Before anyone can fully understand Dr. Leroy Long III, newly tenured associate professor of Engineering Fundamentals at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, it’s helpful to hear from the students he mentors.
One of those students, Melanie Canfield, is a Mechanical Engineering senior at Embry-Riddle and a university volleyball player from Tallahassee, Florida. She dreams of leading a team in designing the most sustainable forms of renewable energy. She’s well on her way, with an internship lined up this summer, designing HVAC systems for hospital labs. However, earlier in her Embry-Riddle career, Canfield recalled, she struggled to embrace her Hispanic background and lacked confidence as a woman in engineering.
Then, she met Dr. Long, director of the Engineering, Arts & Sports Engagement (EASE) Research Team. The group was formed by Dr. Long and alumni such as McKenna (James) Gooch, a former Aerospace Engineering major and volleyball player, while they conducted research into undergraduate engineering education. Their co-authored paper, titled Set and Spike: Mentoring a Student-Athlete in STEM for Undergraduate Engineering Education Research, examines the importance of mentorship for athletes and underrepresented students in STEM. The group continues to support educational equity, racial justice, student retention and career readiness.
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