Revisiting Engineering Identity in a Common Introduction to Engineering Course to Improve Retention

Abstract

is Unangax (Alaska Native) who grew up living a traditional subsistence lifestyle in rural villages along Alaska's Aleutian chain. She earned a BS in Civil Engineering in 2005 and an MS in Engineering Management in 2009 at University of Alaska Anchorage. After earning her BS she began working in Alaska's construction and engineering industry, specializing in water and sewer projects in remote villages across the state. She also worked as the Deputy Director of the Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program (ANSEP). Professor Yatchmeneff earned her PhD in Engineering Education from Purdue University in 2015. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Her research focuses on belonging, motivation, and success for Alaska Native science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM) students.

WIP: Research Identity among First-Year Engineering Latina Students at a Research- Intensive Hispanic Serving Institution

“…Engineering and research identity has been used as an analytical lens for describing and understanding the achievements and persistence of students in engineering curriculums [10]- [16]. These studies have also proposed interventions that might increase student interest and connection to their engineering field of study [17]- [19]. Further these studies have identified the importance of recognition, achievement, experiences, and background/ culture in developing an engineering identity.…”