2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Exploring the Benefits of a Community of Practice for Engineering Postdoctoral Scholars of Color (Research)

Presented at Engineering the Future: Supporting Black Males in BS Engineering Programs

A descriptive phenomenological research design (Giorgi, 2009) explores the benefits of a Community of Practice (CoP) (Wenger, 1998, 2000; Wenger et al., 2002, 2011) for engineering postdoctoral scholars of color that resulted from a National Science Foundation (NSF) Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) award. Ten participant interviews were analyzed inductively and deductively using Giorgi’s (2009) five-step descriptive phenomenological data analysis process. The essential structure of the phenomenon was conceptualized as: Engineering postdoctoral scholars of color meaningfully engaging in a CoP bond through an empowered learning community of peers that nurtures feelings of belonging and provides strategies for a successful start to a career in the professoriate. Greater awareness of the personal and professional needs of postdoctoral scholars of color, and of ways to meet them, such as through CoPs, could pay dividends in retaining their talent in the academy and in supporting their transition to faculty roles. Implications for postdoctoral scholar program designers and higher education leaders are included.

Authors

Dr. Sylvia L. Mendez University of Kentucky [biography]

Dr. Sylvia Mendez is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership Studies at the University of Kentucky. She earned a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Kansas, a MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University, and a BA in Economics from Washington State University. Dr. Mendez is engaged in several National Science Foundation-sponsored collaborative research projects focused on broadening participation in STEM academia. Her research centers on the creation of optimal higher education policies and practices that advance faculty careers and student success, as well as the schooling experiences of Mexican-descent youth in the mid-20th century.
Jennifer Tygret
Prof. Illya Hicks [biography]

Illya V. Hicks was born and raised in Waco, TX. He received a BS in mathematics (1995) from Southwest Texas State University (currently Texas State University at San Marcos). He also received an MA and PhD in Computational and Applied Mathematics (2000)

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Broadening Participation in Engineering and Engineering Technology
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