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Session Description

Free ticketed event
To provide generalized insight into how to combine engineering expertise with outreach programs to provide a more robust approach to learning; (2) to better understand systemic barriers faced by under resourced and underrepresented students in becoming leaders in STEM; (3) to discuss scalable, assessment-based solutions to overcome intervention limitations.

Our team has developed the CIRCUIT program over the past 7 years to serve diverse, passionate, highly capable trailblazing students who have had limited opportunities to convert their high potential to kinetic energy. We have developed eight pillars including: holistic recruiting, mission-driven research, targeted technical training, leadership development, high-resolution assessment, diverse mentorship, academic partnerships, and career empowerment. In this workshop, we will explain our program vision and the key elements that inspire and allow us to successfully achieve our program goals. We will discuss how to identify and help students to overcome structural barriers, and leverage engineering and assessment methods to create a high-quality and scalable approach. We hope that attendees can meet new collaborators and learn principles that can be distilled and leveraged in their own work with students, whether on an individual or program level.

Our framework combines our scientific and engineering expertise with mentoring and training to deliver a high-quality program that serves student cohorts through a year-long research program. Students begin with structured activities and project-oriented classes, progressing to cohort-based independent research and discovery, as part of a diverse team of mentors (from new hires to subject matter experts). Student endpoints include peer-reviewed conference and journal publications, along with a variety of quantitative and qualitative knowledge, longitudinal success, and program satisfaction metrics. Critically, our approach aligns STEM pipeline development with a model that rewards industry, government, and academic partners interested in recruiting high-achieving staff, creating a sustainable approach.

2-3 hours

Speakers

1. William Roberts Gray-Roncal

   William Gray-Roncal, PhD: Electrical Engineer and CIRCUIT Program Lead, focused on program vision and unique elements required to support trailblazing students.

2. Martha Cervantes

   Martha Cervantes: Mechanical Engineer and CIRCUIT Project Manager, focused on program implementation and scalability.

3. Katherine-Ann Carr

   Johns Hopkins University, Laurel

   Katy-Ann Carr: Mechanical Engineer and CIRCUIT Training Staff, focused on sensor-based human performance and assessment.

4. Mr. Jorge Rivera

   University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

   Jorge Rivera: Mechanical Engineer and Learning researcher, focused on understanding and activating student potential.

5. Jackie Sharp

   Jackie Sharp: Mechanical Engineer and CIRCUIT Assessment Lead. Related work has included mechanical design and analysis and innovative ways to measure performance.

6. Aishwarya Jayabharathi

   Aishwarya Jayabharathi: Education Masters Student, focused on qualitatively and quantitatively understanding Imposter Syndrome and Self-Efficacy in diverse populations.

7. Mr. Erik C Johnson

   University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

   Erik C. Johnson, PhD: Electrical Engineer and CIRCUIT Training Lead, focused on project-based learning and assessment.

8. Danilo Symonette

   University of Maryland Baltimore County

   Danilo Symonette: Computer Scientist and PhD student, focused on next-generation assessment and XR methods to encourage and support students.