STEM Education During Black History Month and Beyond
February 15, 2024 | AUVSI News
Each February, Black History Month honors the contributions of African Americans all throughout history. AUVSI connected with DE&I Advisory Group member Matt Scassero to learn how STEM programs can observe Black History Month. Scassero is Director of Operations and Outreach for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the MATRIX Lab at the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland.
Celebrating and honoring Black History Month 2024
The University of Maryland and the A. James Clark School of Engineering publish information about significant achievements and events throughout Black History month recognizing both the accomplishments and the opportunities and expectations for our diverse communities as they go forth in their careers.
“It is an opportunity to recognize, celebrate and re-engage our best selves to achieve more together, bringing everyone’s best effort to the table,” says Scassero.
Fostering a positive campus culture for all
The University has initiated several efforts to address both the ongoing challenges, but also to redirect them into opportunities to learn, grow and achieve. Learn more about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Clark School here.
Two of the most significant that affect the engineering community are their onboarding program, TerrapinSTRONG, and their WEIDP dialogue program tailored to engineering students.
-
“TerrapinSTRONG gives everyone an opportunity right up front as they join us, students, faculty and staff alike, to learn about both the challenges as well as the accomplishments of the University in the DEI area. As a land grant University, we have a checkered past of both abusing our power through land appropriation and reducing opportunities for communities of color, as well as supporting efforts to overcome those and other challenges to enlarge opportunities,” says Scassero.
-
“ENES138, Equitable & Inclusive Engineering Design thru Intergroup Dialogue” is a specific tailoring of our WEIDP program which brings DEI topics to a fine focus in our engineering field, and shows our students what their role can be in it via dialogue with their fellow students. The conversations and learning support a better way to approach our craft and the communities we work with.
The intersection between Black history, technology, and innovation
Scassero says: “Black history is not a separate history, it is our shared history, but needs to be recognized more and encouraged more for future participation in the uncrewed systems industry. We have achieved so much… how much more could we have achieved if everybody had a seat at our design table? Let’s make that happen.”
- Industry Insights
