Black Students Encouraged to Pick STEM 职业生涯

Erica Martin is an Academic Success Counselor based at Pima’s Downtown Campus, 帮助科学, 技术, 工程和数学专业的学生. She is a University of Arizona graduate who has worked at Pima since 2003. She has a master’s degree from Northern Arizona University (Education, 咨询-Human Relations).

As part of Pima’s Black 历史 Month celebrations, 她帮助组织了“我的STEM故事”,米莎·道森主演, M.B.A., B.S., Raytheon Missile Systems’ Senior Director of Digital 技术, Digital Engineering Solutions, 2022年2月22日 在放大.

下面的问题&A with Martin is edited for clarity and conciseness.

Explain the value of promoting STEM successes of Black Americans during Black 历史 Month.

There is tremendous value in promoting STEM successes of Black Americans. I grew up learning about Dr. 丹尼尔·黑尔·威廉姆斯, who performed the first successful open heart surgery and George Washington Carver’s contributions in horticultural gains. In the Midwest, these scientists were celebrated in elementary school on a yearly basis. The images remained in my mind as far as what was “vaguely” possible. 就我个人而言, 成为一名科学家对我来说似乎遥不可及, as a youth as I didn’t know any Black scientist or, 就此而言, 黑人大学毕业生. The experience speaks to the impact of exposure and why it’s valuable. 有几个, visible role models this year for Black 历史 Month, is an intentional effort to demonstrate to students of color — and all students — what is possible, and help many of us to move past fixed mindsets.

Besides having their roles and contributions dismissed or downplayed historically, Black Americans are under-represented in STEM fields. During your lifetime and-or in your professional experience, have you seen more Blacks interested in STEM careers or specific STEM fields? 请解释.

在我的网络和朋友圈里, I encounter Black individuals who work in STEM careers, 比如工程学, 医疗, 计算机科学与数学. However, Blacks and Hispanics are under-represented in STEM careers statistically. Black Americans are less likely to earn a degree in STEM and make up a lower percentage of STEM graduates. We are under-represented and significantly under-paid compared to our white counterparts. Whites make up 67% of all workers in STEM jobs compared to 9% for Blacks and 8% for Hispanics. The lack of interest could be for reasons tied to perceptions in the industry that it doesn’t need diversity.

How do you see America getting to a point where a significant number of Black Americans are not only making sustained major contributions in STEM, but also being duly acknowledged for their work and seen as leaders?

Educational initiatives such as early outreach to middle and high schools, is a necessity. When a career choice in STEM is solidified in high school, the likelihood that a student will choose a STEM major in college increases and so does the likelihood that they will complete a STEM degree.

有几个 role models for Black 历史 Month, is an intentional effort to demonstrate to students what is possible.~艾丽卡·马丁

在大学里, Black students face challenges such as racial barriers, 恶劣的校园环境, placement into remedial math courses and sometimes being talked out of pursuing STEM interests by advisors. So, they will need support in understanding the social impact of a STEM degree, 支持他们的教育经费, support with clarifying and solidifying their values and STEM interest, 数学成绩支持, and support developing and-or maintaining the expectation of success and self-efficacy. This year’s Black 历史 Month events have and will bring awareness and exposure to college students and may, 对于有色人种的学生, increase their expectations to succeed in STEM careers.

Tell us a little about Misha Dawson, featured in the Feb. 22缩放事件. What about her story do you hope will resonate with the audience?

Misha Dawson is Senior Director of Digital Technologies, Digital Engineer Solutions at Raytheon Missile Systems. 她回馈她的社区. She is a distinguished alumni of her alma mater, a wife and mother. Misha’s story presents an opportunity for all of us, 当听众, to consider our own unique stories and what makes each of us great.

Is there anything else you would like to say about STEM or about Black 历史 Month?

Black 历史 Month highlights the many contributions we’ve made throughout history in the sciences and other fields. These contributions were groundbreaking and helped society as a whole. I take great pride in my identity as an African American woman while embracing the similarities and differences of others. I look forward to more opportunities to influence students in their success!