Whitney B. Gaskins

Dr. Whitney Gaskins is an award-winning educator, engineer, and commuity based-focused researcher whose work bridges STEM education, community engagement, and innovation. As a leader in engineering education and faculty development, she focuses on advancing equitable pathways for students, designing transformative learning experiences, and driving institutional change through mentoring and culturally responsive pedagogy. Dr. Gaskins’ research centers on empowering communities, creating sustainable impact through partnership, and developing educational tools that foster belonging in STEM. Her dynamic initiatives, both in and out of the classroom, are reshaping how we think about access and excellence in engineering. Learn more about her groundbreaking work at www.whitneygaskins.com.

Ph.D.: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio, 2014

M.S.: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio, 2010 (Quantitative Analysis)

B.S.: University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio, 2008 (Biomedical Engineering)

Dr. Whitney Gaskins’ research and practice interests lie at the intersection of engineering education, broadening participation in STEM, and community-based innovation. She is deeply committed to expanding access and success  in engineering through culturally responsive teaching, inclusive curriculum design, and systemic change initiatives. Her work explores mentoring models, neuroinclusive learning environments, and identity development in STEM, with a focus on retention and belonging.
Dr. Gaskins also engages in translational research that bridges academic theory with real-world impact, designing experiential programs for K–16 students, training faculty in inclusive pedagogy, and leading initiatives that center community voice and lived experience. Her projects often involve participatory methods and collaborative partnerships with schools, churches, and professional organizations to dismantle barriers and build sustainable educational ecosystems.
Her applied practice includes the development of educational media, leadership training, and engineering outreach through The Gaskins Foundation. Collectively, her work challenges traditional boundaries and reimagines what inclusive excellence looks like in STEM.

Grant: #OIA-1812795 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney; Maynard, Kathie; Zaretsky, Michael 04-15-2018 -03-31-2020 National Science Foundation NSF INCLUDES Conference: Next Lives Here Convening: Community-Engaged Assessment Role:Collaborator $250,000.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #ODHE COFSP 16-59 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney; Kukreti, Anant 07-01-2017 -06-30-2021 Ohio Department of Higher Education Diversifying Yield And Retention in Engineering, Sciences, and Allied Health Role:PI $185,625.00 Active Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #R40529 Investigators:Chemero, Anthony; Gaskins, Whitney; Holland, Kristopher; Sheth, Nandita; Vilinsky, Ilya 10-01-2019 -03-31-2020 UC's Urban Futures Digital Futures Anchor Development Program Strange Tools Research Lab Role:Collaborator $10,000.00 Active Level:Internal UC

Grant: #60067277 / NSF 1817314 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney; Simonson, Kenneth Winston 08-01-2018 -07-31-2023 National Science Foundation The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Role:PI $105,000.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #ODHE COF 19-75 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney 04-01-2020 -05-31-2025 Ohio Department of Higher Education Choose Ohio First Computer Science and Related Areas Role:PI $26,950.00 Active Level:State of Ohio

Grant: #EEC-2053141 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney; Mellon, Brittany; Murphy, Teri; Reed, Teri 04-01-2021 -03-31-2022 National Science Foundation Towards Civility: A Workshop to Evaluate and Inspire Collection and Analysis of Data on Harassing Behaviors in Engineering and Engineering Technology Role:Collaborator $49,999.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program 05-01-2021 -06-30-2026 Ohio Department of Higher Education University of Cincinnati: Diversifying Yield and Retention in Engineering, Sciences, Nursing and Allied Health Role:PI 0.00 Awarded Level:Ohio, State of

11-01-2021 -10-31-2026 General Electric Company GE Next Engineers Role:PI 222236.00 Hold Level:Industry

Grant: #EEC-2212690 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney 10-01-2022 -09-30-2025 National Science Foundation Collaborative Research: Understanding Engineering Student Trauma Role:PI 249303.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #DUE-2322109 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney; Imbrie, Peter; Lim, Youn Seon; Zhan, Justin Zhijun 10-01-2023 -09-30-2029 National Science Foundation S-STEM TYPE 2: Southwest Ohio Scholars: (Re)defining Academic Belonging for Computer Science Students and Families Role:Collaborator 2462801.00 Awarded Level:Federal

Grant: #24.37 Investigators:Gaskins, Whitney; Peterson, David 05-01-2024 -06-30-2029 Ohio Department of Higher Education COF 2023-2028 Promoting Access and Equitable Opportunities in STEMM Role:Collaborator 70714.28 Hold Level:Ohio, State of

Grant: #EES-2404512 07-15-2024 -06-30-2029 National Science Foundation ADVANCE Partnership. A Proactive Approach to the Recruitment, Retention and Advancement of Women in the Academy Grounded in Intersectionality Role:PI 999977.00 Active Level:Federal

Grant: #ECC-2407375 09-01-2024 -08-31-2026 National Science Foundation Collaborative Research: Research Initiation: Investigating the Impact of Mentorship Structures on Female Persistence in Engineering Role:PI 18215.00 Awarded Level:Federal

05-01-2025 -06-30-2029 Ohio Department of Higher Education Choose Ohio First (COF):: Fostering Inclusive Access and Equitable Opportunities in STEMM Role:PI 161700.00 Hold Level:Ohio, State of

Grant: #COF 25.34 05-01-2025 -06-30-2030 Ohio Department of Higher Education Choose Ohio First (COF):: Fostering Inclusive Access and Equitable Opportunities in STEMM Role:PI 539999.88 Hold Level:Ohio, State of

Peer Reviewed Publications

Cross K.;Lee W.;Gaskins W.;Jones B. (03-04-2019. ) The Structure of Change: A Content Analysis of Engineering Diversity Plans and Mission Statements.Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE, , 2018-October , More Information

Gaskins W.;Sheth N.;Rice K. (06-24-2017. ) Sticky innovation: Exploring the problem of the bees through engineering and art .ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, , 2017-June ,

Gaskins W. (01-01-2015. ) New approaches to teaching calculus to engineering freshman - Work in progress .6th Research in Engineering Education Symposium: Translating Research into Practice, REES 2015, ,

Gaskins W.;Kukreti A.;Maltbie C.;Steimle J. (01-01-2015. ) Student understanding of the engineering design process using challenge based learning .ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, , 122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Makin (122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Makin ) ,

Jordan K.;Gaskins W. (12-01-2011. ) Understanding engineering self-efficacy of students involved with a professional minority engineerin .Research in Engineering Education Symposium 2011, REES 2011, , 798-805

Sunny C.E.; Reed T.K.; Murphy T.J.; Gaskins W. (10-21-2020. ) Towards Civility: Understanding and Confronting Harassing Behaviors through Mixed Research Approache.Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE, , 2020-October , More Information

Gaskins W.; Pritchard T.; White D.; Eason K.K. (06-22-2020. ) Parents' perceptions of stem education in black churches .ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, , 2020-June ,

Gaskins W.; Clark D.B. (07-28-2019. ) Creating an effective retention program .2019 FYEE Conference, ,

Gaskins W.; Dickerson D.; Booth-Womack V.L.; White D. (04-14-2019. ) Numeracy: Preparing Students for Success in Algebra .CoNECD 2019 - Collaborative Network for Engineering and Computing Diversity, ,

Gaskins W.; Olatunji C.W.; Berger M.; Burbanks S.; Jenkins K. (08-06-2017. ) Work in progress-presence of stereotype vulnerability in freshman stem students at a historically bl .2017 FYEE Conference, ,

2014 Educator of the Year (NSBE)

2015 YWCA Rising Stars

2015 YMCA Adult Achievers

2014 Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati

2014 Graduate Student of the Year (NSBE)

2013 Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati

2013 University Graduate Scholar

2013 My Sister Circle Shining Star Award

2012 Graduate Engineering Education Consortium for Students (GEECS) fellow

2012 NEB Member of the Year

2012 University Graduate Scholar

2011 University Graduate Scholar

2010 University Graduate Scholar

2009 Miss Black Ohio

2004 NSBE fellow

2003 Cincinnatus Scholar

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