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IMAGE: Brenda Brand, an associate professor of science education in the Virginia Tech School of Education, conducts a demonstration during a STEM fair for graduate students. Photo by Andrew Adkins for. view more
Credit: Virginia Tech
A National Science Foundation report in 2015 found that only 40 percent of African Americans pursuing doctorates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) were completing their degrees. Improving diversity within higher education is essential to the recruitment and education of a vibrant, inclusive STEM workforce, said Brenda Brand, an associate professor of science education in the Virginia Tech School of Education. Yet to increase the numbers of historically underrepresented faculty in STEM, we must focus not just on recruitment but on retention as well.