Two years ago, Dr. Elodie Billionniere, an assistant professor in the School of Engineering and Technology at Miami Dade College, spoke to Career Communications Group about her efforts with the National Science Foundation-funded STEM-Mia (“my STEM”) project.
As principal investigator and program director for STEM-Mia, Billionniere and her team worked to retain students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) at the Eduardo J. Padrón Campus of Miami Dade College.
Following on the success of STEM-Mia, Miami Dade announced earlier this month that the largest college in Florida is now a member of Accelerate Latinx Representation in STEM Education (ALRISE).
As part of the alliance, 30 Hispanic-serving Institutions will receive nearly $10 million from a National Science Foundation (NSF) program called NSF Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (or NSF INCLUDES).
NSF INCLUDES enhances increased participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
The $10 million grant to Hispanic-serving Institutions is part of a total $50 million investment in the establishment of new NSF INCLUDES Alliances to address diversity, inclusion, and participation challenges in STEM.
Broadening Career Pathways in Food, Energy, and Water Systems with and within Native American Communities, and ALRISE, are two of the new alliances announced by the NSF.
“I am pleased that Miami Dade College was selected to become a member of the Alliance,” said Dr. Diego Tibaquira, professor at Miami Dade College’s School of Engineering and Technology, in a statement. “It provides us with the opportunity to significantly impact the number of Hispanics participating in STEM education and the workforce in South Florida.”
Miami Dade has more than 100,000 students spread over eight campuses. The ALRISE Alliance provides professional development for faculty, staff, and industry to serve Latinx students through culturally responsive undergraduate research and experiential learning.
“Creating pathways to success for a STEM workforce reflective of the U.S. population is of national importance to ensuring America’s competitiveness in a global research landscape,” said Sylvia Butterfield, acting assistant director for NSF’s Education and Human Resources Directorate. “NSF INCLUDES Alliances provide a structure to address this issue and for the STEM enterprise to work collaboratively to achieve inclusive change.”
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