STEM Launch: Helping NAU Transfer Students Find Their Place in STEM
A new initiative from NAU’s Center for STEM Teaching and Learning connects transfer students with research opportunities, professional networks, and a community of support.
Transferring to a university can open exciting opportunities, but it can also mean navigating new academic expectations, building relationships, and discovering resources while already working toward a degree.
For students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), finding research experiences, internships, and professional connections can be especially important.
That’s where STEM Launch: Preparing Transfer Students for STEM Success comes in.
Launched September 14, 2026, by Northern Arizona University’s Center for STEM Teaching and Learning, STEM Launch is a new initiative designed to help transfer students build the knowledge, confidence, and connections needed to pursue meaningful STEM opportunities.
Through a 10-week workshop series, students explore pathways to research and internships while developing a stronger sense of belonging at NAU.
Creating pathways to STEM opportunities
Transfer students bring valuable experiences, perspectives, and strengths to university classrooms. However, they may have less time than students who begin their college careers at a four-year institution to establish professional networks, connect with faculty researchers, and navigate opportunities outside the classroom.
STEM Launch was developed to help address these challenges.
The program introduces students to the people, resources, and experiences that can support their academic and professional goals. Rather than expecting students to discover these opportunities independently, STEM Launch provides structured guidance and opportunities to build connections.
Participants engage with campus partners, including:
- Transfer Jacks, supporting students as they navigate their transition to NAU.
- The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creativity, connecting students with the possibilities of undergraduate research.
- CEFNS Career Development, helping students explore professional preparation and internship pathways.
- STEM graduate students and professionals, offering perspectives on academic and career experiences.
Together, these connections help students understand how to take their next steps toward research, internships, and future STEM careers.
Building belonging alongside opportunity
STEM Launch is about more than preparing students for their next academic or professional experience.
It is also about helping them feel connected to the university and confident in the strengths they bring.
The program draws on servingness, validation theory, and community cultural wealth—approaches that emphasize supporting students, recognizing their existing knowledge and experiences, and creating educational environments where they can thrive.
These ideas shape a workshop experience that prioritizes community building and holistic student development.
A dedicated graduate student peer mentor provides an additional connection for participants as they navigate their university experiences and explore STEM opportunities.
The program also provides students with a participation stipend, helping reduce financial barriers that might otherwise make it difficult to take part in enrichment activities.
By combining academic preparation, mentorship, and financial support, STEM Launch seeks to make valuable opportunities more accessible to transfer students.
Connecting education, research, and student success
STEM Launch reflects the broader mission of NAU’s Center for STEM Teaching and Learning, which brings together research, professional learning, community engagement, and outreach to strengthen STEM education.
The initiative is led by Dr. Lauren Shollenberger, principal investigator with the Center for STEM Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Nena Bloom, co-principal investigator with NAU’s Office of the Vice President for Research.
Funding comes from the Arizona Hispanic Serving Institution Consortium through its Grants, Advocacy, and Training Education opportunity.
The program’s design emphasizes an important principle: supporting STEM success means recognizing students’ experiences while ensuring they have access to relationships, resources, and opportunities.
For transfer students, those connections can help turn an interest in research or a future STEM career into a clearer path forward.
Looking ahead
As the inaugural STEM Launch cohort progresses through its 10-week experience, students will continue developing their understanding of research and internship opportunities, connecting with campus partners, and building relationships within the STEM community.
The initiative represents a promising approach to supporting transfer students as they pursue their goals at NAU.
By helping students recognize their strengths, discover opportunities, and build a community of support, STEM Launch is working to make the transition to university STEM education a foundation for future success.
Learn more about NAU’s Department of STEM Education and Center for STEM Teaching and Learning and the university’s commitment to research, professional learning, and student opportunity.