and curb inlet testing apparatus and also conducted investigations into the application of using unmanned aerial vehicle technology for construction and stormwater inspections. Prior to joining Auburn University, Michael was an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University's Deparrtment of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. He also worked as a consultant in Atlanta, GA where he was responsible for MS4 program management for the Georgia Dept. of Transportation, designing construction site erosion and sediment control practices, and designing low impact development and green infrastructure stormwater practices for roadway projects.
Dr. Poleacovschi is an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University. She researches issues of diversity and focuses on intersectional aspects of microaggressions.
Dr. Erin Doran is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Iowa State University.
Many Latinx identifying undergraduate engineering students face stereotype threat. Stereotype threat, the fear of inadvertently confirming a negative stereotype about oneself or one’s group, can not only affect a person’s self-esteem but it can influence their academic performance and persistence. Since the term stereotype threat was first introduced by Steele and Aronson in their 1995 study on how college freshman and sophomores identifying as Black performed more poorly on standardized tests versus their White peers when race was emphasized, research on stereotype threat has expanded. While studies often cover the broader impacts of stereotype threat on the educational experience of minorities, there is a gap in the research regarding the categorization of stereotype threats; specifically those experienced by Latinx identifying undergraduate engineering students. This research provides an analysis of the various stereotype threats that Latinx undergraduate engineering students face. Data collection focused on capturing experienced stereotype threats through 23 interviews with undergraduate engineering students. Data was collected across three universities, one Hispanic serving institution (HSI) and two predominately White institutions (PWI). The data analysis focused on a narrative analysis of stereotypes threats. The results showed that the fear of confirming cultural and religious assumptions, denial of racial identity, and assumptions of criminality were the most frequently experienced stereotype threats. The results of this study contribute to the body of knowledge on stereotype threats by identifying and categorizing the various stereotype threats that Latinx undergraduate engineering students face. These results provide a framework for organizing and categorizing further data analysis on stereotype threats. It will also help to diversify pathways in engineering by better informing educators through increasing the visibility of the negative subtle behaviors that Latinx students experience.
Turochy, E., & Perez, M. A., & Poleacovschi, C., & Doran, E. (2021, July), Types of Stereotype Threats that Latinx Students Experience in Undergraduate Engineering Education (Research) Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. 10.18260/1-2--37944
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