Student Engagement, Exploration and Development college interns celebrated for their STEM mentorship impacts

USC Rossier Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice completed the academic year celebrating their Student Engagement, Exploration and Development (SEEDS) college interns, some of whom are graduating from two-year colleges and transferring to four-year institutions, and some are graduating from their four-year colleges.

The SEEDS program is part of an innovative research project that examines the impact of Science Technology Engineering and Technology (STEM) mentorship and STEM video games on minoritized college and middle school students. This past semester, the SEEDS program had a record-setting 42 college students who served as mentors to 450 Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI) middle school scholars. USC Rossier Professors Darnell Cole and Shafiqa Ahmadi are co-PIs on the research project. 

“Congratulations to our STEM interns on their graduation,” said Professor Darnell Cole, co-director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice. “Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and we are so proud of all that you have accomplished. We can’t wait to see the amazing things you will continue to achieve in the future.”

In an interview with USC Rossier Magazine, Cole explained that middle school students get to “see people who look like them, who might have experienced things that they’ve experienced, engage in science concepts.” Mentored middle schoolers have the opportunity to explore STEM in a learning environment free of stereotypes, Cole said.

“While I know that middle school students learn a lot from us, college mentors, I also learn a lot from them. Moreover, my peer mentors have strengthened my sense of community in the STEM field because this field could be isolating for underrepresented, marginalized groups,” said Srilekha Davuluri, a SEEDS college intern.

“The skills and knowledge the SEEDS interns gained during their time as STEM mentors will serve as a strong foundation for their future success as well as the future success of their mentees,” said Professor Shafiqa Ahmadi, also co-director of the Center for Education, Identity and Social Justice. “Each and every one of them will make a significant impact in the STEM field.”

Supported by the John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation, SEEDS is a partnership with the City of Los Angeles, four community organizations—Archdiocesan Youth Employment Services, Boyle Heights Technology YouthSource Center, Brotherhood Crusade Youth Source Center and Para Los Ninos—and NAI at USC.

SEEDS interns provided mentees with the guidance, support and encouragement needed to develop interest in STEM while overcoming barriers and reaching their full potential. Postdoctoral researcher Ting-Han Chang, SEEDS supervisor/manager, added, “By providing culturally responsive mentorship and connecting middle school students with college mentors who can share their knowledge and experiences, we can help advance educational equity and inspire the next generation of diverse STEM leaders and professionals."