NSF Awards: 2045802
Latinas are the fastest growing minority females in the country, (Ong, Wright, Espinosa, & Orfield, 2011) yet their representation is decreasing in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, specifically in computer science, mathematics, physics, and engineering (National Science Foundation, 2016). “The gender gap is particularly pronounced in Engineering and computer science, where four out of every five graduates last year were men” (Bestcolleges,com, 2016).There is a need to understand why this is occurring and how we can support Latinas to complete their college degrees. Research shows that most Latina youth are likely to attend a high school that is low-income, segregated, and under-resourced in terms of instruction (Darling Hammond, 2000; 2003; Nieto, 2004). As a result, they often arrive at college with less STEM preparation than their white majority peers. However, many Latinas have persisted despite these challenges to successfully earn degrees and pursue careers in STEM.
NSF Awards: 2045802
Latinas are the fastest growing minority females in the country, (Ong, Wright, Espinosa, & Orfield, 2011) yet their representation is decreasing in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, specifically in computer science, mathematics, physics, and engineering (National Science Foundation, 2016). “The gender gap is particularly pronounced in Engineering and computer science, where four out of every five graduates last year were men” (Bestcolleges,com, 2016).There is a need to understand why this is occurring and how we can support Latinas to complete their college degrees. Research shows that most Latina youth are likely to attend a high school that is low-income, segregated, and under-resourced in terms of instruction (Darling Hammond, 2000; 2003; Nieto, 2004). As a result, they often arrive at college with less STEM preparation than their white majority peers. However, many Latinas have persisted despite these challenges to successfully earn degrees and pursue careers in STEM.
Continue the discussion of this presentation on the Multiplex. Go to Multiplex
Mesut Duran
Professor of Technology
Cheers to the Latinas who are pursuing STEM careers, and for this very interesting research project. I wonder if some more info could be provided about how resilience is determined and measured. Thanks, Mesut
Elsa Gonzalez
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Thank you for watching our video!
We will start presenting findings of this qualitative study soon in conferences and other forums, I will be happy to share more details with you!
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_I...
Mesut Duran
Professor of Technology
Appreciate the link! Look forward to seeing your presentations and publications. Thanks, Mesut
Alexander Rudolph
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
I admire your work and believe your findings will be very important to programs like ours (Cal-Bridge; www.calbridge.org) which are working to promote engagement of Latinas and other URM students in STEM pathways to the PhD and beyond. I am curious how those of us in higher education can put your findings into practice to promote resiliency among our Latina students. Is there a way to engage their families that would help?
Elsa Gonzalez
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
I appreciate your kind worlds, we are looking to replicate our findings in other places; I have published some of the preliminary findings, this project looks to go further in the proposal of strategies to be implemented. Regarding families, some of the findings includes connecting with families to support family engagement; cultural-based approaches will support resilience of our Latinx students.
Neela White
Project Director
Hello University of Houston Team! Thank you for your video submission. "They can do it, and they should" ABSOLUTELY! I am thoroughly encouraged by your video and your goal to push Latinas to STEM degrees and careers. I am curious, in your research were you able to speak to Latinas across the United States, or did you only interview those regional to the University of Houston? Do you find this to be a nationwide issue that Latinas face? Thanks and best of luck, Neela
Elsa Gonzalez
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Thank you for watching our video! My research has focused on Latina students in several universities in Texas, but sone of the work of my team and my colleagues around the country is presented in our recent publication:
https://www.routledge.com/An-Asset-Based-Approa...
Marcia Gumpertz
The results of this project will be of interest to our North Carolina Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (agep-nc.org) project. I'd be interested to get a report or publication, if you have one, with more information about your findings.
Catherine Horn
Elsa Gonzalez
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Thank you for watching our video! Some of the preliminary findings are published in our recent publication:
https://www.routledge.com/An-Asset-Based-Approa...
Catherine Horn
Deeply appreciate both the area of focus and the approach to understanding Latina STEM success. Your work is important and will likely, as Marcia and others note, have substantial potential to inform efforts nationally!
Elsa Gonzalez
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
I deeply appreciate your words and support for this work! Looking forward to move this research and its findings further!
Elsa Gonzalez
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Thank you for watching!
Rick Greer
This is very interesting work you've done! I look forward to reading your findings.
Liandra Larsen
You're always doing incredible work! So happy to see others recognizing all that you do.
Megan Davis
Such important work! Are you following the work of "Latinas in STEM" based in Southern California? http://www.latinasinstem.com/