Supporting Belonging in Software Engineering Through Role Models Exposure

The paper, authored by Ronnie de Souza Santos and submitted to arXiv on April 28, 2026, explores how role models can be systematically embedded within everyday engineering instruction to enhance students' sense of belonging. Using reflective memos and instructional artifacts across multiple course offerings, Santos characterizes a method where brief, topic-aligned contextualizations of pioneers are incorporated into core technical lectures without altering learning objectives or assessments. This structurally embedded approach is found to be a low-disruption pedagogical practice that aligns representation with disciplinary substance, situating diverse contributors as foundational to the development of software architecture.

The integration was iterative and refined across semesters to strengthen topic alignment and instructional flow. The findings suggest that embedding historically grounded representation within technical content may serve as a practical mechanism for supporting inclusivity while preserving technical rigor in engineering education. This research addresses a gap in educational studies, which have largely focused on role models' influence on identity development and sense of belonging but have given less attention to systematic integration into everyday instruction.