Due to a large number of registrants, the location has been changed to the Michigan League Koessler Room (3rd Floor, 911 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)

Despite overall gains in the pursuit of higher education, students from culturally diverse backgrounds remain marginalized in STEM fields. Building a strong sense of STEM identity (or the ability to recognize and be recognized as a member of a STEM field) is one way to support students in their journey. However, many culturally diverse students may experience unique challenges in developing their STEM identities.

In this session, I will utilize an intersectional approach to explore how cultural identity (among other identities) influences STEM identity and retention for diverse students. By using an intersectional approach to STEM identity, I call for more significant consideration of the intersecting identities that students in STEM possess, highlighting the link between those individual identities and larger systems of marginalization and oppression. Within this session, I will engage the audience in a discussion about how we can take what we know about cultural identity and STEM identity to transform our STEM practices. I will encourage audience members to brainstorm concrete ways in which they can better support culturally diverse students in their STEM identity development.