McNair conference
McNair Scholars share research, meet colleagues as UD hosts national conference
9:50 a.m., Oct. 18, 2012--The University of Delaware hosted the National McNair Scholars Conference for the tenth consecutive year on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 11-12.
The McNair Scholars Program, named for the late physicist and NASA astronaut Ronald E. McNair, encourages first-generation college students, low-income students and students from historically underrepresented ethnic groups to work toward a doctorate in their field of study.
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Kimberly Saunders, director of UD’s McNair program, said that having the McNair Scholars Research Conference at UD has been beneficial.
“UD has an opportunity to showcase our graduate programs to current McNair Scholars from across the nation. Additionally, UD McNair Scholars gain the opportunity to share research, network, and gain an additional support system by meeting other McNair Scholars and program staff,” said Saunders.
On Thursday, visiting students checked into the conference headquarters at the Embassy Suites and were given the opportunity to tour the UD campus.
Due to recent federal TRIO program budget cuts, a large number of the nation’s McNair programs were not renewed this year, including many in the eastern region. The decreased funding required the UD McNair staff to implement cost-effective strategies such as reducing the length of the conference by one day.
The UD McNair staff waived the fee for McNair scholars who attended the conference from schools with rescinded programs, such as Temple and Virginia Tech.
Thursday evening, the McNair Scholars from UD and other schools gathered to meet and mingle with one another. At the conference kickoff, the scholars were also invited to participate in a poetry slam with the Twin Poets, Al Mills and Nnamdi Chukwuocha.
“It’s a really great program, it’s nice to be here and meet people from different states and grow together intellectually,” said UD scholar Deangie Davis, who researched bicultural identity and linguists.
One of the focal points of the conference occurred on Friday during the research poster sessions, where scholars shared their research results both verbally and visually on large, professional posters.
Khrys-Ann Josephs, a scholar from CUNY-John Jay College, presented her research on parental activity and attachment during the morning poster session.
“I wanted to have a chance to get myself out there to talk about my research and get feedback, which is really the most important thing,” said Josephs.
The conference also provided scholars with a chance to explore further education.
This year, the UD McNair Graduate Fair combined with the Office of Graduate and Professional Education’s annual grad expo, providing McNair Scholars with the opportunity to meet representatives from over 90 different graduate schools.
“It’s a good opportunity to network with schools that would be a good match. The conference and grad fair give us a glimpse of life after UD,” said UD scholar N’Kosi Oates. “It shows us what we can do if we just work hard.”
The conference concluded with an awards banquet featuring Jeff Johnson, award winning investigative journalist, social activist, motivational speaker, political commentator and author, as the keynote speaker.
Johnson delivered a passionate speech congratulating McNair Scholars on their achievements while also encouraging them to keep going.
“You cannot open certain doors in this country without a degree, but those degrees alone are not enough,” he said. “You were created to take that degree and create something in the universe that did not exist before you.”
Many McNair Scholars, including UD student Stanley Terrell Anderson, said the program has given them opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise experience.
“The program teaches you skills to be a successful researcher. They really guide you through the whole process. They want you to succeed,” he said.
Article by Kelley Bregenzer
Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson, Doug Baker and Lane McLaughlin