Dr. Karlyn Adams-Wiggins's first area of expertise involves student motivation and peer interactions during collaborative learning in science education, particularly middle school classrooms implementing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Their second area of expertise involves the role of social interactions in identity development for Black/African-diaspora adolescents and early adults. Their third area of expertise involves motivation and identity development for underrepresented minority (URM) and first-generation college students at the undergraduate level, especially in STEM fields.

A cross-cutting theme in Dr. Adams-Wiggins's work is examining the role of cultural practices and social interactions in creating equitable and culturally-responsive learning opportunities for youth across socioeconomic and racial lines from early childhood through postsecondary educational levels. Beyond their content-specific expertise, they specialize in qualitative research methods including, but not limited to, interviewing, focus groups, video-recorded classroom observation, ethnographic fieldwork, and participatory action research.

Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Portland State University

Dr. Sevillano is an Assistant Professor in the PSU School of Social Work. As an interdisciplinary minority health and education researcher, she draws from the fields of social work, education, and ethnic studies to address inequities facing minoritized youth, families, and communities. Dr. Sevillano examines social and cultural determinants of health in minoritized populations, mental health problems, and factors that promote resilience. Her specific interests study how minoritized groups can leverage sources of resilience such as cultural continuity, critical consciousness, and positive identity development.

Biology Instructor

Science Department Chair

Clackamas Community College

Tory Blackwell has worked at Clackamas Community College since 2012 as a biology instructor and is currently chair of the science department. Dr. Blackwell received his doctoral degree in molecular biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006 and went on to spend 6 years as a postdoctoral fellow in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign neuroscience program. Since 2015, he has been the faculty lead for the BUILD-EXITO program at Clackamas Community College. Along with his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Blackwell is also active in a number of community-focused activities and initiatives. 

Developing Research Questions

Chemistry Instructor

Portland Community College

Ken Friedrich has worked at Portland Community College since 2006 as a chemistry instructor and is currently a department chair for chemistry at the Cascade campus.  Dr. Friedrich received his doctoral degree in Biochemistry from the University of Arizona in 2003.  He spent 3 years at Emory University in the Biochemistry department of the medical school as an NIH IRACDA postdoctoral fellow.  He has been involved with the EXITO program at PCC since the grant was first awarded.

What are Research Presentations?

Research Assistant Professor

Regional Research Institute

Portland State University

Currently, I am a Research Assistant Professor for an NIH-funded grant, BUILD EXTIO, and Portland State University, and completed my Doctorate degree in Psychology in 2021. I also serve as the Interim Director of PSU's LSAMP program, supporting students from historically excluded groups pursuing STEM pathways. My scholarship examines contextual features that support or hinder the science identity construction of underrepresented minority and first-generation STEM students, shaping their participation trajectories in STEM disciplines and careers.