wp-image-7319″ title=”nsf1(1)” alt=”" src=”http://tnstatenewsroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/nsf111-300×300.png” width=”300″ height=”300″ />NASHVILLE (TSU News Service) – The Department of Psychology in the College of Education has received a three-year, $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct career development and management interventions for minority STEM majors.
The grant is a result of an interdisciplinary collaboration with the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences, and the College of Engineering. It is intended to increase retention and graduation, as well as help improve chances for STEM majors to consider post-graduate study and careers.
Dr. Marie Hammond, Associate Professor of Psychology, is the principal investigator of the project, along with Dr. S. Keith Hargrove, Dean of the College of Engineering; and William Hayslett, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, as co-Principal Investigators.
According to Dr. Hammond, many STEM majors, although doing well in their math and sciences courses, do not have a clear direction as to career choices after graduation. Others linger because they do not know if their chosen major is a good fit for their career goals, she said.
“Our goal is to intervene early on to ensure that these students are on the right path and help them make clear career decisions,” Hammond said. “Trying to manage career without enough planning can be a disaster and can potentially lead to a waste of years of educational preparation.”
Using theory- and research-based management interventions, Dr. Hammond, a vocational psychologist, and her colleagues, aim to provide evidence of the impact of specific training in career development and management for minority STEM students at Minority Serving Institutions.
The Interim Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Heraldo Richards described the NSF grant as “very timely.”
“Our students are smart and perform well in their courses, but many have no idea in terms of career planning or where they are headed after graduation,” Dr. Richards said. “I commend Dr. Hammond for initiating this cross-disciplinary effort that certainly would ensure a bright future for students after they leave us.”
The Career Development Center, headed by Karon Uzzell-Baggett, will be fully engaged in this research endeavor, according to Dr. Hammond.
The project, “Broadening Participation Research: Career Commitment and Retention, Building the STEM Workforce,” is one of several TSU research initiatives funded by the NSF. Recently, the Department of Mathematical Sciences in the College of Engineering received a $300,000 NSF grant to promote research in applied mathematics and curriculum development.
Read more on the College of Education and the educational and research opportunities.
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With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university and is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top Universities in the county by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912 Tennessee State University celebrates 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu
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