Rockhurst Faculty, Staff Invited to White House Summit to Expand Equity in STEM Fields

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

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Representatives from Rockhurst University are part of a select delegation from higher education invited to the White House today to help unveil a national strategy to increase equity in the STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine).

Joanna Cielocha, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, and LaTisha Davis, chief inclusion officer, were invited to take part as the STEMM Opportunity Alliance announced STEMM Equity and Excellence 2050: A National Strategy for Progress and Prosperity at the 2024 White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence, co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The overarching goal of the national strategy is to help 20 million people from historically excluded and marginalized communities enter, contribute to, and thrive in STEMM fields.

SOA is a nationwide initiative committed to tapping America’s culturally rich, innovative and diverse talent pool to expand the STEMM workforce. Along with unveiling the national strategy, SOA announced that its partners, which have more than doubled in size since the December 2022 launch (200+), have collectively committed more than $2 billion to realize the vision of the national strategy.

Each SOA partner has aligned new or existing commitments and projects under the metrics laid out in the national strategy, all committing to multi-lateral, cross-sector collaboration to achieve systems-level change (view all partner commitments). Additionally, SOA announced 10 organizations to serve as anchor partners, each of whom will facilitate working groups within the strategy’s foundations, five pillars, and capstone. The anchor partners will build strong networks, drive toward ambitious, measurable goals, and realign SOA partners’ support, systems and accountability measures.

Rockhurst University is dedicated to enhancing the transition into STEMM higher education and facilitating successful placement in STEMM careers or further graduate/professional training through the implementation of various initiatives. They are particularly focused on supporting low-income students majoring in STEM through the National Science Foundation-funded S-STEM grant in the SMART STEM Scholars program. This six-year grant will offer over $600,000 in financial assistance, pairing student cohorts with faculty and peer mentors while ensuring mentorship quality through DEI and mental health first aid training for faculty mentors. Expected outcomes include increased recruitment of diverse students, improved retention rates, and a greater sense of belonging in STEM fields. Additionally, Rockhurst's Hawk Scholars program aims to bolster academic success among historically underrepresented STEMM students by expanding its bridge program format. Anticipated outcomes include a 75% one-year retention rate and a 60% graduation rate within six years.

“Our SMART STEM and Hawk Scholars programs are designed to support students with interest in STEMM succeed from day one until graduation,” said Michael Marvin, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and associate professor of chemistry. “Our aim is to foster a sense of inclusion for students from all backgrounds at Rockhurst, helping them achieve their success in the classroom as well as eventual STEMM careers.”

“We’re proud as an institution to be invited to take part in today’s summit at the White House and be part of the ongoing effort to increase equity in our STEMM fields,” said Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., president of Rockhurst University. “The need for well-trained professionals in these disciplines continues to increase. We consider it a priority to continue to help meet this need with well-educated students from all backgrounds.”

SOA launched in December 2022 at the first-ever White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence with founding partners AAAS and the Doris Duke Foundation. In its first year, SOA engaged more than 1,500 cross-sector leaders and community members around the nation to co-construct the national strategy. SOA hosted 12 in-person convenings across the country, five virtual town hall sessions and a written comment period to co-develop the strategy, which is rooted in the lived experiences of those doing the important work to achieve greater equity in STEMM.