Three Lehman College students brought their STEM research—and the voices of their peers—to the national stage this semester at the 2025 Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) Conference in Chicago.
Representing the CUNY Institute for Health Equity, Daniela Avila (Biology), Krystal Reynoso (Psychology and A.B.C), and Fadel Ismail (Biochemistry) presented their original research at the 17th Annual AHSIE Best Practices Conference, themed Siempre Presente: Reclaiming the Power of Voice, Identity, y Cultura. The event focused on the power of collective voice, diverse identities, and cultural heritage in shaping more inclusive and effective educational practices.
The students’ presentation, titled Breaking STEM Stereotypes: Insights from Diverse Student Experiences at an Urban MSI in NYC, highlighted findings from a series of peer-to-peer interviews with fellow STEM majors at Lehman. Conducted during the summer of 2024, their project explored what motivates students to pursue STEM degrees, the barriers they face, and the support systems that help them persist and succeed.
“Our goal was to amplify the stories of students who often go unheard,” said Reynoso. “We wanted to better understand not just the challenges in STEM, but also what drives our peers to keep going.”
Their research was conducted under the mentorship of Maria Isabel Roldós and supported by the National Science Foundation-funded HSI-Hubs initiative: Intersectionality as Inquiry and Praxis: Race, Class, Gender, and Ethnicity for Student Success in STEM. The multi-institutional effort brings together partners from City College of New York, Lehman College, Hostos Community College, the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and Central New Mexico Community College.
With their presentation, Avila, Reynoso, and Ismail not only contributed to a growing body of research on minority STEM education but also showcased how student-led inquiry can create meaningful dialogue—and help shape more equitable learning environments