This July marked an exciting milestone for the Algeverse team: presenting our work to a national audience at the APA Division 45 Conference – the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race – hosted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Two of our dedicated research assistants, Aevry Williams and Loren Smith, represented Algeverse at the multi-day event. As recipients of the conference’s student scholarship, they also had the unique opportunity to volunteer during sessions, hosting workshops, facilitating Q&As, and engaging directly with presenters and attendees from across the country. Aevry noted that attending one particularly impactful session, “The Anatomy of Racism in America,” provided a powerful, historically grounded look at the persistence of systemic racism, underscoring the conference’s commitment to addressing social justice issues through rigorous scholarship.
One of the highlights of the conference was presenting the Algeverse poster, which showcased our project’s mission to a national audience of psychologists, researchers, and educators. Our team shared insights into the current challenges facing College Algebra instruction and how our innovative virtual reality (VR) platform seeks to transform learning outcomes, particularly for underrepresented students in STEM fields.
The feedback was invaluable, with researchers at every career stage – from undergraduates to senior faculty – stopping by to learn more about our approach. Many attendees expressed excitement about the potential of Algeverse to bridge gaps in STEM education through culturally responsive, data-informed learning design. This feedback and the engaging conversations reinforced our sense of purpose as emerging scholars and provided valuable suggestions for future publications.
It was refreshing to interact with innovative minds within psychology and across adjacent disciplines like higher education and public health. I left the conference with a renewed sense of purpose as an emerging scholar, eager to continue this meaningful work.
– Loren Smith
Aevry echoed that sentiment, noting that presenting Algeverse to a national audience was an “unforgettable milestone” in their academic journey.
The APA Division 45 Conference was more than just an academic event; it was an opportunity to connect with a passionate community working toward equity, inclusion, and innovation in research and education.
We return from Ann Arbor inspired, with new ideas and connections that will help shape the future of Algeverse. We are deeply grateful to the APA Division 45 organizers, our fellow presenters, and everyone who engaged with our work. The journey to transform STEM education is far from over, but experiences like this remind us that we are moving in the right direction – together.