The Goal – Encouraging Science Careers Among Minority Students

For eight weeks in the fall and eight weeks in the winter, the St. Elmo Brady STEM Academy initiative from the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering will provide these students with 90 minutes of additional science education twice a week. It is now the 10th year of operation for the program overall, and seven in Houston.

The program was created by Ricky Greer, a K-12 education specialist employed by Cullen, and Jerrod Henderson, now an Assistant Professor in the William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The idea came together when they were both working for the University of Illinois.

At the time, while there were STEM programs aimed at increasing general or female student participation, but not geared toward male, minority students. Greer and Henderson started SEBA in Spring 2013 to address this, developing it from an earlier program they did at a Boys and Girls Club in the area.

“What we personally saw was this kind of organic environment that students and their fathers were super excited about learning science, and I was so impressed by that,” Greer said.

The program name comes from Saint Elmo Brady, an American chemist who was the first African American to obtain a doctorate in Chemistry in the United States. Greer noted that they chose the name because of Brady's multiple connections to their work.

Brady earned his doctorate from the University of Illinois – like Henderson – and Brady later taught at Tuskegee University – where Greer graduated from. Brady was also mentored by Booker T. Washington, and the first school SEBA was implemented at was named after Washington.

The program slowly grew over the next three years, and when Henderson received a job offer from UH, he moved SEBA to the Houston area with Greer. As of Fall 2022, it serves three HISD schools – Burnet, Cage and Blackshear –and about 70 students. In addition to the regular Tuesday and Thursday sessions, there are also Saturday courses offered for the students to participate with their parents present.

The program also gives the UH student volun teers valuable experience working in a class room, and allows them to network with cor porate sponsors Chevron and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company. Greer identified three vital traits for his volunteers – civic leadership, pas sion and academic excellence.

Pictured above: Rick Greer is a strong advocate for academic awareness and leadership in students. As a neurodiverse individual, he understands the importance of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of life.