According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Spelman College is the No. 1 HBCU and the top undergraduate institution of origin for Black women who have earned doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Institutions like Spelman have provided culturally relevant learning environments designed to build social capital, provide academic development, and increase students’ sense of agency. Spelman continues to expand and reimagine the liberal arts learning environment to ensure the rigor and relevance of all disciplines, including chemistry. Such an environment is ripe for the creation of culturally relevant curricula and black feminist pedagogies. With culturally relevant curriculum, individuals at the College have created strategies to promote students’ voices, allowing them to see themselves in the space. The strategies capitalize on the inclusion of black women’s intellectual contributions and privileging their knowledge and creativity to develop learning resources. This presentation will address Spelman’s history in cultivating STEM talent by showcasing efforts in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Particular attention will be paid to traditional and contemporary strategies for allowing students to co-create knowledge within their educational experience. The presentation will also showcase curricular resources contributing to the burdening repository of black feminist pedagogy at the College. Example resources include A Chemist Like Me, Beyond the Experiment, Letter to my Future Self, peer-leed virtual workshops, and the creation of quilts. Examples of each will be shared.

History repeating: Spelman’s legacy of cultivating agency in Black women in STEM through culturally relevant curriculum

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.