Mixed Reviews on Diversity Initiatives: Perspectives of Black Engineering and Computing Faculty

• In Event: 66.043 - STEM Teaching and Learning Environments

Abstract

A growing number of diversity initiatives focus on increasing the number of successful STEM college and career trajectories for underrepresented students of color. However, many of these initiatives appear to have variable impacts on the demographics of Black people in STEM. We investigated how forty-six Black engineering and computing faculty perceive and experience diversity initiatives in engineering education. Drawing on diversity management and institutional racism as theoretical frameworks to better understand institutional engagement with and implementation of diversity initiatives in engineering education, we found that the participants’ perspectives on diversity initiatives aligned with particular features of organizational change. Their narratives provide insight into why efforts to increase the numbers of Black faculty thriving in engineering academia vary in their effectiveness.

Authors

• Portia Kwartema Botchway, Vanderbilt University

• Monica L Miles, Vanderbilt University

• Ebony Omotola McGee, Vanderbilt Peabody College

• Delando Crooks