Bridge to STEAM
This USDA-NIFA program "Advancing Post-Secondary Attainment and Research in STEAM for Tribal Students" aims to create a supportive pathway from Diné College to University of Arizona and beyond. Bridge to STEAM now offers the "Come Back Home" summer research internship at Diné College for Native undergraduate students who want to live and learn in the community.
Diné College Scholars
Are you looking to explore STEAM subjects and real-life applications?
UArizona Mentors
Are you a Native graduate student in STEAM? Looking to support other Indigenous scholars in research, academics and career pursuits?
Bridge to STEAM has twice been awarded USDA-NIFA supplemental funding to further support our Diné College Scholars in their undergraduate research and STEAM educational pursuits! Additional funding from the Haury Foundation and from the Arizona TRIF SCALES and TRIF AWD initiative supported summer research immersion for the Scholars in 2021 - 2025!
We acknowledge the generous support from the Agnese Helms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice
About Bridge to STEAM and Come Back Home
Bridge to STEAM aims to develop and nurture an authentic, lasting partnership that will create sustained opportunities for Tribal students at Diné College to matriculate into post-secondary education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM) majors at the University of Arizona and to increase the persistence and graduation of Tribal students throughout their undergraduate careers and into graduate school and/or a high demand workforce.
The mentoring relationships will help increase Tribal students' sense of belonging in STEAM and higher education through a bridged community between Diné College and the University of Arizona, will improve academic achievement among participating Tribal students by providing individualized support, research opportunities, academic and financial guidance, early career planning, and engagement in relevant experiential learning opportunities. Student Scholars and Mentors will conduct outreach at Navajo high schools to increase awareness and interest in STEAM study and careers among Tribal high school students.
The USDA-NIFA “Come Back Home” program provides research engagement and workforce development to undergraduate students from the Navajo Nation through a 10-week summer research internship. This internship is open to students pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree at any 2- or 4-year institution who want to live and learn on the Navajo reservation for the summer. Participants investigate the endophyte diversity of culturally and economically important plants within the Navajo Nation in the lab of Dr. Demetra Skaltsas, professor in the STEM Department, at the Tsaile, Arizona, Diné College Land Grant Office converted lab space.
Bridge to STEAM Personnel
Kimberly Sierra-Cajas
Principal Investigator
University of Arizona, Director of Undergraduate Research & Inquiry
Karletta Chief
Senior Personnel
Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, University of Arizona Department of Environmental Science
Cara Shopa
Program Coordinator
University of Arizona, Program Manager for the Office of Societal Impact
Supporting Native American Students in STEAM Fields
In partnership with UArizona and Diné College, the collaborative program Bridge to STEAM aims to provide Native American students with skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and math (STEAM) fields.
STEAM Scholars and Students Share Their Experience
Hear from Diné College Scholars and UArizona Mentors about their experience with the program.
Dr. Iris PrettyPaint Cultural Humility Workshop
Dr. Iris PrettyPaint of the Crow and Blackfeet Nations hosted an interactive workshop on Cultural Humility and Supporting Native Students. She spoke to over 125 University of Arizona and Diné College students, staff and faculty about engaging with Native American students from a place of cultural humility.
Navajo Tribal Leaders meet with B2S Team!
From the office of Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer:
University of Arizona's Bridge to STEAM official visit Navajo Nation 08/13/2022.
"Since we don't yet know what jobs will look like as we progress further into the 21st century, it makes sense to educate our children with the skills and capacity to think outside the box with creative solutions.... [B2S Scholars] are connecting their learning to their communities through projects that address the issues that affect their daily lives," stated Second Lady Lizer.
Building Bridges: Diné College and UArizona support students in STEAM
In partnership with Diné College the University of Arizona established the "Advancing Post-Secondary Attainment and Research in STEAM for Tribal Students" (APARSTS)