Abstract
Student-Centered Learning (SCL) is an instructional approach designed to address the learning needs, interests, and aspirations of students. Positive teacher-student relationships are one of many facets of SCL. Research supports a strong correlation between positive teacher-student relationships and academic success. Career success is one outcome of academic success. This transcendental phenomenological study examined the shared experiences of teacher-student relationships among Black and Latina engineers who achieved career success. Participants included 13 Black and Latina female engineers who attended public K-12 schools in the United States, and have a self-perception of attaining career success. The research question for this study was: What are the shared experiences of positive teacher-student relationships among Black and Latina engineers who have attained career success? Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental framework was utilized to identify themes related to positive teacher-student success. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of positive teacher-student relationships that lead to career success among an underrepresented population of engineers. Demonstration of care between a teacher and student was the shared theme identified among all 13 participants. Three sub-themes, including demonstrating concern, high-quality interaction, and joy of teaching and learning were identified.