ABSTRACT
Advancing diversity and inclusion have been persistent challenges in STEM. Consequently, there remains an urgent need for interventions addressing the needs of marginalized students as they progress through undergraduate degree programs. To support this effort, Dr. Walter Lee’s research focuses on better understanding the interventions (program, activities, and services) that colleges provide as it relates to student support. In this seminar, he will discuss an NSF-funded project focused on advancing our ability to gauge the efficiency with which colleges provide support to STEM students. Dr. Lee will focus on the development of a survey instrument that reveals constructs that can be used by administrators, student-support practitioners, and educators to better assess and maximize institutional support received by undergraduate students in STEM. Such an instrument is important because it can support the identification of opportunities to make local STEM learning environments more supportive and equitable from the perspectives of undergraduate students.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Walter Lee is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Education and the Assistant Director for Research in the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity, both at Virginia Tech. His research interests include co-curricular support, student success, and STEM learning environments. Dr. Lee has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University, an MS in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech, and a PhD in Engineering Education from Virginia Tech.
