I am wondering why so many talented STEM professionals from cultural backgrounds such as Hispanic and Black ethnicities feel uncomfortable with in their role as a STEM professional and leave the profession to teach or pursue other careers?
Beth:
I am not sure why, but I did some research on how "minority" groups perceive the responsiveness to curriculum content in a Workforce Education and Development Programme that can probably hint as to why. I found that many times they are misrepresented in the literature to include "science." In fact, one study showed that faculty actually won approval for a campus-wide "diversity" thrust for all curricula when a History professor discovered that her students believe that "Africans" made no contribution to civilization. I hope you find the linked article useful for informing your topic.
Best regards,
Debra
Data Curriculum Inclusiveness Challenge: Responding to Multicultu...
Hi Dr. Bos,
this is a great question. I can guess of a few reasons why:
1. Lack of mentorship from other industry or academia driven professionals in STEM. As much as I want to be a faculty member, I feel as though there is no true support to pass on the torch of grant writing, effective class teaching, and navigating the campus environment as a faculty member. Although I have an innate passion for becoming faculty, doubts do exist in my mind that I won't be as good as my colleagues simply due to the fact that the majority tends to work with the majority. I've witnessed this at two of the state schools that I have been to. Departments nowadays have inner faculty circles that work in teams to tackle projects, write grantes, etc. Rarely are minority professionals included in those circles, therefore we become unheard voices to that faculty.
2. Lack of Self Efficacy.
Many minority STEM professionals are quite introverted when it comes to speaking their mind and showcasing their knowledge of how to tackle real world issues due to a fear of companies shutting out their viewpoints or treating them as just another minority member added to the team to fill a diversity and inclusion void.
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