Diversity

Tufts’ Center for STEM Diversity (CSD) intentionally cultivates an equity-minded and justice-oriented community to promote academic and personal success for those historically excluded from STEM fields. Center staff are embedded in several School of Engineering academic departments and their expertise and support are crucial in developing programming for students and training for faculty and staff, contributing to research proposals, and providing holistic supports for students.

CSD staff and School of Engineering community members collaborate on initiatives centered around diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). This year, diversity program administrators hosted programs for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students to build community within departments, supported numerous grant proposals, and worked with the Department of Computer Science to launch Access for Computing Equity, a new summer enrichment program for rising sophomores that provides funding to take core classes, secure professional mentorships, and develop life skills crucial to success in the field.

The CSD also continued to support students through its four flagship programs this year: Bridge to Engineering Success at Tufts (BEST), Redefining the Image of Science and Engineering (RISE), STEM Ambassadors, and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). The BEST program served 46 students, 13 of whom were graduating seniors. During the summer of 2022, the program welcomed its thirteenth cohort of incoming first-year students to the Tufts campus for the six-week program.

Through the STEM Ambassadors program, 15 first-generation college students worked with ninth and tenth grade high school classrooms in the greater Boston area to deliver virtual presentations on science and engineering topics and to talk to students about college. Nine new ambassadors joined the program in 2022. The LSAMP program supported 10 students, all of whom partnered with faculty mentors performing research.

Graduating BEST students from the Class of 2022

Students playing a game at the CSD’s end of semester celebration in December 2021 STEM Ambassadors visit local high school classrooms to give STEM presentations, conduct science experiments, and talk about college