On April 10, 2026, Shanika Wickramarachchi and Alexis Rice (both Psychology) presented “‘Feeling Out of Place’: Impostor Phenomenon Among BIPOC and LGBTQ STEM College Students” in a roundtable at the 2026 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.
The study, co-authored with Richard Chang, Diana Beltran, Gloria Wong-Padoongpatt, and Rachael Robnett (all Psychology), examines the experience of the impostor phenomenon in a racially/ethnically and sexually diverse sample of undergraduates in majors related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Findings suggest that racial/ethnic or sexual minority college students in STEM often experience impostor feelings, which can impact their success. However, having one or more mentors may reduce these feelings across all groups. Furthermore, expanding mentorship opportunities may help promote equity and inclusion in STEM education and policy.
