part 9A/B

Part 9: Conclusion

Findings

This research has highlighted the need for increasing mentors for women in the STEM fields per the needs of Propel America, Inc. Recruiting and sustaining mentors within the STEM profession is vital to the success of the Propel mentorship program for women interested to and in the STEM field. This research has identified several barriers to recruiting and training future STEM mentors. This research has also identified the need for increasing mentors for women of color, in particular. This research has identified two methods to help Propel America, Inc., increase mentorship for women in STEM: mentoring self-matching and mentoring support network.

The Propel STEM mentoring program has faced several barriers to increasing mentorship due to COVID-19. However, the lifting of several restrictions has provided an opportunity for Propel to reorganize and implement effective strategies for recruitment and sustainability. A new recruitment campaign has been initiated to help identify and recruit mentors from the STEM fields that can provide not only a firm foundation within the STEM disciplines academically, but also the needed experience young adolescent women must have to be valuable and effective STEM professionals. Propels STEM mentoring has identified a few organizations that are willing to collaborate with the organization to help fill the ranks of much needed mentors.

The literature is clear that women mentors in STEM is needed (AAUW, 2021). Women overwhelmingly fall behind males in both STEM majors and professions (Hegewisch & Hartmann, 2014). The need for STEM mentors is necessary to help increase female presentation for both STEM majors and in STEM fields. The literature has also identified two key effective strategies for helping to increase STEM mentors for women namely in the form of mentoring self-matching and creating a mentoring support network. Based on this research the most effective approach to help Propel America’s mentoring program is creating a mentoring support network.

Recommendations

This research has determined that the most effective strategy for increasing the number of STEM mentors for the Propel mentoring program is the mentoring support network. The mentoring support network is important to addressing four main goal areas: identifying and recruiting mentors and creating a database, implementing training for mentors, implement training for mentees, and formulating a network by which mentors can work together in an organized network. Propel has begun to collaborate with external organizations to help recruit and increase the mentor pool. This is essential for Propel to build out their mentoring database.

The second and third goals seek to formally train mentors and mentees on effective strategies for engaging in a healthy mentor and mentee relationship. While there is no one approach to this method, this research provides some parameters for doing so effectively and collaboratively for the benefit of both the mentor and mentee. Lastly, the fourth goal names the need for the mentor relationship to provide a structured approach to support mentors so that they are not overwhelmed or underwhelmed with the mentoring relationship. Ultimately, the goal is to increase the representation of women in the STEM fields and an effective mentorship can allow that to occur. As such, this research presented vital information for the mentoring program at Propel to use to build up their current process.