Breaking Down Barriers
The University or Arizona, recently designated a Hispanic Serving Institution, has several programs that strengthen diversity in STEM education. One of them is the Bridge to the Doctorate program. Jim Field, assistant dean for graduate education in the College of Engineering, is principal investigator for the project, which is helping prepare its third UA cohort for competitive PhD programs.
Underrepresented groups make up nearly a third of the U.S. population. But only about 13 percent of U.S. citizens with science and engineering PhDs are from underrepresented populations.
Bridge to Doctorate Fosters Inclusivity
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate program supports engineering and science students through their master’s degrees and transitions into doctoral programs. The two-year fellowships for underrepresented students – African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and Native Pacific Islanders – cover tuition and provide $32,000 annually, plus health insurance and a professional development stipend.
Students benefit from a community of mentors and hone their professional skills attending conferences and participating in organizations such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, and the National Society of Black Engineers.
Read more about the Bridge to Doctorate program in a recent UA Engineering news story.
2018-2020 Cohort
Engineering
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Zachary Binger, PhD studiesChemical Engineering |
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Jorge Alberto Castro Maldonado, PhD studiesAerospace and Mechanical Engineering |
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Nathan Alexander Moreno Reiland, MS programAerospace and Mechanical Engineering |
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Joseph Moya, MS programCivil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics |
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Erica T. Vanover, MS programEnvironmental Engineering |
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Andres Angel Nuncio Zuniga, PhD studiesBiomedical Engineering |
Science
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Joseph Anthony Agosttini, MS programPhysiology |
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Terrance Delisser, MS programGeosciences |
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Danielle Johnson, PhD studiesBiological and Biomedical Sciences |
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Pierce Alyn Longmire, MS programMolecular and Cellular Biology |
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Anissa Y. McKenna, MS programSoil, Water and Environmental Science |
Testimonials
Jennifer Salazar
2016-2018
“I decided to become an engineer because I wanted to learn technical skills that I could use to create positive change. With this fellowship, I could fully dedicate myself to my studies and research.”
Jennifer Salazar, biosystems engineering, 2016-2018 cohort
Daniel Lizarraga
2016-2018
“My parents were architects in Mexico, and I always had an interest in the engineering field. This program made it possible for me to obtain my graduate degree.”
Daniel Lizarraga, civil engineering, 2016-2018 cohort
Jim Field
professor
“With nearly a quarter of graduate students from underrepresented minority groups, the UA has been a leader in increasing diversity among graduate students. This grant helps relieve one of the huge barriers – the financial part.”
Professor Jim Field, principal investigator, NSF Bridge to the Doctorate project
David Lopez
2016-2018
“One of the most valuable assets of the fellowship is the sense of community. It is important to know there are people you can reach out to when things are rough.”
David Lopez, chemical engineering, 2016-2018 cohortContact
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Christina DouglasProgram Coordinator, Senior |
College of Engineering Graduate Education |