Factors that Influence Native Americans’ Interests and Aspirations for Engineering Faculty Positions

Native American faculty are critical to attracting Native American students into the engineering profession. We are investigating factors related to Native Americans’ pursuit of engineering and the engineering faculty. In a sample of student participants, we have found that initiative, resiliency, leadership, and proactivity are key. Interests in this career path are related to efficacy (confidence) for addressing engineering problems, access to information regarding engineering careers, academic success, encouragement from others, and beliefs about the meaningfulness, value, and usefulness of pursuing engineering and the engineering professorate. In a sample of faculty members, enthusiasm for investigating questions of interest in their engineering fields, and solving problems experienced in their tribal communities, sustain their interest. The love of teaching and mentoring students are also very important. Audience members will be invited to participate and to provide insights about how Native Americans are inspired to study engineering and become engineering faculty