Networked Mentorship and Cultural Integration: Understanding Indigenous Motivation and Persistence in STEM

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Mentoring in STEM Contexts and Programs

Abstract

Indigenous scholars remain underrepresented in STEM, especially at the faculty level, contributing to ongoing barriers in retention and inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s Lighting the Pathway to Faculty Careers (AISES LTP) program was developed to address these challenges through culturally grounded, network-based mentorship. This study examined how participation in the AISES LTP program influences scholars’ support, identity integration, and career intentions. Results show that scholars with strong STEM and Indigenous values, and greater identity harmony, reported higher support connections. Networked mentorship approaches proved more effective than traditional dyadic models by equitably distributing support and fostering community. These findings underscore the importance of inclusive mentorship networks in empowering Indigenous scholars to thrive in STEM.

Authors

• K. Kanoho Hosoda, University of Hawaii - Manoa

• Rachelle M. Pedersen, Texas Tech University

• Kathy DeerInWater, American Indian Science & Engineering Society

• Brittany Anderson, AISES