Eastern Michigan University assistant professor receives National Science Foundation CAREER Award
Selyna Beverly of the university’s Department of Leadership and Counseling has received the $500,000 award to study peer interaction in engineering classrooms.
Eastern Michigan University assistant professor Selyna Beverly has been awarded the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award. Beverly, a member of the university’s Department of Leadership and Counseling, will use the $500,000 award over the next several years to study peer interaction and collaboration in engineering classrooms with the goal of enhancing student learning experiences.
According to an article on Eastern Michigan University’s website, Beverly was quoted as saying of her award, “This award promotes positive peer interactions in engineering education to improve student retention, engagement, and support for all STEM students. At its core, the research is about creating and sustaining inclusive learning environments, which aligns with EMU’s values. I am incredibly grateful that the NSF believes in my ability to carry out this important research. This work represents years of dedication and the support of an amazing network of mentors and colleagues who have championed me along the way.”
The project will look at how engineering students interact with each other in a classroom setting and will use that information to form strategies that will help instructors mitigate the negative behaviors and interactions that may become a roadblock to engagement and academic success.
In the first year of the project, Beverly will perform interviews with instructors and undergraduate engineering students. She will also provide students with peer surveys to complete. In the second and third years of the project, classroom observation and interviews will take place at four case study sites. The remaining years of the project will see data analysis and the development of resources for instructors, which will be shared at workshops, on podcasts, and at conferences around the country.
Scott Taesadale, who serves as the director of the university’s Office of Research, Development, and Administration, said, “The NSF CAREER Award is one of the most competitive and prestigious awards offered by the National Science Foundation. Each year, more than 3,000 proposals are submitted, and only 400 to 500 are funded. In 2024, just 23% of proposals submitted under the Directorate for Engineering were successful.”
For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the school’s website.