Event Materials

Talking about why: Linking research and theory to efforts to build racial equity in STEM

Author(s):
Helen Burn, Ph.D.
Mathematics Faculty, Director of Curriculum Research Group
Highline College

Achieving racial equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) requires race-conscious approaches that bring disproportionate benefit to underrepresented racially minoritized students (URM) majoring in STEM. This interactive and participatory session aims to identify the current landscape of research and theory that supports practices and interventions that disproportionately benefit URM in STEM, including hypothesized relationships and assumptions. The Transitioning Learners to Calculus in Community Colleges (TLC3) Institutional Self-Assessment Tool provides a springboard for the session. The Tool represents a validated set of practices that colleges can use to identify and remove barriers for URM students in mathematics courses required for STEM degrees.

Author(s)

Helen Burn, Ph.D.
Mathematics Faculty, Director of Curriculum Research Group
Highline College
Helen Burn is a faculty member in the mathematics department and director of the Curriculum Research Group at Highline College, where she has served as chair of the Pure and Applied Sciences Division and mathematics department coordinator. Her research, service, and leadership center on Dr. Burn currently chairs AMATYC’s Pathways Joint Subcommittee and is a member of the Mathematical Association of America’s Committee on Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics. Burn serves as Principal Investigator on Transitioning Learners to Calculus in Community Colleges (NSF IUSE 1625918), as evaluator on Highline Corequisite Mathematics Initiative (College Spark of Washington), and hub leader for the Pacific Northwest section of StatPREP (NSF DUE 1626337, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America). Her past grant work includes serving as a consultant to the two-year college research team on Characteristics of Successful Program in College Calculus (NSF DUE 0910240, 2010-2016), Co-PI for The Math You Need, When You Need (NSF DUE-0920800/0920583, 2006-2013), and evaluator for Redesigning the Math Placement Process Grant (College Spark of Washington).