(BPRW) Making it Easier for African American Women to Succeed in STEM and Medicine
(Black PR Wire) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024), science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs are supposed to grow by 10.4% from 2023 to 2033, yet only 79,000 of the 373,000 (2%) African American women bachelors’ degree holders were employed in science and engineering occupations in 2021 (National Science Foundation, 2023). These statistics suggest that there might be a leaky pipeline for African American women in STEM fields.
In an effort to diversify the STEM pipeline, in the groundbreaking book, Dream On!: Supporting African American Girls and Women in STEM (ISBN: 978-1737273141), Dr. McPherson shares the life stories on how some African American women succeeded in undergraduate STEM majors in the face of adversity at predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). To succeed in undergraduate majors at PWIs, some practical strategies that African American women used included: (1) finding a tribe of support, (2) using campus resources, (3) and learning to navigate the hidden STEM curriculum. Noteworthy of mentioning is that 100% of the 16 study participants graduated with undergraduate degrees from PWIs. The professional careers that they pursued included: medical doctors, scientists, engineers, and/or business professionals.
According to Distinguished University Professor University of Maryland, Dr. Sharon Fries-Britt: “The lived experiences shared in Dream On! Supporting and Graduating African American Girls and Women in STEM reveal important insights into how Black girls experience learning in STEM classrooms and the factors that matter in their success…This is an important read for those committed to increasing access and success in STEM for Black girls and women. Additionally, STEM education expert and University of Maryland Baltimore County, President Emeritus, Dr. Freeman Hrabowski III reflects on Dream on! by stating: “The lessons she offers for students, families, and educators will be of considerable value as we continue thinking as a society of how best to increase diversity in these critical subjects and in the STEM workforce”.
Dream On! is designed for African American women high school students and college students who are interested in obtaining STEM and medical degrees. The book will also benefit families, community organizations, K-12 teachers, faculty members, post-secondary administrators, researchers, policymakers who are interested in the success of African American women in STEM and medical fields.
About the Author:
Dr. McPherson is a professional committed to diversifying the STEM and medical pipelines for African American girls and women. She is also an expert in student retention and success. She is created, Dr. McPherson Coaching, LLC (www.drmcphersoncoaching.com) a professional mentoring company to support the career success of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) professionals. She earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and received a master’s and doctorate in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Availability:
Dream On!: Supporting African American Girls and Women in STEM is available online at bookstores, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart.
For more information, to schedule an interview with the author, or to request a review copy, please contact, Dr. Ezella McPherson at emcpher2@gmail.com.
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