{"id":3997,"date":"2025-07-08T22:10:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T22:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/drpp\/?page_id=3997"},"modified":"2025-07-08T22:10:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T22:10:23","slug":"elementor-3997","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/elementor-3997\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Support Networks in Stem Education\u200b"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Building Support Networks in Stem Education<\/h2>\n<h2>Contributing Researchers<\/h2>\n<p>Lead Research, The Ohio State University<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"557\" height=\"705\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/07\/oliviacallahan-copy-2-e1752085261570.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Olivia Callahan, M.A., University of Michigan<\/p>\n<p>Computer Science and Engineering<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/drpp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2024\/05\/IMG_5316-e1742757148159-800x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Minso Choi, M.A., The Ohio State University<\/p>\n<p>Department of Educational Studies<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"732\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/06\/Screen-Shot-2019-06-03-at-1.51.37-PM-e1752114884730.png\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Angela Ebreo, University of Michigan<\/p>\n<p>Center for the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education<\/p>\n<h2>Overview<\/h2>\n<p>This research explores how undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields engage with support systems during their educational journey. Using reflective journaling and interviews, the study examines how students form meaningful connections with peers, faculty, and academic mentors that strengthen their persistence and success in STEM education.<\/p>\n<p>Support networks are defined broadly to include peer groups, academic mentors, and institutional staff who provide encouragement, resources, and guidance. Using reflective journaling and one-on-one interviews, we explored how students conceptualize and activate support from peers, faculty, and mentors across institutional contexts. The research draws from the Bowman Strengths-Based Role Strain and Adaptation Model. Data from the 2021\u20132023 academic years suggest that structured engagement opportunities enable students to build a sense of community and develop confidence navigating STEM environments.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/drpp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/07\/MPHOTO_RSB_DesignThinkingWrksp_AP_041-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h2>Research Highlights<\/h2>\n<p>We explored the development of support systems through:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reflective journaling and in-depth interviews with undergraduate STEM students<\/li>\n<li>Application of the Bowman Strengths-Based Role Strain and Adaptation Model to analyze student experiences<\/li>\n<li>Identification of strengths and barriers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Key Findings<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Students view peer mentorship and staff guidance as critical to their sense of belonging in STEM<\/li>\n<li>Structured support programs help students navigate academic stress and identity development<\/li>\n<li>Faculty relationships often grow through repeat exposure in both classroom and co-curricular spaces<\/li>\n<li>Practical opportunities like research placements help students affirm or adjust their academic trajectories<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"732\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/drpp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2025\/07\/MPHOTO_DarylMBestof22024-1024x732.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h2>What Do Students Have To Say? Let&#8217;s Hear Some Student Perspectives:<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cYou learn resources, and you meet other classmates\u2026 you can talk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was, hands down the best supporter there was\u2026 They are right there when I call on them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had a research opportunity\u2026 It was definitely a good experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Acknowledgements<\/h2>\n<p>This project is supported by the Directorate for STEM Education through a National Science Foundation grant 2109942, Tabbye Chavous, PI. <b>The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Building Support Networks in Stem Education Contributing Researchers Lead Research, The Ohio State University Olivia Callahan, M.A., University of Michigan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-pagebuilder-full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3997","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3997","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3997"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3997\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.marsal.umich.edu\/pass\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}