Ithaca College

Submitted on behalf of Roger "Doc" Richardson, Associate Provost/Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Dr. Orlando-Marquez C. Kittrell, founding director of the Office of State Grants (OSG), presented “Write Your Own Story by Setting the Bar!“ to a crowded room of CSTEP students and administrators on April 9th at the CSTEP Statewide Student Conference which was held at The Sagamore on Lake George in Bolton Landing, NY.

The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) supports historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged college students from New York State who are pursuing professional licensure and careers in mathematics, science, technology, and health-related fields. Dr. Kittrell’s workshop explored and examined the primary role of branding through student identity development towards securing experiential learning, graduate school and professional opportunities.  The workshop was primarily targeted towards engaging students who are pursuing academic majors and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields.  Participants were briefly introduced to the challenges facing historically underrepresented STEM students in the United States and in New York and how the problem of securing true educational access still prevail, whereas unintentional educational barriers, historical hurdles and systemic microaggressions continue to potentially affect retention and graduation.
 
STEM students learned how to thrive and overcome roadblocks/hurdles by creating their own brand; successful branding efforts through purposeful storytelling from the development of the cover letter, resume and portfolio.  “Writing your own story” was proposed as the key to securing academic and initial paraprofessional opportunities - the planting and rooting of your “work" for the necessary cultivation to ensure the longevity of continued socio-personal and professional successes. The session particularly benefited STEM college students who were also interested in learning how CSTEP student persistence, retention and graduation rates exceed their respective cohorts and how CSTEP alumni effortlessly move through graduate school into the world of work, all by branding.
 
The Ithaca College Office of State Grants (OSG) provides oversight for CSTEP.  OSG is structured under the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Educational Affairs. OSG directly reports to the Associate Provost for Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement. CSTEP is co-sponsored by the New York State Education Department, Office of Postsecondary Access, Support & Success - Collegiate Development Programs Unit.