What is the Native STEM Portraits (NPS) Project?
Native STEM Portraits: A Longitudinal, Mixed-Methods Study of the Intersectional Experiences of Native Learners and Professionals in STEM was a five-year collaboration beginning in 2020 between TERC, the University of Georgia (UGA), and Advancing Indigenous People in STEM (AISES). The goals of NSP were to gain a multifaceted understanding of the experiences of persistence, retention, and success of Native higher education students, faculty, and other professionals in STEM, and to learn how these experiences changed over the time of their journey, through entering and leaving STEM higher education. For this purpose, the team developed two primary interconnected research foci – foundational information and Native experiences in STEM education and careers.
Foundational Information
Our research questions were the following – What are the main constructs in the literature around persistence, retention, success, and barriers of Native students and professionals in STEM? What is the current landscape of research around culturally responsive efforts and successes regarding recruitment and retention of Native students? The team conducted a scoping review of the existing relevant literature from the past two decades, examining the experiences of persistence and retention, and the success of Native higher education students, faculty, and other professionals in STEM.
Native Experiences in STEM Education and Careers
Our research questions were the following – What factors have influenced Native individuals’ decision to pursue and persist in STEM higher education and careers? What are the barriers to their persistence? How do they experience the intersection of their identities (as Native individuals, as women, as sexual/gender minorities) and as STEM students/professionals/educators? How do these experiences change across time?
The team used surveys and photo elicitation interviews to study the experiences of undergraduate and graduate Native STEM students, Native STEM faculty, and other Native STEM professionals. For students, the focus was on changes in their identities, perceptions, and attitudes about persistence in STEM that “naturally” occur as they progress through their program. With faculty and professionals, there were several foci: providing retrospectives of their experiences as students; insights about how institutions and programs can prepare Native students to persist in academia and the professional STEM workforce; and reflections on how they can be role models for all students.
Logo Description
The logo embodies both Indigenous identity and elements of STEM, intertwining tradition and innovation. The circles behind the feathers symbolize the shifting lens of a camera, representing perspective and focus. The feathers and diamond symbols are a reflection of Indigenous heritage, grounding the design in cultural significance. Symmetry plays a key role, echoing the balance and precision often found in STEM fields. Additionally, the representation of 4’s – four diamonds and four feathers – honors the four directions, a vital concept in Indigenous culture that speaks to balance, harmony, and interconnectedness.
Graphic Designer: Maddie Sanders
Maddie Sanders is a Mvskoke & Mojave artist from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She has been honing her skills in murals and graphic design for several years. She graduated from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design in 2021, and her journey as an artist has taken her across the country. Maddie’s large-scale murals, known for their vibrant colors and rich depictions, have adorned walls in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and California.
Beyond murals, Maddie’s artistic practice is diverse, encompassing public installations, curation, graphics design and jewelry-making. Her work has been showcased in museums across the United States and Europe.
As an Indigenous artist, Maddie is deeply committed to incorporating her heritage into her work. Her art serves as a bridge between generations, celebrating the stories, traditions, and resilience of her ancestors while inspiring future generations.
Website: holatte.com | Email: contact@holatte.com