Seminar Series | Choques y Arrebatos: Acknowledging the Racialized History and Social Realities of Latinx Engineering Students
All dates for this event occur in the past.
Registration: -
Abstract
Research has revealed that the language used to describe Latinx students and other minoritized groups in STEM has focused on highlighting their “deficiencies” first rather than on challenging deficit models or the structural conditions these students constantly face. Categorizations such as “at risk” or “vulnerable” have led to the perceived notion that students of color have particular inadequacies that need to be “fixed” in order for them to be functional or successful in those spaces. This presentation will focus on the importance of describing and challenging deficit models in engineering education research to provide better opportunities for participation and inclusion for marginalized students. Anzaldúa’s seven-stage exploration of conocimiento will be introduced as a lens to explore the narratives and lived realities of Latinx engineering students. The overall purpose is to draw upon the idea of choques (clashes) and arrebatos (fragmentations) to reclaim Latinxs' power through the reconstructing of self-narrative.
Biography
Dr. Joel Alejandro (Alex) Mejia is an assistant professor in the Department of Integrated Engineering at the University of San Diego. His research has contributed to the integration of critical theoretical frameworks and Chicano Cultural Studies to investigate and analyze existing deficit models in engineering education. Dr. Mejia’s work also examines how asset-based models impact the validation and recognition of students and communities of color as holders and creators of knowledge. His current work seeks to analyze and describe the tensions, contradictions, and cultural collisions many Latinx students experience in engineering through testimonios. He is particularly interested in approaches that contribute to a more expansive understanding of engineering in sociocultural contexts, the impact of critical consciousness in engineering practice, and development and implementation of culturally responsive pedagogies in engineering education.
About the EED Seminar Series
Registration is required prior to each seminar. SP21 seminars will take place via remote video conferencing. A link and password to each seminar will be sent once you register. Each seminar will be held live and may be recorded for archival and marketing purposes. If you have questions regarding this seminar series, please contact Dr. David Delaine.