Introduction to the STEM Education and Workforce Development: Equity and Inclusion for Underserved Populations Minitrack

Abstract

The first paper examines factors influencing IT career choices among U.S. veterans with disabilities pursuing higher education in IT. Through Latent Profile Analysis, the study identifies distinct groups of veterans based on their perceptions of IT role congruity, IT selfefficacy, military identity, disability identity, and IT career aspirations, highlighting each group's unique characteristics and needs. The second paper investigates collaborative learning as a DEI strategy to reduce attrition among minorities in STEM education, with a focus on psychological safety and empathy. Theauthors analyze two years of weekly student reflections and interviews with both students and community partners. The third paper uses qualitative interviews to explore the barriers to equity, diversity, and inclusion faced by immigrant women professionals in Canada’s cybersecurity sector. Through an intersectional lens, the authors reveal the impact of racial and gender discourses on immigrant women's experiences of workplace exclusion. The fourth paper identifies resources essential for support networks to aid women in overcoming current obstacles in STEM. Through participatory design, the authors gather insightsfrom female STEM students and develop prototypes for a digital support network, assessing their usability. The final paper, nominated for best paper, investigates barriers that instructors face in fully engaging with Community-Engaged Learning and contributing to broadening participationin STEM. Findings indicate significant challenges, including a culture that undervalues service, fragmented efforts to establish partnerships, and issues with maintaining resources, which collectively hinder engagement.