Dr. Mejia Chronicles Latinas in STEM at Mt. SAC
May 05, 2026 - 11:46 AM
Latinas represent one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States, yet Latina faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers remain vastly underrepresented, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Dr. Maura Palacios Mejia, Professor of Biology at Mt. SAC, explored this statistical irregularity by authoring a chapter in a recently published book, Advancing Latinas in STEM Academic Careers.
鈥淭he goal was to document a snapshot in time of the experiences of Latinas in STEM at Mt. SAC,鈥� Dr. Mejia says. 鈥淭his is an area that has not been widely studied, especially within community colleges. We wanted to explore multiple perspectives 鈥� from faculty to students 鈥� to highlight strengths, identify challenges, and offer recommendations for future support and growth.鈥�
In exploring these experiences, Dr. Mejia was able to collaborate with campus resources and staff for more awareness and action.
鈥淥ne positive outcome of this work has been the increased visibility of others on campus who are passionate about supporting Latinas in STEM,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n collaboration with colleagues such as (Biology Professor) Xavier Lopez and Dr. Eric Lara (Associate Dean, Student Success and Equity) and his team at the Equity Center, we helped develop an ongoing annual event: .
鈥淢oving forward, we hope to expand collaborations with initiatives like the Women of Color in Action Network and offer more campus-wide trainings and programming through Flex Day to further support this community.鈥�
Dr. Mejia identified three main factors to support the success of Latinas in STEM.
"No. 1, Community of Care," she says. "Having more women of color in roles like professors, counselors, and staff helps students feel represented, supported, and included.
"No. 2, Strong Relationships (Familia). Building trust-based, supportive relationships creates a sense of belong and encourages students to stay engaged and persist in STEM.
"And No. 3, Access to Resources. Opportunities like STEM centers, internships, and networking help students build skills, connections, and confidence in their field."
Dr. Mejia, who collaborated with Mt. SAC Faculty Counselor and Coordinator Diana Felix, felt the opportunity to learn more about the experiences and resources supporting Latinas in STEM on campus was extremely rewarding.
鈥淲e aimed to capture perspectives from both Latina faculty and students, while also highlighting the many resources that support this community,鈥� Dr. Mejia says. 鈥淭he project took about a year to complete, including conducting interviews, identifying key themes, and going through multiple rounds of revisions. The full publication process took approximately five years from the completion of the chapter.鈥�
The book, including Dr. Mejia鈥檚 contribution 鈥� 鈥淐hapter 10: Promoting Success for Latinas in STEM: Community of Care at Mount San Antonio College鈥� 鈥� is available at and on Amazon.