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Award Abstract # 2047292
CAREER: Overcoming Obstacles, Building Community, and Broadening Participation: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences and Career Decisions of Black Men in Computing

NSF Org: EES
Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM
Recipient: HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date: January 21, 2021
Latest Amendment Date: September 19, 2023
Award Number: 2047292
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Tori Rhoulac Smith
tosmith@nsf.gov
 (703)292-2315
EES
 Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM
EDU
 Directorate for STEM Education
Start Date: February 1, 2021
End Date: January 31, 2027 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $695,014.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $275,767.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2021 = $275,767.00
History of Investigator:
  • Curtis Cain (Principal Investigator)
    curtis.cain@howard.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Howard University
2400 6TH ST NW
WASHINGTON
DC  US  20059-0002
(202)806-4759
Sponsor Congressional District: 00
Primary Place of Performance: Howard University
2600 Sixth Street NW
Washington
DC  US  20059-1013
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
00
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): DYZNJGLTHMR9
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Hist Black Colleges and Univ
Primary Program Source: 04002122DB NSF Education & Human Resource
04002728DB NSF STEM Education

04002627DB NSF STEM Education

04002526DB NSF STEM Education

04002425DB NSF STEM Education

04002324DB NSF STEM Education
Program Reference Code(s): 1045
Program Element Code(s): 159400
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.076

ABSTRACT

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program is a National Science Foundation-wide activity that offers awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education, to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization, and to build a foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. This CAREER project aims to examine and understand factors that contribute to the education and career decisions of Black men in computing. This understanding will inform enhancements to mentoring and other peer support programs designed to increase the retention of individuals from underrepresented groups in computing, informatics, and engineering (CIE) disciplines. The ubiquity of computing and digital information is driving rapid change in the world. Diversity is essential for the United States to maintain a globally competitive CIE workforce.

Qualitative methods will be used in this project to examine relationships among individual and environmental influences on Black men studying CIE and their support systems, interest levels, satisfaction, and retention in university degree programs. Utilizing elements of both the Individual Differences Theory of Gender and IT and the Social Cognitive Career Theory, the research will explore the unique, individual characteristics that influence and impact the educational and career decisions of Black men. Increased understanding of these characteristics and their relationships will advance awareness of barriers to retention and success for Black men in computing. The integrated research and education plans include the development of a new course and the establishment of the BLKGENIUS network to engage Black men in computing and match them with role models and mentors in order to promote retention and success. This award is funded by the Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP), which provides awards to strengthen STEM undergraduate education and research at HBCUs.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Cain, Curtis C. "Beyond the IT Artifact - Studying the Underrepresentation of Black Men and Women in IT" Journal of Global Information Technology Management , v.24 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1080/1097198X.2021.1954315 Citation Details
Cain, Curtis C. "Establishing a research agenda for broadening participation of Black men in computing, informatics, and engineering" Technology in Society , v.67 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101790 Citation Details

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