RICHLAND, Wash.-Washington State University Tri-Cities is part of a mentoring program for minority women STEM students.
WSU-TC is partnering with the Rochester Institute of Technology, Gonzaga University and the University of Montana on the Women in STEM Education Network.
WiSEN is a co-mentoring network funded by the National Science Foundation that hopes to support women STEM students with a platform for connections.
According to a WSU press release, WiSEN has been awarded almost $600,000 from the NSF to develop a network model for connecting women STEM students.
“This could change the trajectory for institutions to improve equality in STEM and the way we are supporting women students,” said Jillian Cadwell, research associate at WSU Tri-Cities who will work on the WiSEN project with colleagues from the other schools.
Each aspect of WiSEN will be designed and implemented by women with the same or similar minoritized backgrounds as the students, according to WSU.
The project leads, including Cadwell, are faculty researchers and mentors with inclusive backgrounds of of Afro-Caribbean, European American, and Asian immigrants, giving them particular insight into the challenges faced by minoritized women.
WiSEN is on a two-year pilot program to research and develop the best mentoring practices for minority women students. After the initial two-years, the WiSEN team will seek additional funding to expand the program to more universities.
Each of the partner universities will have eight spots available in its WiSEN group for women in STEM majors. According to WSU-TC, there is currently a waiting list at the Richland campus.
“Research shows that mentoring is a successful and vital means to support and retain women in STEM fields,” said Cadwell.
