MindsetsForSTEM.org
The Florida-Caribbean Louis Stokes Regional Center of Excellence (FL-C LSRCE) The FL-C LSRCE seeks to strengthen minority participation by developing customized psychosocial interventions using research-based strategies that impact students’ sense of competency (growth mindset), belongingness (senseof-purpose mindset), and their academic success. In a considerable body of research, social psychologists have tested the effectiveness of mindset interventions on success of students ranging from middle school to college. Through these interventions, students are coached to think and feel differently about success and failure or about their motives for being in school. Mindset intervention research builds on a long history of research in social psychology focused on self-esteem, feedback students receive, and students’ beliefs about themselves and their abilities.
Our Partner Institutions Alabama State University Bethune-Cookman University Tallahassee Community College Tuskegee University Valencia College
Newsletter Spring 2020
Meet the FL-C LSRCE Team The critical work of the The Florida-Caribbean Louis Stokes Regional Center for Excellence (FL-C LSRCE) is done in partnership with Santa Fe College and The University of the Virgin Islands to broaden participation in STEM through the implementation and development of psychosocial interventions focused on growth mindsets. Co-Principal Investigators Dr. Stefanie Waschull and Dr. Camille McKayle are leading the way in customized interventions with our six partnering institutions. This FL-C LSRCE team brings a passion for STEM education innovation, and relevant previous experience in research and direct service to pursue STEM success for all students. Dr. Stefanie Waschull Dr. Stefanie Waschull is the Principal Investigator and the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. Her work as a psychologist and educator has led to greater understanding of student success in the traditional and online environments. Dr. Waschull leads critical work at Santa Fe addressing textbook affordability, community college to university pathways, and articulation policies. (Continued on page 2)
Meet the FL-C LSRCE Team (Cont. from page 1) Dr. Camille McKayle Dr. Camille McKayle is the Co-Principal Investigator and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of the Virgin Islands. She is a committed STEM educator in mathematics and continues to innovate in student preparation and inclusion in STEM. Dr. McKayle has led various research efforts and served as both principal investigator or co-principal investigator on numerous grant projects focused on broadening participation in STEM. Jhenai W. Chandler, M.S
Community College.
As Director, Jhenai is responsible for implementing grant activities, budget management, and working with FL-C LSRCE partner institutions. Previously, she was the Director of Student and Administrative Affairs for the Division of Florida Colleges at the Florida Department of Education. Jhenai’s previous work experience includes academic affairs and advising at Florida State University and Tallahassee
Dr. Lawanda Cummings At the University of the Virgin Islands, the Co-Director, Dr. Lawanda Cummings was hired in May 2019. She is also the Director of Education Research for the Virgin Islands Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (VI-EPSCoR) grant and a contributor to the Education Doctoral program. Lawanda supervises multiple projects focused on developing a strong STEM workforce in the U.S. Virgin Islands through teacher professional development, facilitating STEM identity development at the K12 and undergraduate levels, innovating curriculum through culturally relevant practices and technological integration, and facilitating critical partnerships for program sustainability. Ada Lang Ada serves as the FL-C LSRCE’s Program Assistant providing assistance with graphic design and communications. She has an Associate’s degree in Architectural Technology and also graduated from Santa Fe College with an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design Technology.
Connect with Us @FLC_LSRCE @FLCLSRCE
MindsetsForSTEM.org
The Inaugural Mindsets for STEM Institute The 1st Annual Mindsets for STEM Institute on psychosocial and classroom interventions took place July 18-19, 2019 at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. Over 70 participants attended with representation from both Alachua County and Bradford County public school districts, the Central Florida Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Florida-Georgia LSAMP, Greater Alabama Black Belt Region LSAMP, Santa Fe College, and the University of the Virgin Islands. This two-day institute provided growth mindset training sessions led by FL-C LSRCE research consultants and social psychologists:
Dr. Valerie Purdie-Greenaway Columbia University
Connect with Us @FLC_LSRCE @FLCLSRCE
MindsetsForSTEM.org
Dr. Omid Fotuhi University of Pittsburgh
Drs. Fotuhi and Purdie-Greenaway provided participants with psychosocial interventions that promote growth mindsets in STEM, training to create classroom environments that foster continual learning, and effective strategies for positive faculty feedback and student interaction. Day 2 of the institute was dedicated to prepare participating faculty for Year 1 research activities.
Scenes from the Institute
Disseminating Our Work Across STEM Networks The past few months have been busy ones for the FL-C LSRCE in disseminating and connecting with affiliated programs throughout STEM networks.
July 2019 - LS PAC Models Summer Workshop (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) October 2019 - Peach State LSAMP Conference (Athens, Georgia) October 2019 - Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence Conference (Indianapolis, Indiana) November 2019 - Transforming STEM in Higher Education Conference (Chicago, Illinois)
At the 2019 AAC & U Transforming STEM in Higher Education conference, Dr. David Hall, President of the University of the Virgin Islands, was a keynote speaker emphasizing, “The Soul of STEM.” One of our PIs, Dr. Camille McKayle presented a poster entitled, “Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership.”
The Art of Listening: Student Voice in Customized Interventions The FL-C LSRCE is incorporating student voices into the process of developing customized psychosocial interventions for year 2 by providing opportunities for students to share aspects of their educational experiences through surveys and facilitated focus group activities. In one exercise, students are invited to draw a journey map of their anticipated path to where they want to be. These sketches revealed critical information about barriers and facilitators that students address with persistence and resilience to make it to their individual goals. The diversity of student experiences and reflections on their individual lived experiences contribute valuable perspective to our understanding of how customized psychosocial interventions can help. We have completed student surveys and focus groups at Bethune-Cookman University, Tallahassee Community College, Valencia College, and Santa Fe College and look forward to hearing from students at Alabama State University, Tuskegee University, and the University of the Virgin Islands in Spring 2020.
Thank you
to the faculty liaisons and teams from Bethune-Cookman University, Tallahassee Community College, Valencia College and Santa Fe College for their help organizing the implementation of the student surveys and focus groups. Ross Brooks (Tallahassee Community College) Ross teaches multiple levels of Statistics and Mathematics and is particularly interested in Statistical Inference using simulation and active learning. Originally from Thomasville, Georgia, he attended Florida State University where he studied Mathematics. Ross uses his experience as a community college graduate to drive the way he teaches and motivates his students. He loves seeing his students’ academic and personal growth each semester. Brian Lee (Santa Fe College) Brian teaches Physics and Astronomy courses and is particularly interested in extrasolar planets. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, he completed his Physics studies at the University of Toronto. Brian always wanted to teach and loves helping students learn the skills and knowledge that allow us to appreciate both the complexity and simplicity of nature. Vasudha Sharma ( Valencia College) Vasudha, a graduate of Michigan State University, teaches multiple levels of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Internship Exploration in Chemistry. As a faculty member, Dr. Sharma loves interacting with students and adopting or developing innovative strategies to make Chemistry concepts more understandable for all students. Danyell Wilson-Howard (Bethune-Cookman University) Danyell teaches Chemistry and her research interests are cancer health disparities, and STEM education and training. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, Dr. Wilson-Howard completed her studies in Chemistry at Lincoln University and the University of Florida. She loves inspiring young minds and the professoriate aligns with Danyell’s passion, purpose, and God’s intentions for her life.
Spotlight Articles: Faculty on Fire Verleen McSween, University of the Virgin Islands Dr. Verleen McSween is a Biology professor at UVI on the St. Croix campus. She is presently implementing the Mindset STEM intervention in her class and acting as a liaison for the FL-C LSRCE. She submitted a NSF Advancing Informal Science Learning (AISL) grant proposal with Dr. Lawanda Cummings to use similar psychosocial interventions in science clubs throughout the territory. Using both culturally situated STEM content and tiered-mentoring, her Dream TEAMS (Technology, Engineering, Arts Math and Science) science club program, seeks to boost science affinity and sense of belonging among k12 students. The AISL grant application is for $298, 888 for a 2-year pilot study.
What’s Next The FL-C LSRCE will begin to provide faculty development trainings on the psychosocial barriers in STEM and interventions faculty can use in their classrooms to promote growth mindsets and a sense of belonging among underrepresented minorities. These trainings will take place at our six partner institutions, but a test trial of the FL-C LSRCE training manual has yielded great feedback from Santa Fe College faculty. Participants have ranked the overall quality of the session as, “Extremely good” and when asked the likelihood that they would make changes in their classroom or professional practices as a result of the workshop, the overwhelming response was, “Extremely likely.”
Events 2nd Annual Mindsets for STEM Conference
Developing Mindsets for STEM: Effective interventions and strategies that promote growth mindsets and persistence in STEM July 15-18, 2020 University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas Campus Interested in presenting? Conference proposals are being accepted at MindsetsForSTEM.org/events.