The five-year project will include three mixed-methods studies including in-depth interviews and surveys designed to identify effective parental messages that facilitate STEM interest and support underrepresented women in STEM throughout their careers. Interviews with Black, Hispanic, and white STEM and non-STEM majors and a survey of parents will identify types and predictors of family STEM-communication. Black, Hispanic, and white women who work in and outside STEM will be interviewed and surveyed to identify and assess memorable messages from parents about STEM learning and understand how family STEM communication influences women’s career trajectories over time. The empirical findings and educational activities of this CAREER project will illustrate and disseminate the ways in which family dynamics influence the career trajectories of Black, Hispanic, and white women at multiple life stages. Understanding the ways parents communicate about STEM besides providing support is vital to transform awareness of family environments that facilitate rather than deter STEM persistence. A strong understanding of this communication process will provide a foundation for future research to address ethnic/racial disparities in STEM education and career persistence and contribute to establishing a diverse and globally competitive workforce by facilitating the full participation of underrepresented people in STEM careers. Full participation ensures that society’s most challenging issues are being addressed by an array of perspectives and skills. The education and outreach portion of the project will engage parents and K-12 students in a conversation-based card game that raises awareness of the variety of STEM career options through family discussion and educate parents about communication, support, and career trajectories in a parent workshop.

Dr. Elizabeth Dorrance Hall from the Department of Communication was awarded a National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Dr. Dorrance Hall is partnering with the Julian Samora Research Institute to conduct this research and share the findings. If you are interested in learning more about the project or would like to volunteer to participate in these studies, contact Dr. Dorrance Hall at edh@msu.edu.