EMBARC Impact
| 72% | 61% | 72% |
|---|---|---|
| first-generation college students: the first in their family to go to college | from traditionally underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in STEMM fields | Female |
| 100% | 100% | 100% |
|---|---|---|
| Summer Transfer Experience (Y1-Y3) Completion Rate | Transfer Rate of Y1 Community College Peer Navigators | Retention Rate of Y2 Transfer Student Peer Navigators |
| 44% | 30% | 12% | 7% | 6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Pierce College | Pasadena City College | Los Angeles Valley College | Los Angeles Mission College | Other LACCD Colleges |
|
44% |
28% |
19% |
9% |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Social & Behavioral Sciences |
Science & Math |
Engineering & Computer Science |
Health & Human Development |
| 32% | 29% | 35% | 24% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Increase in students’ ability to cope with challenges | Increase in confidence in explaining one’s research to others | Increase in likelihood that students will pursue a career in STEMM | Increase in feeling part of the scientific community |
**Please see publications Guan et al. (2025) for full analyses.
Hear From Our Students
“I loved my experienced in EMBARC!! I met great friends and mentors. I felt so welcomed every time we had a meeting or just coming into Lilac Hall for office hours. It helped me want to continue my education beyond just a Bachelor's Degree. It sparked my interest in research. It made me believe in myself more than ever. It helped me see that I can accomplish many great things.” Wendy Mendoza, Peer navigator, 2024-25
"As the first in my family to pursue higher education, I carry not only my own aspirations but also the resilience of those who came before me. I often reflect on the societal barriers that people from my cultural background have faced, and I use those reflections to guide my interest in social justice research topics." Aaron Mejia, Peer Navigator, 2024-25
"I think the strategy that I used the most was utilizing my background in classroom discussions and being vocal about culture. By doing this I was able to become closer to many professors and grow my confidence in the classroom... I had an amazing experience that has altered my career and educational trajectory for the better. I would do this program again in a heartbeat." Elizabeth Leon Garcia, Peer Navigator, 2024-2025
“I really liked this workshop in the sense that it taught me so much about CM [cultural mismatch] and cultural wealth: two subjects that I knew very little about. I hope to implement the strategies I learned from this workshop to my everyday life.” – Workshop attendee, 2023–24
“This workshop provided information that other workshops do not highlight, such as the hidden curriculum.” – Workshop attendee, 2023–24
“The workshop was very informative and motivational. It was a good reminder that you should put yourself out there despite what the answer may be and that there’s more versatility in majors than expected.” – Workshop attendee, 2023–24