Toward a Framework for Providing Equitable Opportunities to Activate STEM Talent

Throughout the United States, there are many different programs designed to support the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) talent to meet the national demand for a skilled workforce. These range from small, passion-driven volunteer programs to large, institutional programs with foundation or government funding. Though these initiatives differ in their target population, setting, and goals, they are united by a common mission to provide opportunities for students to explore and thrive in STEM careers. Developing new programs can be challenging, specifically in systematizing and measuring the effectiveness of these efforts – which can require skillsets beyond mentorship and education and reduce the time available to directly support student mentees. Here, we describe the beginnings of a systems-based approach to implement a solution based on ideas that have evolved from our engineering education research and practice over the past two decades. Integrating this approach can allow programs to more comprehensively consider and support diverse student needs in a variety of contexts, especially for trailblazing students in high school, college and graduate school – those with both high potential and significant barriers to opportunities in STEM.