What is the Native STEM Portraits (NSP) Project?
Native STEM Portraits (NSP) was a five-year collaboration beginning in 2020 between TERC, the University of Georgia, and AISES (Advancing Indigenous People in STEM). 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 course of their STEM journeys. This multifaceted understanding can help inform ways to retain and develop STEM talent to enter, grow, and strengthen the U.S. workforce. For these purposes, the team developed two primary interconnected research foci – foundational/institutional information and experiences in STEM education and careers. The project was informed by the non-discriminatory framework of Inclusive Excellence provided by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (Williams et al., 2005).
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 supports for and barriers to their persistence? How do these experiences change across time?
The team conducted a scoping review of the existing relevant literature from the past two decades, identifying key elements for persistence, retention, and success of Native higher education students, faculty, and other professionals in STEM. The team also used surveys and photo elicitation interviews. For students, the focus was on changes in their learning, perceptions, attitudes about persistence in STEM, and STEM job readiness. 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.
Foundational Information
Native or Indigenous groups – including those identifying as American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, First Nations, and other Indigenous peoples of North America – are not at parity in STEM education and employment relative to their representation in the U.S. population. According to the 2020 Census, American Indians or Alaska Natives accounted for 1.3% of the U.S. population, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders accounted for 0.3% of the population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). Yet the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics ([NCSES], 2023) reported that, in 2020, American Indians or Alaska Natives (AIAN) only earned 0.4% of science & engineering (S&E) bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. NCSES further reported that, in 2021, 0.4% of AIAN were employed in S&E occupations and 0.6% were employed in S&E-related occupations. Data disaggregated for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders for these same parameters are unavailable due to their small numbers (NCSES, 2023).
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.
NSP’s Branding Packet: https://holatte.com/native-stem-portraits
Website: holatte.com | Maddie’s Email: contact@holatte.com
Reference
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES). (2023). Diversity and STEM: Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities 2023. Special Report NSF 23-315. Alexandria, VA: National Science Foundation. https://ncses.nsf.gov/wmpd.