Mathematics Colloquium

Upcoming Colloquium

Intersections of Active Learning and Instructor Care: Undergraduate Women's Perspectives on their Instructor's Role in Supporting their Sense of Belonging in Calculus
Dr. Casey Griffin, University of La Verne

April 20, 2026
12:30pm-1:30pm via Zoom

Join 4/20 Zoom
Meeting ID: 865 0194 1650

Abstract

One’s sense of belonging, or their sense of feeling like an accepted member of an academic community, has been identified as a major contributor to women’s decisions to stick with or leave their STEM major. Prior work has examined ways in which pedagogical practices such as providing opportunities for students to engage in active learning in undergraduate courses might influence women’s sense of belonging in STEM. However, the focus had been on students' perceptions of the practices themselves rather than the person enacting those practices – the instructor. With this study, I explore ways in which women describe the role their instructor plays in supporting their sense of belonging in an active learning Calculus course. Women’s survey responses suggest several ways in which their instructor supported their sense of belonging by portraying care both through their enactment of active learning as well as other pedagogical and personal attributes.

Biosketch

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Dr. Casey Griffin is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of La Verne. Her primary research interests focus on learning more about the ways in which active learning opportunities in undergraduate mathematics courses might support underrepresented students' sense of belonging and further serve as a way to diversify the STEM major population. Specifically, her doctoral dissertation focused on women's sense of belonging in an undergraduate Calculus course that incorporated frequent opportunities for students to engage in active learning, as well as how students perceive the impact of these opportunities on their sense of belonging. When she is not engaged in teaching and research, Casey enjoys staying active through hiking, yoga, and playing volleyball.