About me
Dr. Sigmon is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As part of her appointment, she also serves as the Academic Success Coordinator for the Microbiology Program. In this program, Dr. Sigmon focuses on enhancing experiential learning opportunities for students, as well as program-level interventions to increase student success, retention, and career preparation.
MARVEL: Microbiology Achievement through Research and Valuable Experiential Learning
Student retention challenges, particularly for underrepresented groups, often include barriers impacting student self-efficacy, persistence, motivation, and STEM identity. To address these issues and promote student persistence, the MARVEL (Microbiology Achievement through Research and Valuable and Experiential Learning) program was developed as an intervention to address these barriers by fostering community, building confidence, and providing early experiential learning opportunities. Targeted interventions include embedding student participation in research symposia, experiential learning, and professional development-oriented workshops into the curriculum of an introductory course, while guiding the application and reflection of learning outcomes to students’ career preparation plans. Through participation in MARVEL, student confidence and sense of belonging increased as students saw themselves as part of a vibrant scientific community and able to network with other students, faculty, and staff. With continued participation throughout their academic program, students build a comprehensive portfolio of skills while building connections for future success.
