SREB Doctoral Scholars Hope to Effect Change in Academia

by Jordan Orris

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars are afforded numerous benefits, namely financial support, career counseling, networking and opportunities for research funding.

One of the main goals of the SREB Doctoral Scholars Program is to increase the number of minority Ph.D. students that pursue careers as faculty on college campuses. As it stands today, racial and ethnic minorities make up only small percentages of college faculty. Nationally, only about five percent of faculty are African-American, about three percent are Hispanic and about one percent are Native American. By making the cost of a doctoral education much more financially affordable, the Doctoral Scholars Program seeks to change the racial landscape of college faculty. Since its founding in 1993, the SREB Doctoral Scholars Program has supported more than 1,660 scholars who have attended 107 institutions in more than 30 states. For the UM Institutional SREB Doctoral Scholars Program, a program previously funded by the state of Mississippi, the Graduate School and each of the scholar’s respective academic departments provide funding for the doctoral scholars.

LaToya Flint, Christine Lewis, and Ann-Elodie Robert were all profiled in the Fall 2018 newsletter as UM SREB Doctoral Scholars, and each continue to receive funding. Scholars are fully funded for 3 years, or until they graduate, whichever comes first.

This year, four new graduate students have become UM SREB Doctoral Scholars: Adam Beam, Kenneth Estrada, Cellas Hayes, and Rashun Miles.

Adam Beam is pursuing a PhD in Experimental Psychology. He is originally from Mira Loma, California. He received both a B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Psychological Science from California State University, San Bernardino.

Adam shared: “I am a first year Ph.D. student in the Experimental Psychology program within the Psychology Department. I currently work under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Wellman conducting social psychological research regarding intergroup relations, prejudice, stereotyping of both low and high status groups, as well as the consequences/outcomes these phenomena have on individuals. My current research examines how within-group variations of people affect perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and intentions towards others.”

When asked about his future plans and goals, Adam replied, “I plan to become a professor so that I can mentor other minority students through research and teaching, while hopefully sparking a passion within them for Social Psychology.”

Rashun Miles is pursuing a doctorate in the Social Welfare program. He is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. in psychology from the City College of New York; an M.A. in Psychology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University; and an M.A. in Anthropology and History, an M.S.W., and a Museum Studies Certificate from the University of Michigan.

Rashun shared, “It is an honor to be an SREB Scholar. In addition to the financial support, which has helped me pay for housing, the network and resources (job, conferences, webinars) are giving me the opportunity to envision a post-doctoral life beyond my imagination. After I complete the Ph.D., I would like to teach and research at a university.”

Kenneth Estrada is a Ph.D. student in English and Cellas Hayes is a Ph.D. student in Pharmaceutical Sciences with an Emphasis in Pharmacology.

We are proud of all of our SREB Doctoral Scholars and look forward to seeing the ways they affect change for generations of students.