2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

STEM 4 Kids: Improving Gender Diversity in STEM through a Collegiate Student-led Organization

Presented at Reimagining Pathways: Nurturing Diversity and Identity in STEM Education

Gender diversity has always been a low statistic in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. To see change, improvements must be made at every point - from the selection of children’s play toys, to the recruitment of students from historically marginalized groups to pursue STEM degrees, to the pay disparity in career fields today. A student-led organization at a collegiate university focuses on improving the diversity gap at one of those points in the development of future engineers: at the middle school level. The organization is open to all middle school students, but focused specifically on marginally underrepresented groups such as young women and non-binary identifying students. Middle school students are invited to participate in free hands-on activities to encourage creativity and foster confidence. In an effort to introduce students to a variety of activities and topics, the organization partners with other student-led groups on the same campus. These other groups can volunteer to host an event, which entails teaching the students about their specific STEM field as well as leading the activities. By the end of the 2023 spring semester, the organization had hosted 22 events with a total of 86 registrants. This paper will discuss the process of establishing such an organization at the collegiate level and partnering with other student groups.

Authors

Dylan Oliver Scheller Colorado State University [biography]

Dylan Scheller is a dedicated mechanical engineering student at Colorado State University, known for his passion for innovation and problem-solving. Throughout his undergraduate studies, he has excelled in various technical courses, ranging from thermodynamics and fluid mechanics to materials science and mechatronics. His dedication to his studies and keen problem-solving skills has earned recognition from his professors.
Julia Schimmels Colorado State University
Dr. Jordan Jarrett Colorado State University [biography]

Jordan Jarrett is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Colorado State University (CSU). Dr. Jarrett received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from CSU and then earned her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. Prior to joining CSU, she worked as a structural engineering consultant for nearly 7 years. Her consulting experience focused on the design of steel and concrete structures subjected to high seismicity or extreme wind climates, including high-rise towers up to 1,000 feet tall. Dr. Jarrett combines her practical experience and love of teaching to create classroom environments tailored to preparing students for their future careers and inspiring them to be lifelong learners. She is passionate about enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in engineering.

Download paper (3.38 MB)

Are you a researcher? Would you like to cite this paper? Visit the ASEE document repository at peer.asee.org for more tools and easy citations.

» Download paper

« View session