MSU Denver Postbaccalaureate Bridge Program

Our group wholeheartedly supports and honors the Land and Labor Acknowledgement put forth by MSU Denver’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, linked here.

Our mission is to impactfully contribute to scientific advancement by helping address barriers to participation in STEM. Our programs combine intentional teaching, research, and holistic mentorship practices to create an incubator where our community of students can thrive intellectually, academically, and professionally. By expanding their knowledge, skills, and networks through our programs our students will be poised for a successful transition to graduate school or the workforce. 

Our vision is to pioneer a new model of Bridge Programs across the nation for advancing diversity and inclusion in STEM. We are leveraging local partnerships between academic, governmental and industrial sectors to foster a supportive and vibrant community where students are empowered to build their identity in STEM as scholars and leaders. Our graduates will go forth as changemakers committed to excellence, equity, and social justice in academia, the workforce, and society.

The Postbaccalaureate Bridge Programs at MSU Denver recognize that people have been systemically excluded from participation in STEM across a spectrum of intersectional identities such as race, ethnicity, nationality, physical ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic background, mental health, and life experiences.^1-4 This historical fact is diametrically misaligned with our core principles and developing these programs is one way our group is taking demonstrable action toward affecting change. Empirical evidence correlates increased diversity in STEM with better scientific outcomes,^5-13 hence diversity, equity, inclusion, respect, justice, and access (DEIRJA) are critical to our primary goal of advancing STEM education and accelerating scientific progress. We aim to address barriers to participation in STEM head-on because for us , DEIRJA is not a statement we write on paper, it is the foundation on which our programmatic structure is built.

Our Commitment: We will create opportunities for students from underrepresented/minoritized (URM) groups in STEM to gain access to resources and experiences from which they have historically been excluded. Additionally, by providing tailored support structures, we are committed to creating a space where students can explore their scientific interests and shape their future careers. Ultimately, we are committed to redefining opportunities aimed at increasing URM participation in STEM and will uphold these principles in all aspects of our program to ensure our community remains vibrant, supportive, and welcoming to all.