For the high-flex option, register in advance. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Full Title:
Connecting Engineering Culture and Mental Health to Support Student Well-Being through Inclusive Pedagogies

Abstract:
The soaring rates of mental health symptoms and distress among college students constitute a significant challenge for higher education. A recent national study found a significant increase in rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among college students between 2013 and 2021. While mental health is a concern for all college students, there is increased attention towards students’ mental health within engineering education and sustained concerns about retention and persistence. Our research qualitatively examines engineering students’ experiences with mental health. Broadly, we found that community was most often helpful and curricular workload and inflexibility was most often harmful to students’ mental health. In this talk, I will share results that can inform how we educate engineers and help us design educational environments that support student mental health and well-being.

Biography:
Dr. Jessica Deters is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical & Materials Engineering at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She is a Disciplinary Based Education Research (DBER) faculty member in the College of Engineering at UNL and advises students in the Engineering Education Research Ph.D. Program. Deters holds her PhD in Engineering Education and a M.S. in Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics & Statistics and Honors Minor in Public Affairs from the Colorado School of Mines. Her areas of research include engineering culture, broadening participation in engineering, and intercultural competencies in graduate education. Her research experience and interests span domains, allowing her to take a systems thinking approach to critical engineering education research questions.