McNair Scholar selected for prestigious summer program
N'Kosi OatesN'Kosi Oates
For N'Kosi Oates, who begins his senior year at UD this fall, everything has come full circle.
Last summer, Oates—who is in the McNair Scholars Program—began researching potential schools where he could eventually pursue a doctoral degree. The double major in communication and political science came across a professor at Columbia University with whom he thought he'd like to work.
That instructor was Dorian T. Warren, associate professor in the Department of Political Science and the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia.
In January, as Oates prepared to apply to the Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program, he contacted Warren. The program provides undergrads interested in applying to doctoral programs with the opportunity to conduct research for 8–10 weeks with a mentor at one of 22 participating institutions.
"I wanted to see if he could serve as my research mentor as well as give me a glimpse of life in the profession," says Oates, who received an email back from Warren in less than five minutes.
Where's your hometown?
I live in Neptune, N.J.
What was the research experience like, day-to-day?
Columbia's research program is distinctive. In addition to having a faculty mentor, we were assigned graduate student mentors (GSMs). I met with my GSM three or four times a week, and she helped me with my research project. I went to the library at 10 or 11 a.m. and left when it closed at 8 p.m. The schedule would be slightly altered when we had mandatory workshops to attend.
What were the coolest things you learned about?
New York is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Life unfolds in the city. I walk down one street, and there is one culture. I turn the corner, and I am immersed in another culture. I was intrigued and inspired by what I witnessed in New York.
What did you present at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium?
My research concentrated on the relationship between neighborhood poverty and African American political participation in the context of the 2008 presidential election. I used political scientists Michael Dawson and Cathy Cohen's article in 1993 as my main resource for my theoretical framework. Using recent information and data, I challenged their theory.
Has the experience influenced your career outlook?
Absolutely! Everyone that was integral to the program has influenced my trajectory. The graduate student mentors helped me conceptualize grad school life. My research mentor, Dr. Warren, was very helpful in sculpting my future. I met with him regularly, and in every encounter he elevated my intellectual consciousness as a scholar.
What will be the focus of your senior year at UD?
Every year, I raise the bar and try to maximize my experiences. There is no doubt that I will continue to have that mindset this year. However, my primary focus is on applying to Ph.D. programs and successfully defending my senior thesis. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I remain optimistic because I know I didn't come this far to fail.