Engineering students find support in the DuSable Scholars Program

The engineering curriculum is rigorous, and feeling like an outsider can make the educational journey more difficult. For Black students who are underrepresented in STEM fields, the DuSable Scholars Program provides students with the support they need to ensure a timely graduation.

The program is a community of talented students, faculty, and staff working toward achieving excellence in academics and research.

“The goal of the program is to increase outcomes for minoritized students in STEM, increase the retention and graduation rates, and get rid of this achievement gap,” said Jeremiah Abiade, faculty executive director and associate professor of mechanical and industrial engineering. “We would like to see these students go on to get PhDs in a STEM discipline and assume research careers.”

As a member of the first cohort that graduated in May, Kaliah Linear earned a degree in industrial engineering and is prepared to take on the world and continue forging her path.

“My experience has been supportive and positive. I have met lifelong friends through the program and have been able to develop a culturally affirming STEM identity through the exposure to the program,” said Linear, who is starting a career as an operations engineer at Medline Industries, where she is participating in their operations management development program. “I didn’t think I would be involved in so many different STEM-related things, such as being in research labs, attending conferences, and being exposed to different STEM fields. They do a great job preparing us as leaders in our fields and offer amazing support, allowing us to accomplish more than we thought we could as students.”

In addition to friends, Linear is grateful for the mentorship she received from the program leaders.

“Faculty members have always been within reach during my time in DuSable. Many operate on an open-door policy, making it easy to ask for help or advice or just have a conversation about something non-academic. For all four years, I had some aspect of support provided to me by the faculty in DuSable, and I am extremely grateful for the time they have invested in students like myself,” she said.

A Sense of Belonging

Christian Garcia is another member of the first cohort and earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He appreciated his experience in the program and plans to pursue a graduate degree and gain more experience in a research laboratory.

Through the program, Garcia got to know the faculty, graduate students, and students in different STEM disciplines.

“This program helped me socialize with other students in my area and interact with other students in an interdisciplinary setting,” he said. “This program gives you a very strong sense of community, and I see the people and the mentors in DuSable as family. We are from different disciplines, but we’re all here for the same reason – academic success.”

In addition to socializing, Garcia said the program gave him a true sense of belonging at UIC.

“When you look around UIC, you realize that not everybody looks like you. However, in this program, everybody does look like you, and you have a similar experience. And I think that’s a really nice thing. That’s one of those things that makes the DuSable program unique. I feel like I belong at UIC,” he said. “It gives you a big sense of reassurance that everyone here has your back. Everyone’s here to share the same experiences and to struggle together. But when other people are with you, it takes a lot of the stress away.”

Set for Success

Andrew Green, a sophomore in civil, materials, and environmental engineering, echoed the sentiments of his peers that the DuSable community is supporting each other in many ways.

“You have a built-in study network just by the nature of the program where they put us in dorms together,” he said. “You have people around you, living with you and taking the same class, so you get impromptu study sessions.”

When he needs additional help, he always finds the leadership available in their offices.

“The professors are always accessible. There have been times I wanted to talk to them and ask for some advice, and I just popped on over there,” he said. “[The program] has been so helpful. I don’t think I would be here now without it. This has given me an avenue to get into and get through college. You can’t find that anywhere else.”