Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Psychology
First Advisor
Karlyn Adams-Wiggins
Term of Graduation
Winter 2024
Date of Publication
3-12-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology
Department
Psychology
Language
English
Subjects
identity, Latinx, mentoring, STEM, undergraduates
Physical Description
1 online resource (vi, 167 pages)
Abstract
Despite Latino/a/x college student attendance rising substantially over the past decades, their graduation rates do not match the increased admission rates. In addition, Latino/a/x students are considerably under-represented in STEM. However, research suggests that when these students are encouraged by social partners to have meaningful participation and given resources such as mentoring, this eases the barriers they experience. The current study utilized interviews with 11 Latino/a/x STEM undergraduates (aged 18-29) to understand how faculty mentors influence their STEM identity development. Students shared answers about how faculty promoted and inhibited their STEM identity development through conversations about their sense of competence, sense of belonging, and experiences of participation in their environments. Undergraduate research programs were a positive source of skill obtainment, providing students the chance for close mentorship and relationship building with professionals in their fields. However, these programs were only partially responsible for a strong STEM identity. The results section concludes with students' explicit suggestions for faculty mentors to promote a better sense of competence, belonging, and participation for Latino/a/x STEM undergraduates. The conclusions drawn from this study highlight rich, in-depth recommendations for the mentors and faculty of Latino/a/x STEM undergraduates from the students, who are the experts in the issues they face as underrepresented minorities in scientific fields.
Rights
© 2024 Sandy Cerda-Lezama
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/41682
Recommended Citation
Cerda-Lezama, Sandy, "Faculty Mentors' Influence on Latino/a/x STEM Undergraduates' STEM Identity Development" (2024). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 6597.