A Seat at the Table: Exploring the Experiences of Underrepresented Minority Women in STEM Graduate Programs

Underrepresented minority (URM) women completing STEM degrees are lacking representation in both undergraduate and graduate programs as well as in STEM professions. The exclusion of this group from an entire professional field leads to a loss of unique and valuable perspectives that could greatly contribute to research and practice. Higher education should have an obligation to better understand both barriers and successes in an attempt to meet the needs of these students pursuing STEM careers. To tackle this phenomenon, this study utilized a group participatory methodology that lends itself to creating action plans derived from participants' voices and experiences. Researchers uncovered four core themes related to the barriers and success factors for URM women in STEM-mentoring, research, opportunities, and academia. Each theme includes both challenges that URM women in STEM face as well as support factors for their success.