SW New Mexico News

In 2018, New Mexico State University (NMSU) received a research award under the National Science Foundation’s Hispanic Serving Institutions Program. The five-year, $2.6 million grant funded the creation of an HSI STEM Resource Hub at NMSU, in collaboration with Doña Ana Community College and California State University-Northridge.

“Student success requires a strong support system and faculty are first line supporters who hold great responsibility for student well-being and degree completion,” said Elba Serrano, NMSU Regents professor of biology and principal investigator for the NMSU arm of the project. Over the last five years, the project has created a network to share best practices among 450 Hispanic-serving institutions to build capacity for STEM education.

In March, NMSU’s HSI STEM Resource Hub organized a culminating conference in Albuquerque titled “Adelante! Building Capacity for STEM Student Success at Hispanic Serving Institutions.” The conference celebrated achievements of HSIs and HSI STEM educators across the nation and provided a platform for collaborative engagement.

“It was inspirational to see so many colleagues from HSIs across the country passionate about their programs and the success of students at their institutions,” said Martha Desmond, NMSU Regents professor of fish, wildlife and conservation ecology and co-principal investigator of the HSI STEM Hub. “The conference was uplifting and for me verified that the work the Hub is doing is needed and valued.”

Annual evaluations over the last five years tracked steady growth of NMSU’s HSI STEM Resource Hub, provided recommendations for improvements, and confirmed that more than 3,000 faculty and staff from 40 states and Puerto Rico have attended Hub events that build institutional capacity in support of STEM students. Participants collectively have taught or mentored more than one million students. Additionally, the Hub supported grantsmanship success by faculty and staff at various educational institutions.

“Most importantly, we established a national community that united faculty and staff from HSIs in support of a shared mission to increase STEM student degree completion and career pathways,” said Serrano. “We also presented our work at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and other national conferences.”

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the value of online resources for educators. By 2021, social media efforts expanded the Hub’s presence, keeping members updated as they worked on their own STEM grants.

Participants at the conference showcased their research, discussed impacts of NSF-funded awards, and shared experiences leading transformative programs. The event facilitated networking opportunities that enabled attendees to establish new collaborations.

“I was inspired and humbled by the stories and passion of committed faculty and staff in attendance who work on behalf of HSI STEM students,” said Serrano. “We shared our successes and struggles working to advance change within STEM fields.”

During its grant period, NMSU’s Hub offered webinars, workshops, virtual networking meetups, and open-access resources to help faculty members learn more about grant writing, inclusive practices in classrooms, and evidence-based teaching methods.

“The success of this conference was possible due to combined efforts from an amazing team,” said Serrano. She credited co-principal investigators Jon Juarez (Doña Ana Community College), Martha Desmond (NMSU), Mónica Torres (interim NMSU President), Gabriela Morales (NMSU), as well as other collaborators.

NMSU’s NSF grant will end in August 2024 without eligibility for renewal. The team is currently conducting a large-scale evaluation capturing cumulative outcomes over five years which will be published. Efforts are ongoing to continue some activities established through the Hub.

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