With support from the National Science Foundation, the Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science project (or NSF INCLUDES) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) started in the fall of 2012 to create a workforce climate that nurtures the careers of all faculty.
NSF INCLUDES is a national initiative designed to enhance U.S. leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and support efforts to develop talent from all sectors of society to build the STEM workforce.
On May 16-17, UTRGV will host the first NSF INCLUDES Symposium for “Advancing Latinas in STEM Academic Careers” at The Pearl South Padre Resort. The symposium is part of a series that aims to address policies and practices, pathways/pipelines, recruitment, retention and advancement/leadership of Latinas in STEM academic careers.
Dr. Marci McMahon, NSF INCLUDES administrative fellow, said the symposium is important as UTRGV maintains the mission in becoming a leading university on the border.
“There have been conferences in STEM where there has been a panel about how to include Latina faculty on campus in STEM careers, but there hasn’t been an entire symposium on this topic,” McMahon said.”
Dr. Marie Mora, a co-principal investigator of the NSF INCLUDES grant, said the symposium will help find ways to enhance the success of underrepresented groups in STEM.
“This symposium is of interest to UTRGV and our region as Hispanics represent 89% of our study body, the majority of whom (approximately 57%) are women,” Mora said. “What we learn can be adopted on our own campus to increase inclusion and success. Moreover, bringing together successful Latinas in STEM careers will provide our students with additional examples of role models.”
UTRGV was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. The initiative is working to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley and increase the advancement of women, especially Hispanics, in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
“This symposium brings together Latinas in STEM, NSF officials, institutions of higher education as well as professional organizations to share ideas and best practices for enhancing the advancement of Latinas in STEM academic and professional careers,” said Dr. Ala Qubbaj, principal investigator of the grant and dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
The Advancing Latinas in STEM Academic Careers symposium was made possible through partnerships with the Office of Faculty Success and Diversity, UTRGV’s Women’s Faculty Network and the Latina Researcher’s Network.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley, including Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, McAllen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island.
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