A persistent challenge infects the vast setting of academic pursuits; the enduring gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Despite incremental progress, women continue to face formidable obstacles, ranging from entrenched stereotypes to institutional oversights. The urgency of addressing this issue cannot be overstated, as evidenced by UNESCO's revelation that less than 30% of the world's researchers and scientists are women. Exploring Intersectionality and Women in STEM seizes this pivotal moment, unraveling the complexities of the gender gap in STEM and daring to propose transformative solutions. This book is not just an analysis of disparities; it is a dynamic and initiative-taking guide for researchers, STEM students, and practitioners. By immersing oneself in its pages, the reader becomes an agent of change, armed with insights into life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and health sciences. Through a transdisciplinary lens, the book illuminates a path toward a more inclusive and equitable future.

In Belonging and Identity in STEM Higher Education, leading scholars, teachers, practitioners and students explore belonging and identity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields, and how this is impacted by disciplinary changes and the post-pandemic higher education context. In STEM fields, positivist approaches and a focus on numerical data can lead to assumptions that they are unemotional, impersonal disciplines. The need for mathematical competency, logical thinking and disciplinary contexts can be barriers to engagement, belonging and success in STEM. STEM ways of thinking, such as those underpinning abstract and complex mathematics, can form the basis for new ways of conceptualising belonging for both staff and students, going beyond socio-demographic and cultural differences. In this book, chapters and case study contributions analyse what is unique about STEM educational environments for staff and students in the UK, Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia and Asia. The authors examine the role of STEM pedagogies in facilitating belonging, variable impacts across student characteristics and the experiences STEM students face in their higher education experiences. It provides a valuable resource for those working in equity diversity and inclusion (EDI), STEM educational researchers and practitioners, as well as offering insights for academics and teachers in STEM higher education.

In American higher education, community colleges present new opportunities for many, embodying the democratic essence since their early roots. Originally conceived as junior colleges preparing students for university transfers, these institutions have undergone a transformative journey, evolving into the comprehensive, open-access pillars of education that define our present landscape. Despite a shared mission, a disparity exists among community colleges, with some rising to prominence as leaders in the community-college movement. Amidst the challenges posed by the two World Wars, economic fluctuations, and societal shifts, community colleges have adapted to serve diverse needs, encompassing workforce development, community education, and developmental studies. Narratives and Strategies of Effective Leadership in Community Colleges takes on the challenge faced by these institutions—maintaining excellence amid the evolving demands of a dynamic society. Narratives and Strategies of Effective Leadership in Community Colleges is a pivotal resource for higher-education practitioners navigating the complex realm of leadership challenges in community colleges. It portrays community colleges as national treasures in higher education. Beyond mere success stories, each chapter details the intricacies of effective leadership. Targeting governing boards, faculty, leaders, and administrators, the book provides invaluable insights into strategic planning, student support, campus revitalization, and financial management. It serves as a crucial guide for those aspiring to elevate their institutions.

The underappreciation of the pivotal roles played by home, school, and community in shaping the literacy journey of individuals. While the mantra "Literacy begins at home" resonates, it often remains a mere platitude rather than a transformative force. The synergy between these three pillars is essential, yet gaps persist, hindering the development of a truly literate society. As children tread the academic path, the home lays the foundation, and schools amplify these efforts. However, the holistic nature of learning, encompassing life experiences, demands a collaborative approach from families, educators, and communities. This is the crux of the problem – a disjointed system that impedes the seamless development of literacy across diverse backgrounds. Improving Literacy Through Home, School, and Community Partnerships is a groundbreaking book that unravels the complexities of this challenge and illuminates the transformative potential within collaborative efforts. By delving into the dynamic interplay between home, school, and community, the book offers a roadmap to bridge existing gaps and forge a path toward a more literate society. Early-career researchers will find this a valuable resource to identify and address these gaps, while families, educators, community leaders, and policymakers will gain invaluable perspectives to inform their practices, policies, and research initiatives.

Transformative leadership emerges as the beacon guiding P-12 schools and higher education institutions through the intricacies of necessary change. Leaders must confront the perennial challenges faced by educational institutions head-on, equipped with an array of innovative strategies and a commitment to fostering equitable practices, from addressing inclusion, diversity, and belonging to navigating the complex terrain of school change. In Transformative Leadership and Change Initiative Implementation for P-12 and Higher Education, the echoes of Heraclitus's wisdom reverberate, reminding educational leaders that the only constant is change. This book delves into the core of transformative strategies employed by thought leaders across the educational spectrum, from P-12 schools to university corridors. Guided by transformative leadership principles, this book traverses the intricate tapestry of topics such as technology integration, educational entrepreneurship, and global citizenship, providing a roadmap for leaders to navigate the complexities of the modern educational landscape. The emphasis on social-emotional leadership and learning underscores the importance of nurturing the holistic development of students, ensuring they thrive both academically and emotionally.

This book seeks to understand the complexities of talented and high-performing Black girls and women in STEM across the P-20 trajectory. Analogously, this volume aims to understand the intersections between giftedness, its identification, and racial, gender, and academic discipline identities. The dearth of literature on this subject suggests that Black girls and women have unique experiences in gifted programming, in large part because of factors associated with gifted programs in general. Key factors affecting Black students, and Black girls in particular, are identification and underrepresentation. These factors can be shaped by interlocking systems of racism, classism, gender bias, and other forms of oppression. Teachers in the P-12 educational system are the first identifiers for gifted programming and look for student characteristics, such as natural leadership, inquisitiveness, and students’ desire to be in gifted programs. Because many Black girls are stereotyped and teachers rarely have deep understanding of cultural differences, Black girls are less likely to be identified for gifted programming. More specifically, Black girls’ lack of representation in gifted mathematics or STEM programs contradicts research that finds that girls reach several developmental advantages ahead of boys. For example, research has shown that girls talk and read earlier, receive higher grades in elementary school, and drop-out less often than boys. Other studies have also shown that Black girls have higher mathematics career aspirations than their White and Latina female peers; yet, they are rarely represented in gifted math and Advanced Placement (AP) math programs. Furthermore, the underrepresentation of urban, low-income African-American students in gifted education is related to low test scores, student and family choice, a lack of teacher referral, and a mismatch between home and school cultures. Some high-performing Black girls and women are participating in programs that nurture and support their racial and gender identities and contribute to them developing into strong and efficacious girls and women who have agency in their lives. This anthology includes studies that illustrate the complexities of intersectionality in various STEM programs, while also demonstrating that increasing access to STEM for Black girls and women is doable.

In K-12 education, minority women leaders must navigate a complex maze of challenges that deeply impact their personal and professional lives. The journey of these leaders is marked by a series of starts and stops, demanding an extraordinary degree of resilience, mentorship, and leadership coaching. Despite the theoretical backing and organizational intent, the stark reality is that educational leadership roles for minority women often lack the necessary preparation and concerted efforts essential to supporting their unique needs. The resulting shortfall hampers their ability to sustain success over time. Minority Women in K-12 Education Leadership sheds light on the intersection of gender and ethnicity within educational leadership and addresses the various aspects of minority women's experiences. The objective of Minority Women in K-12 Education Leadership is clear—to provide readers, educational allies, educators, administrators, and stakeholders with a profound understanding of the intersections of gender, leadership, and ethnicity/color in educational leadership. This book goes beyond identifying challenges; it celebrates the resilience of minority women leaders, explores the support systems they rely on, and offers practical strategies for success. The content delves into the physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of their experiences, aiming to bridge theoretical and practical concepts and provide valuable insights for practitioners, scholars, and stakeholders.

Antiracist Research on K-12 Education and Teacher Preparation: Policy Making, Pedagogy, Curriculum, and Practices provides current research on anti-racist education in teacher education and K-12 education. This book intends to engage teachers and educators in general to discuss diversity topics such as racism and how to react in the larger picture of teaching in K-12 and in higher education with a focus on teacher preparation.

Leading scholars look beyond the rhetoric of diversity to reveal the ongoing obstacles to professional success for traditionally disadvantaged groups.

This timely volume challenges the ongoing underrepresentation of Latina women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and highlights resilience as a critical communal response to increasing their representation in degree programs and academic posts. An Asset-Based Approach to Advancing Latina Students in STEM documents the racialized and gendered experiences of Latinas studying and researching in STEM in US colleges, and centers resilience as a critical mechanism in combating deficit narratives. Adopting an asset-based approach, chapters illustrate how Latinas draw on their cultural background as a source of individual and communal strength, and indicate how this cultural wealth must be nurtured and used to inform leadership and policy to motivate, encourage, and support Latinas on the pathway to graduate degrees and successful STEM careers. By highlighting strategies to increase personal resilience and institutional retention of Latina women, the text offers key insights to bolstering diversity in STEM. This text will primarily appeal to academics, scholars, educators, and researchers in the fields of STEM education. It will also benefit those working in broader areas of higher education and multicultural education, as well as those interested in the advancement of minorities inside and outside of academia. Elsa M. Gonzalez is Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Houston, USA. Frank Fernandez is Assistant Professor of Higher Education at the University of Mississippi, USA. Miranda Wilson earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Houston, USA.