Establishing a STEM Summer Research Program for Underrepresented Minority Students

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Published: Jul 29, 2021

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Kristin L. Morgan
University of Virginia
Dr. Jasmine D. Crenshaw
University of Virginia
Dr. Marcus L. Martin
University of Virginia

Abstract

The proportion of underrepresented minority (URM) students graduating with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees, matriculating to graduate programs, and entering the STEM workforce continues to be significantly low. The Virginia–North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (the VA–NC Alliance) (National Science Foundation-funded award #1712724) offers recruitment, retention, and enrichment activities tailored to meet the needs of URM STEM students with the goal of reducing this gap at its individual partner institutions. One of the VA–NC Alliance’s signature activities is its summer research program. This paper serves two purposes. First, it analyzes data from summer research program alumni surveys on participant outcomes. Second, it presents recommendations on how to establish an impactful undergraduate research program that supports tangible outcomes for URM STEM participants from schools in the region, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), community colleges, and Predominately White Institutions (PWIs).

Article Details

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Vol. 22 No. 2 (2021): Journal of STEM Education: Innovation and Research
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Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the Institute for STEM Education and Research with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings.
Author Biographies

Kristin L. Morgan, University of Virginia

Kristin L. Morgan serves as Senior Director for Grants Administration and Strategic Partnerships in the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Virginia.  In addition, she is the Co-Principal Investigator and Program Director for the Virginia–North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (VA–NC Alliance) and Co-Principal Investigator for the Alliance’s Bridge to the Doctorate Program, both funded by the National Science Foundation. As part of her broadening participation efforts, Kristin co-founded the VA–NC Alliance Undergraduate Summer Research Program and, as a member of the Alliance’s social science research study team, she researches the impacts of STEM intervention programs on underrepresented students. She received her B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Virginia and M.A. in Applied Anthropology from Oregon State University.

Dr. Jasmine D. Crenshaw, University of Virginia

Dr. Jasmine Crenshaw is the Director of Diversity Programs, Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Virginia. She received her B.S. in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida. She collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to establish academic and professional development programs aimed to cultivate a supportive environment for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Dr. Crenshaw has a keen awareness in the value, purpose, and need for academic support initiatives for students from underrepresented and underserved populations, and she works to broaden participation in STEM through the Virginia–North Carolina Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant (VA–NC LSAMP). 

Dr. Marcus L. Martin, University of Virginia

Dr Marcus L. Martin is Professor Emeritus and past Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine as well as former Vice President and Chief Officer for Diversity and Equity at the University of Virginia. After earning bachelor’s degrees in Pulp and Paper Technology and Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University, he became a member of the charter class of Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), and was the first African American graduate to earn his medical degree there. Dr Martin was commissioned by the U.S. Public Health Service and served as a general medical officer at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in New Mexico. He served as the Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation-funded Virginia–North Carolina Alliance for Minority Participation.  In 2016, Dr Martin was appointed to the EVMS Board of Visitors. That same year, the University of Virginia Board of Visitors established the Marcus L. Martin MD Distinguished Professorship of Emergency Medicine.