08/20/2026
We are excited to share that Associate Professor Dr. Chelsea Ratcliff is serving as Co-Principal Investigator on a newly funded National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
The interdisciplinary project, "Reauthoring Memorable Messages to Reignite Participation in Undergraduate Engineering," is led by Dr. Rachel Figard in UGA's School of Engineering and supported through NSF's STEM education research program. The research examines how messages about engineering influence undergraduate student's professional identities, motivation, and career aspirations.
Because students from diverse backgrounds are often underrepresented in common narratives about who belongs in engineering, the research team aims to better understand the messages students receive and how those messages influence their decisions to complete their degrees and pursue careers in STEM fields. Bringing together expertise in engineering, education, user experience, and communication studies, the interdisciplinary team will investigate ways to create more inclusive and empowering messages that encourage student success and long-term participation in the STEM workforce.
