IU Program Fosters Persistence for Women of Color in STEM
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana University has launched a program that provides women of color in STEM an outlet to discuss common goals and challenges. The I Can Persist STEM initiative encourages persistence among girls and women of color in science, technology, engineering and math through what it calls a “multigenerational network of peers and professionals, as well as activities focused on career preparedness.”
The program is designed to focus on four key areas: academic success, career and professional development, social change and engagement in science, and technology communication.
"After interviewing more than 100 graduate women of color in STEM nationwide, I heard a shared theme among the participants: the need for a space that mitigated the feelings of isolation and de-legitimization they experienced in their labs, classrooms and departments," said Kerrie Wilkins-Yel, an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Education Psychology at the IU School of Education and founding director of the initiative.