Lecture to Address Empowerment, Minority Representation in STEM

Patrice Storey

Dr. Brooke Coley

The College of Engineering's National Society of Black Engineers and the Office of Community and Engagement are excited to host a Black History Month discussion titled "Standing on Greatness: Leveraging History to Propel Black Futures in Engineering" at 6 p.m. Feb. 29 in Hillside Auditorium room 202.

The guest lecturer is Brooke Coley, assistant professor of engineering and the founding executive director of the Center for Research Advancing Racial Equity, Justice and Sociotechnical Innovation Centered in Engineering (RARE JUSTICE), both at Arizona State University.

"The NSBE Distinguished Lecture Series featuring Dr. Brooke Coley will serve as inspiration and empowerment for minority students in engineering, allowing them the opportunity to witness the success and resilience of a prominent figure who navigated similar challenges in a predominantly white institution. We hope that this lecture will not only highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion in the field but also the significance of forming connections with accomplished professionals, fostering a sense of belonging and paving the way for future generations of underrepresented minorities in engineering," said Emirra Harris, senior majoring in civil engineering and president of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Coley's research intersects racial equity, mental health and qualitative research, spanning critical theory, community-based participatory action and arts-based research methods across numerous national projects primarily funded by the National Science Foundation.

Her work is anchored in intentionally amplifying the voices of minoritized populations in STEM to inform disruption of the pervasive systemic inequities found in racialized organizations such as institutions of higher learning.

The College of Engineering is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities for all individuals to succeed, said Patrice Storey, assistant director of the college's Office of Community and Engagement.

The U of A Associated Student Government assisted in funding the lecture series. We are grateful to the U of A Associated Student Government for their assistance in funding the lecture series. The Student Activities Fee supports this event as funded by the Associated Student Government. It is free to all currently enrolled University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, students who pay the Student Activities fee. For questions about the event or accommodations due to disability, please contact Dr. Patrice Storey at patrices@uark.edu or Emirra Harris at elh028@uark.edu.

Coley was recently awarded the Betty Vetter Award for Research from the Women in Engineering Programs and Advocates Network (WEPAN) and is a 2023-2024 Visiting Virtual Scholar through the ADVANCE Resource and Coordination (ARC) Network. Coley earned her Ph.D. in bioengineering with a concentration in biomechanics from the University of Pittsburgh. She also completed her Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering at the University of Maryland Baltimore County as a Meyerhoff Scholar (M10).