CHICAGO, January 23, 2024 — NORC at the University of Chicago selected four candidates for the 2024 Equity Scholars Program. These scholars will collaborate with mentors at NORC on a research project and participate in networking and a professional learning series with topics ranging from applying an equity lens throughout the research process to writing and presenting results for general audiences. 

“Our goal is to train and support the next generation of scholars committed to using inclusive and equitable research methods at every stage of the research process,” said Ashani Johnson-Turbes, vice president and director of NORC’s Center on Equity Research. “In addition, we believe that scholars bring valuable skills and experience that the NORC team can learn from to refine our work using inclusive and equitable research methods.” 

The scholars will analyze data from NORC’s Youth & Teen Math Mindset Study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The study aims to understand students’ perceptions of their math skills and how those perceptions affect their academic performance. It builds on research that shows math is a gateway to upward mobility and that students who are Black, Latinx, or from low-income communities sometimes lack the support needed to build confidence in their math skills.  

The 2024 cohort (in alphabetical order) includes two scholars from NORC and two scholars from outside institutions selected based on the same rigorous criteria:

• Abrea Greene, BS, a research associate in NORC’s Education & Child Development department
• Elizabeth Klein, MSW, a PhD student at the Boston College School of Social Work and a graduate research assistant in NORC’s Education & Child Development department
• Joy Thompson, PhD, a research scientist at Child Trends, a U.S. research organization focused on improving the lives of children and youth
• Stephanie Vasquez, MA, a PhD student in Education at San Diego State University

The program runs through August 2024.

“The scholars’ efforts will shine a light on students’ voices, offering essential perspectives on the factors shaping their math mindsets,” said Diana Serrano, research scientist in NORC’s Education & Child Development department and the Center on Equity Research. “Most significantly, they will illustrate how these experiences influence student overall well-being, extending beyond their academic success.”