The NCWIT Undergraduate Research Mentoring (URM) Award recognizes Academic Alliance representatives at non-profit, U.S. institutions (excluding U.S. territories) for their outstanding mentorship, high-quality research opportunities, recruitment of women and minority students, and efforts to encourage and advance undergraduates in computing-related fields.
Students often cite the importance of an individual faculty mentor whose support influenced their educational and career path. Data show that research experiences for undergraduates (REUs) can make a difference in students’ lives and provide a pathway to graduate degrees and research careers. REUs can be particularly important for women – who earn only 18 percent of all bachelor’s degrees in computing – since they provide opportunities for personalized student-faculty interaction, a strong predictor of student retention.
Dr. Villanueva has mentored 26 students in undergraduate research, 96.15 percent of whom have been members of underrepresented racial/ethnic minority groups. Her own research explores the ways diverse teams with membership spanning different disciplines, cultures, and geographical borders use and share knowledge. Her efforts have led to international exchange opportunities for undergraduate research students, as well as funding for more than 20 undergraduate Research Assistant positions.