“The federal government invests more than $3 billion per year on hundreds of STEM programs, yet there has been little measurable change in STEM student retention, graduation, or workforce readiness, particularly for underrepresented groups. Is it possible that the larger issue is not engagement, but rather inspiring motivation to persist? Answering this question requires that we rethink conventional wisdom about pedagogy, and incorporate the social reality of how students experience learning. Dr. Bracey will present outcomes from Temple University’s STE/A/M 2.0—an ecosystem approach to STEM teaching and learning that successfully integrates social, institutional, and domain cultures into rigorous learning strategies that promote STEM retention for diverse students.