1. Kartik Sheth Kartik Sheth
Associate Astronomer, NRAO
ALMA /NAASC
Program DIRECTOR – NRAO / NAC
DIRECTOR – Office of diversity and inclusion
Kartik Sheth
NASA HeadQUARTERS
PROGRAM SCIENTIST

2. MISSION STATEMENT
The National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) is a program led by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and Associated Universities Inc., (AUI) in partnership with the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), and a number of minority and majority universities to increase the numbers of students from underrepresented groups and those otherwise overlooked by the traditional academic pipeline into STEM or STEM-related careers.
This is NOT a program only for minority students
Nor is this program like any regular REU
Think of it as a REU++ program (but I really don’t like associating the word REU with our program)

3. How it all got started 2010-2013: Partnership with Howard University
Marcus Alfred / James Lindesay visit UVa / NRAO
Aaron Evans / Kartik Sheth  colloquia at Howard
Summer students: first 2 students, then 3, then 5..
Funded primarily by grants from AUI / personal grants
Marcus visits and works w/ Kartik on radio data
From the beginning – informal get-togethers important part of the program
Professional development / “straight talk” important
“Being a minority in a majority “ talk…

4. A New IDEA is born.. Partnership between NRAO, NSBP and AUI
Brings together 12 MSIs and 5 majority institutions to discuss how to build the next generation of future leaders
The National Astronomy Consortium is born!

6. The “Posse” Model The “Posse” story
Aims to reach students who are leaders but who normally be removed from the traditional academic pipeline
Recognizes that primary pitfalls for attrition are:
Little / no cultural context for doing STEM
Lack of support within social circle
Lack of mentoring – peer and advisory
Local high school teachers recommend students  pre-program mentoring  attending school as a cohort  mentoring, mentoring, mentoring + development of leadership skills
Obama: “We should double the money for programs like Posse”
NRAO was established in 1956

7. NRAO was established in 1956

8. GOALS
Primary Goal: To increase the number of students, who otherwise would have been overlooked by the traditional academic pipeline, into STEM and STEM careers by placing them in a cooperative, diverse team over the summer and beyond.
We seek to accomplish this by:
Providing research / internship opportunities at partner sites across astronomy and related fields
Providing a framework to engage students in research / STEM activity throughout the year
Providing long term / career mentoring
Mentoring contracts!

9. New this year

14. Post-bacc opportunities (partners w/ STScI / GSFC)
Grad Opportunities – Majority Serving Institutions
Constantly growing / learning – AstroCOM, GRADMAP, new partners / new ideas
“I am not leaving the NAC! ” – Moiya McTier

15. ESSENCE of the NAC MODEL
Cohort building – peer mentoring for students / mentors
Weekly group meetings / group work
Provides the Cultural Context for STEM
Discuss expected obstacles & techniques to overcome them
Demand excellence + provide support
Multiple mentors (no single points of failures)
Continued engagement / Monthly hangouts / periodic meetings.

16. END TO END PIPELINE
K – 12: PING (Physics Inspiring the Next Generation)
Undergraduate:
- Faculty partners recruit students for STEM
- GRAD-MAP (Recruitment + U. Maryland winter school)
- NAC Cohorts (Year 1, 2,..)  Bannekar?
- Student exchange CAMPARE? AstroCOM NYC
- Annual NAC Workshop + AAS / NSBP meetings
- Continued mentoring / career mentoring!
- Post-Baccaulaurate opportunities (STScI / GFSFC)
Placed Bryan Brooks / STScI interviews
- Graduate school opportunities (UM, Wisc)

17. NAC SuccessES so FAR ALUMS all doing great (~15 or so)
GroupME working well / connected to each other
Amazing talks at NSBP by Moiya, Brianna, Myles!
Diana Powell – UCSC for her PhD
Sinclaire Manning – U. Texas for her PhD
Tierra Candelaria – NMT for her PhD
Ajamu Abdellah – employed in DC area
Bryan Brooks – employed by STScI
8 students returned to NAC for a second summer
5 went to Bannekar / CfA summer progra
TODO: Need to build / track alumni network

18. Lessons Learned from 2015 NAC Cohort
For the first time we were truly National
We were independent
Entrance criteria / application different than traditional REU!
Sites / coordinators:
Betsy Mills (NRAO-Socorro) - 5 students
Drew Brisbin (NRAO-Charlottesville) – 5 students
Lou Strolger (STScI) – 3 students
Padi Boyd (GSFC) – 4 students
Bob Benjamin (U. Wisconsin) – 2 students

19. 2015 Cohort Build Up
43 applicants (many foreign students)
Applications from 31 institutions (partners: Howard, SCSU, Tougaloo, TSU, Wisconsin, UMaryland)
NAC partner institution applicants rare
1 or 2 apps from CAMPARE, Astro-COM, GradMap each
Feb 2 deadline not well adhered to!
Individual site issues needed to be dealt with
Applications sent to sites / site coordinators sent short lists
30 interviews (15 minutes each) done over a few days looking for GRIT!

20. 2015 Cohort Process Ultimately: 19 students (10 W / 9M)
Multiple offers made to same student
Decision left to site coordinators as all 30 were excellent choices
Ultimately: 19 students (10 W / 9M)
57 % AA (7M / 4 W)
21% LA (1 M / 3W)
9 from partner schools
6 returning to NAC
Mentors: 2 AA, 2 LA, 2 AsA (out of 24 mentors / site coordinators)

21. 2015 Cohort Activities
2 pre-NAC 2015 hangouts using Zoom
25 person limit (running up to that)
Mentor trainings at STScI, GSFC, Cville, Socorro (?)
Speakers for diversity series – Betsy / Drew
KS visited all east coast sites – at least twice
Prof Development talk
Individual meeting w/ students at Cville / STScI
Alum touch base (individual Skype / phone calls)
AARG meeting

22. 2015 NAC Activities East Coast Weekend Get-Together:
Networking in practice at my house
Baseball game – First Star Wars Themed Games
Training for visit to Congress
Visit to Congress (learning to be scientists / citizens)
Visit to GSFC and U. Maryland
2014 Alum – skype + phone calls
AARG meeting at Wesleyan
Alums (inc class) + RSA  monthly hangouts to continue

23. NAC TODAY
7+ Majority
17+ Minority

24. Lessons Learned so far…
Support from the highest levels is critical!
There have been many naysayers and many obstacles so far.. I hope they are behind us now..
Thanks to Beasley, Jewell, NSF (Dana + Phil + Dan + Pat) for their attendance and support!
Thanks to Arlene, John John, Astro community, NAC advisory group, Jarita, Hakeem
Thanks to Faye, Lyndele, Tania, Drew, Betsy, Aaron, Dana.. +

25. Lessons Learned so far…
The myth of meritocracy:
“It worked for me so it should work for everyone”
“Let’s treat everyone the same”
Encourage asking questions and listening rather than assuming one’s own paradigm!
Critical for mentors
Critical for power brokers

26. Recommended Reading

27. ONE DAY…we won’t need a NAC

29. COME JOIN US! NAC in a NUTSHELL
Growing partnership between NRAO, NSBP, observatories / institutions, minority and majority serving institutions (17 MSIs + 7 majority univ)
Faculty – NAC Mentor long term partnerships critical
We aim to prepare future STEM leaders
Cohort model (not your “typical” REU program)
Yearlong  Career long partnerships / mentoring
COME JOIN US!

30. END TO END PIPELINE
K – 12: PING (Physics Inspiring the Next Generation)
- NSBP / NRAO – 40 middle schoolers + 4 PING/NAC
Undergraduate:
- Faculty partners recruit students for STEM
- GRAD-MAP (Recruitment + U. Maryland winter school)
- NAC Cohorts (Year 1, 2, 3..)
- Workshops / continued mentoring
- Post-Baccaulaurate opportunities (STScI / GFSFC)
Graduate: Majority partners