Grant Will Support Research with AAMU Preservice Elementary Students

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $1.3 million grant to Alabama A&M University (AAMU) and the College of Education, Humanities and Behavioral Sciences (CEHBS) and collaborative research partners, the University of Georgia and Texas State University.

The 4-year, Education and Human Resources (EHR) Racial Equity award will fund activities leading to advances in racial equity in STEM education and workforce development for those most impacted by the inequities caused by systemic racism. It will also build a cross-site community with Preservice Teachers of Color from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Predominantly White Institution (PWI).

“As a collaborator and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on this award, AAMU will use $343,789 to support research and student travel to UGA and Texas State at San Marcos during the summers to work collaboratively with students from those institutions and share preservice experiences,” states Dr. Peter Eley, Co-PI and AAMU Interim Dean of CEHBS and Professor of Mathematics Education.

“The purpose is to help build communities of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) preservice teachers that can provide a space for them to share and grow with each other. They will explore each experience's differences and similarities and work to create solutions to mitigate existing systems,” states Eley.

“Working collaboratively with institutions will help us build our research capacity and support the growth of our preservice teachers and faculty. Furthermore, this study will expose AAMU preservice teachers to programs in other states and allow them to travel to foster professional and personal connections. I am excited about the possibilities and ready to work!”

The research grant will support 6-8 preservice elementary STEM students at AAMU and provide a computer, travel, and research stipends to participants. The work is set to begin in Spring 2024.

(L-R) Dr. Peter Eley, AAMU Dean and Professor; Dr. Dorothy White, Professor of Mathematics, University of Georgia; Dr. Juanita Silva, Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Texas State University; Dr. Luz Maldonado, Associate Professor of Bilingual Mathematics Education, Texas State University.