Program: UCARE

Project Year: 2024 - present

Project Advisor: Dr. Jessica Deters

Project Titles: 

• First-Generation Engineering Students: Passion vs. Stability (UCARE, 2024 - 2025)
• Mental Health in Engineering

Description (UCARE): As a first-generation student, the motivation behind choosing an engineering major was partly a longing to find a career I was passionate about and partly a desire for financial stability. This project investigates the following research question and sub-research questions: According to first-generation students, what factors influence their decision to pursue an engineering degree? Does students’ income level or first-generation status predict their decision to pursue a high-paying major? Do students’ passions predict their decision to pursue a high-paying major?

Project Dissemination: 

Conference Papers:

Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C., Idiaghe, N., & Deters, J. R. (2024, Oct. 13 – 16). Exploring undergraduate engineering students’ definitions of mental health. Proceedings of the Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference, Washington, D.C.

Mann, C., Fitzpatrick, E., & Deters, J. R. (2024, Sept. 8 – 10). Enduring commitment: Exploring why low-income and first-generation students choose to stay in engineering. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Midwest Section Conference, Lawrence, KS.

Petersen, M., Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C. & Deters, J. R. (2024, Sept. 8 – 10). Identification of Midwest engineering student cross-cultural experiences. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Midwest Section Conference, Lawrence, KS. 

Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C., Chin, M. Y. & Deters, J. R. (2024, June 23-27). Exploring the impact of professors and peer-relationships on undergraduate mechanical engineering students’ well-being. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, OR.

Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C., & Deters, J. R. (2024, June 23-27). Investigating how faculty perceptions of students are influenced by experience level. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, OR. https://doi.org/10.18260/1-2--47689

Fitzpatrick, E., Idiaghe, N., Mann, C., Chin, M. Y. & Deters, J. R. (2024, June 23-27). Comparing first- and fourth-year undergraduate engineering experiences of first-generation students using narrative analysis. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, OR.

Poster Sessions:

Petersen, M. Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C. & Deters, J. R. (2024, August 6). Identification of Midwest Engineering Student Cross-Cultural Experiences. UNL Office of Graduate Studies Summer Research Symposium, Lincoln, NE. [Poster Session]

Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C., Chin, M. Y. & Deters, J. R. (2024, June 23-27). Exploring the impact of professors and peer-relationships on undergraduate mechanical engineering students’ well-being. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition, Portland, OR. [Poster Session]

Fitzpatrick, E., Mann, C. & Deters, J. R. (2023, March 26). Developing Culturally Competent Engineers: Enhancing First-Year Engineering Curricula. UNL Student Research Days: Undergraduate Student Poster Session, Lincoln, NE.  [Poster Session, Competition Winner] Poster