Ebony O. McGee, PhD

RESEARCH INTERESTS

The role of racialized biases in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that influence high achieving historically marginalized students’ graduate and career trajectories, particularly their interest in college faculty positions. The role of resiliency, wellness and mental health issues for mathematically high-achieving African American high school and post-secondary students; and identity (racial, mathematics, ethnic) development in high-achieving historically marginalized STEM students of color.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

As a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow working with the Scientific Careers Research and Development Group, at Northwestern University, I performed a two-year research study on 61 Black, Latino, and Asian physical science and mathematics advanced undergraduate students, to better understand why so few academically successful Black and Latino STEM college students are pursuing graduate education or careers in their respective disciplines.

From Stereotype Threat to Stereotype Management and Beyond:

Successful Asian, Black and Latinos in Science and Mathematics

As a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow working with the Scientific Careers Research and Development Group, at Northwestern University, I performed a three-year research study to examine the experiences and academic and career decisions of 61 STEM Black, Latino, and Asian advanced undergraduate college students, who are expected to realize their ambitions in those fields.  On the goals was better understand why so few academically successful Black and Latino STEM college students are pursuing graduate education or careers in their respective disciplines. To determine if their trajectories are different from students who are not typically stereotyped negatively, the experiences of Asian/Asian American students were germane to the goals of the study. The proposed research is intended to reveal the factors and considerations impacting the academic and career decisions of these students, and how their decisions have been shaped by prior, sometimes racialized, experiences.

More information about this project can be found under the “Research” tab.