Push and Pull: The Influence of Race/Ethnicity on Agency in Doctoral Student Career Advancement

This study examined and enriched our understanding of the career choice process for doctoral students of color in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. In addition, it explored the challenges facing all doctoral students in STEM in understanding and making meaning of diversity as it relates to individual perspectives and actions. We used an agency theoretical framework to explore career-related decisions of doctoral students. This framework captured how students "navigate, negotiate, reframe, and act" during the career decision-making process of a doctoral program.