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The Ohio State University, OH

  

The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened longstanding racial inequities in undergraduate chemistry education particularly at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Given this troubling reality, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students remain severely underrepresented in the field of chemistry and biochemistry. Recognizing the racial justice and economic imperative to combat longstanding racial inequities in chemistry education, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The Ohio State University focused on cultivating a culture of mentorship to advance the academic success and well-being of Black,  Indigenous,  Latinx,  and  Native  Hawaiian/Pacific Islander  students enrolled as chemistry and biochemistry undergraduate majors. To this end, in January 2021, CBC officially launched a structured undergraduate peer mentoring program – Mentoring Undergraduate Scholars for Excellence (MUSE). Peer mentoring has been confirmed to foster sense of belonging, academic success, and retention in STEM,  especially  among  racially  minoritized  students. Mentorship is social capital  that  affords racially minoritized students  access  to psychosocial  support,  academic  and  social opportunities, learning resources, and essential information to navigate STEM educational environments, particularly at PWIs. 
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