Fglsamp 2015 Program Impact Report

2015 Program Impact Report | 1

DREAMFlorida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance

for Minority Participation

2015 PROGRAM IMPACT REPORT

National Science Foundation | Grant Number HRD-1201981

2 | FGLSAMP 2015 Program Impact Report | 3

Albany State UniversityDr. John Williams(229) [email protected]

Bethune-Cookman UniversityDr. Danyell Wilson(386) [email protected]

Wenda Williams(386) [email protected]

Florida A&M UniversityEdna Cofield(850) [email protected]

Florida Gulf Coast UniversityDr. Claude Villiers(239) [email protected]

Florida International UniversityUndergraduateRebecca Ramos(305) [email protected]

Dr. Norman Munroe(305) [email protected]

Bridge to DoctorateDr. Shekhar Bhansali(305) [email protected]

Dr. Sonja Montas-Hunter(305) [email protected]

Florida Memorial UniversityDr. Rose Stiffin(305) [email protected]

Florida State College at JacksonvilleJhova Renteria-Aybar(904) [email protected]

Florida State UniversityDr. Joe O’Shea(850) [email protected]

Latika Young(850) [email protected]

Miami Dade CollegeDr. Heather Belmont(305) [email protected]

Loleatha Dukes(305) 237-1469

FGLSAMP Institutions + Map ............................................................................................2

Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation – A National Imperative .............4

FGLSAMP – A Historical Perspective ..............................................................................5

FGLSAMP Today – Current Overview .............................................................................6

Sustainability – A Continuing Force for STEM Education ..........................................8

Economic Impact of FGLSAMP ....................................................................................... 11

FGLSAMP – Institutional Insight ..................................................................................... 12

Albany State | Bethune-Cookman University ........................................................... 13

Florida A&M University | Florida Gulf Coast University ......................................... 14

Florida International University | Florida Memorial University ............................ 15

Florida State College (Jacksonville) | Florida State University............................ 16

Miami Dade College | Tallahassee Community College ......................................... 17

University of Central Florida | University of Florida ............................................... 18

University of Miami | University of South Florida .................................................... 19

Impacting Students’ Lives .............................................................................................. 20

Bridge to Doctorate ..........................................................................................................26

Testimonials ........................................................................................................................27

Key Impacts ........................................................................................................................ 30

Lasting Impact .................................................................................................................... 31

Contact .................................................................................................................................32

FGLSAMP INSTITUTIONS TABLE OFCONTENTS

Tallahassee Community CollegeDr. Calandra Stringer(850) [email protected]

University of Central FloridaDr. Fidelia Nnadi(407) [email protected]

University of FloridaUndergraduateDr. Anne Donnelly(352) [email protected]

Bridge To DoctorateDr. Henry Frierson(352) [email protected]

Dr. Tyisha Hathorn(352) [email protected]

University of MiamiDr. Michael Gaines(305) [email protected]

Maria Robertson(305) [email protected]

University of South FloridaUndergraduateBernard Batson(813) [email protected]@eng.usf.edu

Bridge to DoctorateDr. Thomas Weller(813) [email protected]

Bernard Batson(813) [email protected]@eng.usf.edu


LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCEFOR MINORITY PARTICIPATIONA NATIONAL IMPERATIVE

FGLSAMPA HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVEIn 1992, with the leadership of U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes of Ohio, the Florida – Georgia LSAMP became a part of a Congressional initiative that began to create greater incentives, recruitment, support, and degree awards to underrepresented minority populations seeking undergraduate in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Through the tremendous effort of the leadership at Florida A&M University, funding was se-cured from the Florida State Legislature in the amount of $642,000 per annum to ensure a successful launch and implementation of FGLSAMP. Though the Florida Legislative support ended in 2007, it played a significant role in establishing the sustainability of FGLSAMP as a going-concern among the public and private institutions participating in this alliance.

Historically, FGLSAMP has focused on providing students with academic enhancement and STEM professional development experiences that widen student insight to becoming sci-ence and engineering professionals. Through FGLSAMP, student participants were given opportunities to broaden their STEM perspectives and aspirations. As a result of this type of exposure there was a positive impact on:

STEM Retention

STEM Persistence & Progression

STEM Graduation

The design of the FGLSAMP structure was a holistic approach to create student pathways that incorporated community college; undergraduate; and graduate partner institutions. The keys to the success of the FGLSAMP institutional sites are the university faculty and/or administrators that serve as the FGLSAMP Institutional Coordinators. The Institutional Coor-dinators are the glue that maintains the overall effectiveness of the alliance. They are critical to success of the FGLSAMP model because they serve most often as the first point of con-tact for FGLSAMP scholars. The FGLSAMP Institutional Coordinators are the catalysts that drive the success of this exceptional program.

Since 1992, the FGLSAMP model has evolved and grown from a primary focus on STEM un-dergraduate success to now include the LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate program, which is designed to provide opportunities for students to attain at Ph.D. in STEM. FGLSAMP remains committed to positively impacting STEM retention and graduation of underrepresented minorities, while also influencing and encouraging greater numbers of STEM undergraduates to pursue STEM graduate degrees through effective implementation and employment of the FGLSAMP structure and model.

A Special Thanks to the National Science Foundation

LSAMP – NATIONAL COMMITMENT Due to the decreased production of STEM degree recipients, especially within the STEM underrepresented minority populations, the U.S. position as the global leader in science and engineering research was severely challenged. To address this situation a new approach to creating a significant pool of highly trained STEM professionals within the nation became mission critical. Through the bold vision of U.S. Congressman Louis Stokes, the Alliances for Minority Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering; and Mathematics (STEM) were born. A Congressional appropriation was made by the U.S. Congress to provide funding to support AMP via the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Thanks to the steadfast and visionary leadership of the NSF LSAMP Program Officers over the past 23 years, The AMP program (which now includes LS – Louis Stokes) encompasses over 40 Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation throughout the U.S. and is now recognized as one of the premier programs to have significantly increased the number of baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines.

NATIONAL LSAMP LEADERSHIPDr. A. James Hicks, Program Director, Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP), National Science Foundation (NSF), Washington DC, is well known at the local, state and national levels for his service on numerous committees and advisory boards. At the national level, Dr. Hicks has served on several panels of proposal evaluators for the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C; the Directorate for Science and Engineering Education/NSF, Atlanta, GA. Additionally, Dr. Hicks is the catalyst behind the highly regarded LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate

program that began in 2003. He continues to provide extraordinary leadership and has built a legacy of achievement during his tenure with LSAMP.

Dr. Tasha R. Inniss, Co-Lead Program Director who manages the LSAMP program, is currently on “loan” to the National Science Foundation (NSF). She is serving as a rotator in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and is also a tenured Associate Professor of Mathematics and former Vice-Chair of the Department of Mathematics at Spelman College.

FGLSAMP TODAYPREPARING FUTURE SCIENCE RESEARCHERSThe Florida Georgia LSAMP of today is an organization affording extraordinary opportunities to the STEM scholars it serves and supports. Providing STEM opportunities spanning the community college on through to STEM Ph.D., FGLSAMP impacts regional institutions from south Georgia to the southern most parts of Florida. The impact of this dynamic program is felt not just among the alliance institutions, but also among several non-FGLSAMP institutions through partnering and collaborative activities.

THE ALLIANCEFGLSAMP added a new partner institution, Florida Gulf Coast University in 2012 bringing the alliance member institutions to 14 in total. The alliance consists of more than 600 students directly supported by FGLSAMP and approximately 200 students that participate as “associate” members who do not receive direct funding support through FGLSAMP. This demonstrates the effectiveness of FGLSAMP on students who find value in the academic enhancement; graduate school preparation; and professional development activity of the FGLSAMP program.

INSTITUTIONAL IMPACTFGLSAMP, in its infancy, addressed issues that negatively impacted student matriculation in STEM through a holistic approach to student engagement. After demonstrating extraordinary STEM retention and graduation rates and overall student success, we found that many of the FGLSAMP institutions began to scale up various components of the FGLSAMP to effect

success among overall STEM scholars. Recognizing the impact of Learning Communities on underrepresented minorities pursuing STEM degrees, FGLSAMP institutions began to establish and utilize this approach for both STEM and Non-STEM programs.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHFGLSAMP’s core focus is to establish formal and informal programs at each alliance institution that best prepare students to achieve success and preparation to reach “the next” level of their academic and professional goals. FGLSAMP has be able to create programs centered around research and training. We have established program for Undergraduate Research and Learning along with FGLSAMP Community College Summer Research programs. Our data analysis has revealed that each of these programmatic components has positively impacted student retention in STEM and progression toward STEM baccalaureate degrees. These programs have also been a catalyst for generating greater interest and pursuit of STEM graduate education opportunities. Insight programs are discussed below:

Undergraduate Research and Learning takes place during the academic year at most of the FGLSAMP campuses. It serves as a pre-cursor to student engaging in summer REU programs so that students have a greater understanding of the various components of the research endeavor. Students engage in faculty-mentored research projects that provide excellent research training (analysis; technical skills; presenting research ; working on publication) all in preparation for productive for future internships, and graduate school.

Community College Summer Research at FGLSAMP Community Colleges engage students in on campus research projects that primarily serve to grow student interest in pursuing STEM baccalaureate degrees through experiential learning activities. This type of research project also provides students to research and develop relationships with involved faculty or graduate students serving as research mentors. The summer research projects are 8-10 weeks long and primarily target community college freshmen that also includes a demonstration and research presentation near the end of the project; and culminates with a visitation to a FGLSAMP 4 year institution to tour labs; meet students and faculty; meet campus recruitment/admission representatives; and learn about the STEM degree programs at the institution.



SUSTAINABILITYCONTINUING FORCE FOR STEM EDUCATION

The institutionalization and sustainability of FGLSAMP speaks to the impact and importance of FGLSAMP within the alliance institutions. Recognizing the impact and importance of STEM student support by NSF via FGLSAMP, alliance institutions are actively finding ways to augment NSF’s investment through program implementation and institutionalization of FGLSAMP Program components and model. All of which demonstrate long-term support of FGLSAMP.

From 1994 – 2007, FGLSAMP received funding support from the Florida State Legislature to build the foundation for the sustainability of the alliance. Though FGLSAMP does not currently enjoy the funding support from the Florida Legislature, the vestiges of that support remain in place today. The FGLSAMP Governing Board consists of the Presidents of each institutional partner, thus providing commitment and support at the highest level to ensure FGLSAMP continues well into the future.

In other demonstrable ways, the impact of FGLSAMP lives on in the institutionalization of FGLSAMP program model components by participating institutions.

Due to the impact of FGLSAMP, Tallahassee Community College has established a FGLSAMP STEM Academic Learning Lab for primarily FGLSAMP students, but through funding by Hewlett Packard, it has been able to furnish the lab with laptop computers; special software; learning/study pods. The lab is now open to other underrepresented minority STEM majors. These students become FGLSAMP associate scholars. TCC has learned and understood the need to create a sense of community for STEM URM populations.

At Florida A&M University and Florida International University, positions within the university were established with university funding to support the salaries of Institutional Coordinators who manage FGLSAMP program operations. This allows full-time engagement with FGLSAMP.

Most of the member institutions have establish FGLSAMP as a student-lead campus “club” which means funding for certain program activities will receive funding support through institutional dollars allowing the FGLSAMP program to be a sustainable program for the foreseeable future.

At the Graduate level, University of South Florida has established 2 fellowships in the College of Marine Science to attract and retain talented URMs pursuing the Ph.D. in an area of Marine Science.

FGLSAMP Leadership continues to look for opportunities to create sustainability of the program within each institutional partner.

FGLSAMP is a sustainable model for STEM Education and Workforce Preparation.– Byron Greene, Associate Director, FGLSAMP


ECONOMIC IMPACTOF STEMFGLSAMP – A Talent Pool for the STEM Economy

In brief, the mission of FGLSAMP is to significantly increase the number degrees awarded to underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines. More than 15,000 students have participated in FGLSAMP over the past 2 decades with approximately 43% of our FGLSAMP scholars pursuing STEM graduate degrees. The purpose of FGLSAMP is to be an organization that prepares students and creates a STEM talent pool that becomes the STEM workforce upon which the nation can build a STEM economy of scale. As stated earlier, FGLSAMP provides extraordinary education and training opportunities as a component of its professional development strategy. These education and training opportunities allow our scholars to acquire strong research skill sets and experience in cutting edge science projects, making them ready to become contributing members of a highly qualified STEM workforce talent pool and filling STEM jobs critical to our nation’s science and research needs. BUILDING A STEM WORKFORCEThough we are still collecting the data, we have found that the majority of our FGLSAMP graduates are indeed working in STEM professions via private sector or governmental agencies. We believe that this finding can be attributable to FGLSAMP academic enhancement and graduate school preparation interventions at key points along the academic continuum.

In the southeastern United States, Florida, in particular a STEM economy is being created through significant investments in STEM education and workforce development under the guidance of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. FGLSAMP seeks to prepare and position students for STEM Careers that align with STEM economic growth opportunities like those within the State of Florida. Through the FGLSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate, we are able to prepare BD Fellows for leadership roles within the national science and research communities. Many of our BD Fellows engage post-doc opportunities and/or begin their professional careers with our nation’s science organizations such as: NOAA; National Academies of Sciences; NSF; U.S. Dept. of Energy; CDC; NIST; DHS and others. Other BD fellows have taken careers at some of the nation’s leading tech companies such as Intel, Northrup Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and Oracle. The overall impact of FGLSAMP and the tremendous talent it cultivates and produces is in creating a steady stream of highly motivated and talented people to fuel our local, state, and national economies. FGLSAMP alumni are filling critical science and technology areas, and are addressing and impacting the quality of life issues that face our global community.

I have many to thank and LSAMP is a major player. Thank you!

– CHRISTOPHER E. RUTH, PH.D. CANDIDATE, BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY

10 | FGLSAMP


FGLSAMP INSTITUTIONAL INSIGHTThe Impact of FGLSAMP in both theory and application has brought about significant change within the alliance institutions over time. Through the adoption and institutionalization of FGLSAMP approach and model, we can witness the impacts that have led to greater STEM recruitment, retention, and graduation rates, especially for underrepresented minority populations. These impacts have also led greater outcomes for overall STEM populations at each of the FGLSAMP institutions. FGLSAMP has been a catalyst for increasing STEM diversity, creating better academic engagement, providing student support; developing solutions to issues of student attrition in STEM disciplines.

STEM DIVERSITY The establishment of FGLSAMP on each of the participating campus has brought about a greater number of underrepresented minorities choosing to major and remain in STEM dis-ciplines. There has been a tremendous increase of underrepresented minority recipients of STEM baccalaureate degrees from our FGLSAMP institutions. The increase in baccalaureate degree recipients from our baseline of 416 in 1992 to more than 2,400 today, is a great tes-tament to the impact and influence of the FGLSAMP model upon participating institutions.

ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT AND STUDENT SUPPORT FGLSAMP continues to set an example in the creation of effective academic enhancement activities that are aimed at building STEM learning communities on each campus. These communities aim to not only diminish student attrition in STEM disciplines, but to also foster greater student engagement within STEM departments. One of the greatest impacts upon greater engagement and socialization at each campus can be seen in the continually increasing number of students engaged in research on their respective campuses during the academic year. More than 67% of FGLSAMP students are actively involved in on-going research at their respective institutions.

SOLUTIONS TO STEM STUDENT ATTRITION The premise of the FGLSAMP model is to address issues that lead to underrepresented minority student attrition in STEM disciplines. The strong emphasis upon developing STEM learning communities has been recognized as a vital component of STEM retention by FGLSAMP institutions. Our partner institutions have now begun to provide greater support to FGLSAMP learning communities through designating FGLSAMP as a student organization that receives funds through campus student government associations and other support efforts by campus STEM communities. FGLSAMP has now almost become a household name associated with extraordinary student experiences, preparations, and outcomes on each participating campus. The vitality of FGLSAMP at each campus is contagious and it impacts and influences the STEM culture. Greater insight into the FGLSAMP Impact can been seen in the highlights of our FGLSAMP institutions.

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY

BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT: Arthur DunningPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: John Williams, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Edison O. Jackson, Ph.D.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Danyell Wilson, Ph.D.

ABOUT ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY:Albany State University, a historically black institution in Southwest Georgia, has been a catalyst for change in the region from its inception as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute to its designation as a university. Founded in 1903 to educate African American youth, the University proudly continues to fulfill its historic mission while also serving the educational needs of an increasingly diverse student population. A progressive institution, Albany State University seeks to foster the growth

ABOUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY:Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) is a minority serving institution founded by the internationally recognized educator, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune in 1904. The mission of the university is to serve in the Christian tradition enhancing the diverse educational, social, and cultural needs of its students and to develop in them the desire and capacity for continuous intellectual and professional growth. Under the current

and development of the region, state and nation through teaching, research, creative expression and public service. Through its collaborative efforts, the University responds to the needs of all its constituents and offers educational programs and service to improve the quality of life in Southwest Georgia.

LSAMP IMPACT: Over the past three decades, FGLSAMP has been a strong force in the advocacy of underrepresented STEM students ascending to graduate education. Through FGLSAMP, students have been able to receive the support and resources necessary to enhance their academic and professional profile, post-graduate competitiveness, and entry into doctoral level programs. Several of

our graduates have matriculated to the Ph.D. through these resources, such as the Bridge to the Doctorate program, while others have been able to enhance their academic experience through internships, supported research, and conference travel. As of 2015, FGLSAMP at ASU continues to play a pivotal role in the development of STEM students as they prepare for graduate education, and we expect that this role will expand in the years to come.

leadership of President Dr. Edison O. Jackson, BCU has placed a strategic emphasis on the importance of scientific research and graduate training. Therefore, the College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics (CSEM) at B-CU endeavors to provide its undergraduate students with research opportunities in novel fields and the opportunities to use their skills in service to the community. LSAMP IMPACT: The Impact of the Florida-Georgia LSAMP on B-CU’s campus, more specifically the CSEM has positively increased STEM awareness via the student organization, and retention through learning communities, and graduate school readiness through Campus Visitation hosted by the University of Florida. The FGLSAMP student organization has roughly 26 members whose majors range from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems and Computer Science, as well as Integrated Environmental Sciences. By hosting monthly meetings, tutoring sessions, and staying updated with social media, the student organization creates awareness of STEM fields and careers. In addition, the organization provided two informational sessions to discuss the benefits of performing research and how to apply to REU’s. One session was held during the monthly meeting and the other session was held in the evening.

12 | FGLSAMP


FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

PRESIDENT: Elmira Mangum, Ph.D. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Ralph Turner, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Mark B. Rosenberg, Ph.D.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Norman Munroe, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Wilson G. Bradshaw, Ph.D.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Claude Villiers, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Roslyn Clark Artis, Ph.D.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Rose Stiffin, Ph.D.

ABOUT FAMU:Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), founded in 1887, originally began with fifteen students and two instructors. The university prides itself in being the only historically black university in the eleven-member State University System of Florida. FAMU is dedicated to the advancement in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) arenas. With an accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), FAMU provides over 95 degree-programs for its student body of over 10,000 students. LSAMP IMPACT:As the lead institution of the FGLSAMP, Florida A&M University takes pride in its commitment to provide students an environment that fosters STEM learning. Through the encouragement of students to participate in research and internships, in addition to NSF funding to the institution, FAMU’s FGLSAMP provides students with opportunities to further explore interests and careers in the STEM arenas. Students participate in monthly “full group” meetings and also in smaller groups based upon major and/or classification for

ABOUT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL:Florida International University (FIU) is an urban, public research university located in Miami, Florida’s largest population center. With over 50,000 students, 76% of whom are underrepresented minority students, FIU’s most defining feature is its diversity. According to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, FIU is ranked first among all four-year colleges in awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students. FIU offers more than 200 bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs in various colleges and schools. Research is a major component of its mission and it focuses on three major content areas: the environment, health and globalization. University scientists and students are engaged in innovative research across a wide range of academic disciplines – work that impacts the health and sustainability of communities and environments in South Florida, the state, the country and the world. LSAMP IMPACT:NSF FGLSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate builds upon the successes of various diversity initiatives, including the 2013-2015 NSF FGLSAMP BD, NIH supported Biomedical Research Initiatives (MBRS - RISE, MARC U STAR, SCORE), Ronald McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, the new NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center (Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Sensors and Technologies - ASSIST), and other diversity, student training, and research initiatives (NSF CREST, NSF PIRE, NSF FGLSAMP, GAANN,

ABOUT FLORIDA GULF COAST:Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) officially opened its doors in 1997. The university seeks academic excellence in the development of selected programs and centers of excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, FGCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

ABOUT FLORIDA MEMORIAL:Florida Memorial’s history and traditions reach back to 1879. Our legacy of determination and accomplishment has made us the only historically black university in southern Florida. We are a culturally diverse institution, transforming lives and helping to create a future for people from many races, ethnicities, countries, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. Members of the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni take every opportunity possible to express pride in the institution.

specialized topics. FAMU also uses a graduate student mentoring approach to lead student academic preparation and study groups on campus. Students learn how to create research presentations for their participation in professional research conferences. FGLSAMP facilitates opportunities for students to have a STEM faculty mentor as a part of their professional and departmental socialization. FGLSAMP at FAMU aims to further increase its STEM student retention rate, increase the number of STEM degree recipients, and further ensure student advancement toward attaining the STEM Ph.D.

etc.). FIU is committed to preparing students from historically underrepresented groups as the next generation of scientists and engineers, which will be a key to global competitiveness and the attainment of essential national goals. Collectively, these programs have furthered FIU’s goal of becoming a national leader in the annual production of minority (Hispanic, African-American) Ph.D.s in STEM disciplines within the Colleges of Engineering & Computing and Arts and Sciences. The current BD cohort is a diverse group of individuals spanning 11 academic disciplines (e.g., computational neuroscience, costal oceanography, computer vision and pattern recognition, biomedical device/system design, plant biology, polymeric and materials chemistry, artificial intelligence, and human-computer interaction, etc). Twenty-four students have been recruited from four LSAMP programs (Florida-Georgia, Peach State, Greater Philadelphia region, and California). All BD Fellows submitted NSF GRFP fellowship applications and two fellows received awards. One student received a NSF I-Corps grant that is providing entrepreneurship and technology transfer training to support business skill development and alternative career pathways. Four students received Florida Education Fund’s (FEF) McKnight Doctoral Fellowships.

to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees. Currently, FGCU has almost 15,000 undergraduate students, over 1,000 graduate students, and nearly 250 non-degree students. In addition, it has twenty-one (21) undergraduate degree programs, twenty eight (28) graduate degree programs, one (1) specialist program, and two (2) doctoral degree programs. The Whitaker Center for STEM Education at FGCU is committed to improving the delivery and content of STEM across all levels. LSAMP IMPACT:Since joining the FGLSAMP in 2012, FGCU students and faculty have been provided with tremendous opportunities. FGCU recognizes the need for more students to pursue baccalaureate and graduate degrees in STEM disciplines, and is committed to substantially increasing the number of degrees awarded to underrepresented populations within STEM areas.

In 2014, 100% of the FGLSAMP participants attended the 2014 FGLSAMP Expo in Jacksonville, Florida, where we placed first for the Math Presentation category, second for the Engineering Poster category, and third for the Chemistry Poster category. Every year, 60% of the FGLSAMP participants make presentations at FGCU during Research Day, or at the Whitaker Center Undergraduate Research and Internship Symposium.

LSAMP IMPACT:FMU has been a member of the consortium, with more than 70 students having entered professional or graduate programs and careers in STEM areas since 2000. In addition, more than 90 students began participating in research early in their academic careers, partook in an FGLSAMP Exposition, or did both.


FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE JACKSONVILLE

MIAMI DADE COLLEGE

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PRESIDENT: Cynthia Bioteau, Ph.D. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Jhova Renteria-Aybar

PRESIDENT: Eduardo J. Padrón, Ph.D.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Heather Belmont, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: John E. ThrasherPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Joe O’Shea, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Jim Murdaugh, Ph.D.PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Calandra Stringer, Ph.D.

ABOUT FSCJ:Florida State College at Jacksonville provides high value, relevant life-long education that enhances the intellectual, social, cultural and economic development of our diverse community.

FSCJ is growing its reputation as the largest, most dynamic and most influential higher education institution on the First Coast. The number of programs offered and the quality of our graduates produce significant economic impact on the Northeast Florida region. LSAMP IMPACT:At Florida State College at Jacksonville we are committed to creating a fostering and supportive environment aiming to attract students from underrepresented minorities and empower them to pursue their education, remain persistent, and

ABOUT MIAMI DADE:Miami Dade College (MDC) first opened its doors in the 1960s with just 1,428 students. It was open to any county resident who had graduated from high school, and became Florida’s first integrated junior college. By 1967, it was the largest institution of higher education in the state of Florida, and within a decade, almost 66 percent of students were minorities and 56 percent were women.

Today, more than 165,000 students attend MDC, a state-supported college with seven campuses, two centers and numerous outreach centers. We are the largest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most highly regarded colleges in the nation.

The next two decades were marked by reforms of academic programs, including the creation of more than 50 new degree and short-term certificate training programs. Also, MDC introduced multimedia classrooms and the Virtual College, established the Honors College and the Emerging Technologies Center of the America’s (ETCOTA), and took on management of the reinvigorated Miami International Film Festival. Finally, in 2003, MDC introduced four-year degrees to the institution.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE:One of the nation’s elite research universities, Florida State University — with the Carnegie Foundation’s highest designation, Doctoral/Research University-Extensive — offers a distinctive academic environment built on its cherished values and unique heritage, welcoming campus on the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida, championship athletics, and prime location in the heart of the state capital.

ABOUT TCC:Located in Florida’s capital city, Tallahassee Community College serves over 15,000 students, mostly those from Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla Counties. The College is noted for its breadth of community influence, from the Florida Public Safety Institute, which trains all Florida state troopers, to the Wakulla Environmental Institute that teaches students how to become good stewards of the environment. In addition, TCC is one of the top ten national producers of Associate of Arts degrees among two-year colleges. As the importance and popularity of the STEM field has grown; the College has increased opportunities for students of all ages to gain knowledge in this in-

attain degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. This empowerment, support, and success of FGLSAMP-STEM students is facilitated with the help of Professor Renteria-Aybar, institutional coordinator at FSCJ, and Dr. James Stittsworth, Professor Lee Seltzer and Dr. Wai Kitto who act as co-advisors of the FGLSAMP-STEM Club. FGLSAMP-STEM Club advisor and co-advisors work together to make it possible for FGLSAMP-STEM students to attend workshops, conferences and events that provide educational enrichment experiences for FGLSAMP students. Participation in Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (REU) is recommended as a means of gaining experience in their field of study.

LSAMP IMPACT:FGLSAMP, in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to significantly increase the numbers of STEM baccalaureate, masters and Ph.D. recipients through the implementation of best practices established over the past 14 years of operation. The FGLSAMP model employed to meet our goal is based upon a holistic approach designed to facilitate STEM recruitment, STEM retention, professional and academic development and STEM graduation at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. This model will also assist our ability to cultivate greater program execution and output. At Miami Dade College, we use a multi-pronged approach to increase the numbers of minorities completing STEM associate degree and transferring to four-year degree granting institutions. This approach includes sponsorship of our local FGLSAMP club – Synergy, support of student tutoring in high-risk courses, advisement, mentorship, support of both internal and external research experiences, and an annual bus tour of the four-year degree awarding FGLSAMP institutions across the state.

Combining traditional strength in the arts and humanities with recognized leadership in the sciences, Florida State University provides unmatched opportunities for students and faculty through challenging academics, cultural discovery and community interaction.

Underlying and supporting the educational experience at Florida State University is the development of new generations of citizen leaders, based on the concepts inscribed in our seal: Vires, Artes, Mores — Strength, Skill and Character. LSAMP IMPACT:The FGLSAMP at FSU program provides a unique mentorship opportunity for the students involved. Our eight graduate student mentors, who are completing doctoral programs in areas ranging from Industrial Engineering to Biophysics and from Math to Nutrition and Food Science, are each paired with around three undergraduate students, allowing for a close mentor-mentee relationship to develop. This component is coupled with our monthly meetings, which bring faculty and staff guests from around campus to provide information and help connect students with opportunities to engage outside of the classroom. Each meeting features a monthly Grad Mentor spotlight, where our Grad Mentors share their own journeys to Ph.D. programs. Other topics have included introduction to research, professional conference opportunities, applying for graduate school, national fellowships, and summer REU opportunities.

demand field. The Advanced Manufacturing Training Center on TCC’s main campus offers a wide variety of professional certifications, while the STEM Gym operated by the Division of Science & Mathematics gives grade-school-aged children a look into the wonders of applied science. LSAMP IMPACT:The primary focus of FGLSAMP here at TCC is to increase the number of baccalaureate degrees granted to underrepresented students in the STEM disciplines. Participants have an academic support system that provides the counseling, mentoring, and tutoring needed to pursue an undergraduate and graduate degree in STEM, which ultimately leads to the Professoriate. Student academic success includes Academic Excellence and Professional Development Workshops as well as opportunities for summer research and internship experiences. TCC’s STEM Center also offers a tutoring program as well as an environment that fosters both an academic and professional learning community.


UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDAUNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA

PRESIDENT: John Hitt, Ph.D. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Fidelia Nnadi, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Julio Frenk, Ph.D. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Michael Gaines, Ph.D.

PRESIDENT: Judy Genshaft, Ph.D. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Bernard BatsonPRESIDENT: W. Kent Fuchs, Ph.D.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Anne Donnelly, Ph.D.

ABOUT UCF:Established in 1963, UCF is now the second largest university in the United States and the second largest producer of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates in the State University System of Florida. UCF offers 210 degree-programs on 12 colleges to 61,000 students, from its main campus, its hospitality campus, its health sciences campus, and its 10 regional locations. These offers reflect UCF’s commitment to offer opportunities for partnerships and innovative research.

ABOUT UM:A private research university with more than 16,000 students from around the world, the University of Miami is a vibrant and diverse academic community focused on teaching and learning, the discovery of new knowledge, and service to the South Florida region and beyond.

The University comprises 11 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. In 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked UM among the top 51 universities in the country in its “Best Colleges” listings. U.S. News also cites several of its programs in “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”

Established in 1925 during the region’s famous real estate boom, UM is a major research university engaged in more than $330 million in research and sponsored program expenditures annually. While the

ABOUT USF:The University of South Florida is a high-impact, global research university located in Tampa Bay on Florida’s spectacular west coast. It is one of the largest public universities in the nation, and among the top 50 universities, public or private, for federal research expenditures. The university is one of only four Florida public universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities, a distinction attained by only 2.3 percent of all universities. The university’s main doctoral granting institution located in Tampa is home to over a dozen colleges and USF Health. USF signature research areas include Aging and Neuroscience, Bioengineering, Cancer Biology, Drug Discovery, Sustainability and Water Resources, Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Robotics, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition.

LSAMP IMPACT:Since its inception in 1993, FGLSAMP program has impacted the University of South Florida’s diversity, student success, and research mission. First and foremost, due to FGLSAMP’s primary goal of

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA:The University of Florida is one of only 17 public land-grant universities that belong to the Association of American Universities. With more than 50,000 students, UF is now one of the largest universities in the nation; one campus includes 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. UF has more than 4,000 faculty members with distinguished records in teaching, research and service, including 42 faculty elections to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, or the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Annual research funding to the University of Florida has grown more than 300 percent, placing UF firmly among the top 20 public research institutions nationally. This combination of exceptional faculty and facilities provides undergraduate students with unparalleled opportunities in STEM fields. LSAMP IMPACT:The University of Florida is a long-standing member of the Florida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority

The university promotes a diverse and inclusive environment, with students enrolled from 50 states and 148 countries, and study abroad and research programs with 98 institutions in 36 countries. Students at UCF have been recognized throughout the world and include recipients of the Rhodes, Mellon and Goldwater scholarships. In 2014, UCF enrolled more National Merit Scholars and awarded more degrees than any other Florida university. LSAMP IMPACT:The College of Engineering and Computer Science Office of Diversity and Inclusion (CECS ODI) was created with the purpose of providing assistance and resources to students- particularly underrepresented, faculty, administrators and staff members in the college. To date, CECS ODI has four programs: FGLSAMP, NACME, IGNITE in STEM and RAMA. Two of the aforementioned programs were established to supplement the UCF FGLSAMP program. The first program, IGNITE in STEM (Impact, Grow, Network, Innovate, Translate and Educate in STEM) was designed to increase the retention and persistence rates of our undergraduate students through the provision of cultural, academic, personal and professional (CAPP) developmental support in peer and mentoring coaching sessions. During the fall and spring semesters, a total of twenty-four IGNITE sessions are held with over 200 attendees.

majority of this work is housed at the Miller School of Medicine, investigators conduct hundreds of studies in other areas, including marine science, engineering, education, and psychology. LSAMP IMPACT:The University of Miami is committed to continuing to increase number of underrepresented students in all science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, and the FGLSAMP program has been instrumental towards this effort. Since 2003, 51 UM undergraduate students have participated in the FGLSAMP program, and all of these students graduated from UM with a degree in Biomedical Engineering; almost half have reported continuing their studies toward an advanced degree. While at UM, students are engage research for at least two semesters, and are all required to present at the FGLSAMP EXPO and UM’s Research, Creativity and Innovation Forum. The encouragement received by FGLSAMP students to succeed in their academics and also be actively engaged in research has had a positive impact on the University as a whole. These students represent UM and also the FGLSAMP program and serve as a positive example of how far underrepresented minorities can go when offered guidance and support.

advancing the annual production of URM students who earned STEM degrees. The project is aligned with USF’s strategic plan of growing the number of STEM degrees awarded and producing a highly qualified STEM workforce for the region, state, and number. FGLSAMP been (and continues to be) uniquely positioned to support these efforts. Many of the academic and social integration (e.g., targeted financial aid scholarships, individualized academic counseling and tutoring, peer and near peer study groups, undergraduate research opportunities, graduate school application assistance, etc.) practices within the “LSAMP model” have been increasingly as university-wide activities. Along with demographic shifts in our country’s minority population, FGLSAMP inspired programming has helped to increase the retention of URM students in STEM disciplines. During the 2013-2014 academic year, USF awarded over 500 undergraduate STEM degrees to minority students, an increase of nearly 200 percent from the 2003-2004 academic year.

In addition to its impact’s on USF’s URM STEM retention rates, FGLSAMP has enhanced USF’s national profile through the individual achievement of its scholars. The project has assisted both current and past FGLSAMP participants in their successful applications for national awards and gaining admissions into competitive doctoral STEM programs (MIT, UC-Berkeley, Purdue, Georgia Tech, etc.).

Participation (FGLSAMP) and shares the overall goals of increasing student retention and graduation in STEM disciplines and giving students the tools they need to successfully graduate and pursue a graduate degree and STEM career. This effort includes several mechanisms. During the academic year students are offered professional development activities including meeting with STEM graduate students, attending research conferences, and attending seminars on how to apply to graduate school and how to apply for funding for graduate school. The primary focus of preparation for STEM graduate school and careers is the expectation that all FGLSAMP students conduct academic year research and make research presentations. The FGLSAMP program works with students to identify research mentors and helps them secure and successfully participate in these projects. Students are expected to attend and present their work at the Annual Florida Undergraduate Research Conference and the Annual UF Undergraduate Research Symposium. Students are also encouraged to build on these experiences by participating in off campus summer research at other institutions. FGLSAMP students are also encouraged and assisted in their applications for other prestigious internal programs including the University Scholars Program and the Ronald McNair Program, which help enhance their preparation, and eventually, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and other graduate programs.


IMPACTING STUDENTS’ LIVES

SHAQUANNA YOUNG Shaquanna is a senior at ASU and majors in Biology. Her previous research includes the profiling of inflammatory and stress related proteins in retinal pigment epithelium of mice under the mentorship of Dr. Pamela Martin and Dr. Folami Lamoke. She was elected to be apart of the Star Program Symposium at Georgia Regents University in Augusta, GA. Shaquanna states that in being a member of LSAMP she was able to present research and network with other students who have the same aspirations as her. She was able to attend conferences that gave her exposure to different career paths that her degree had to offer.

IRIS DENMARKIris’ most recent research project at Bethune-Cookman University was with Dr. Vishwa Trivedi through the school’s Center for Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE). Their preliminary goal was to express and assess an anabaena sensory rhodopsin transducer. Methods of protein expression and theoretical methods played a vital role in their succession. She is currently a Bridge to Doctorate candidate at Jackson State University where she has the opportunity to travel, network and conduct her own research for which she has submitted her first proposal. Also, Iris conducts bacteriological studies, and is very excited for what LSMAMP and JSU has planned for her here.

CHARISSA OBENG-NYARKO Charissa is a third-Year Biology/Pre-Med scholar from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Since joining FGLSAMP in her freshman year at FAMU, she has been provided with many research and internship opportunities, STEM career preparation and networking skills trainings, and an academic support system. This past summer, she interned at University of Michigan for the Molecular Integrative Physiology-SURP program, where she conducted research in neuroscience along with her mentors, Drs. Michael Wang and Xaojie Zhang. Through this experience, she was able to present her research at the 2015 ABRCMS Conference in Seattle, Washington in November of 2015. FGLSAMP has also allowed her to also do research on campus in Dr. Onyeozili’s medicinal chemistry lab where

she has currently extracted at least 30 phytochemicals from medicinal plants. In expressing her appreciation for FGLSAMP, Charissa’s states that “Overall, I thank God for bringing this organization in my life. I’ve grown so much academically since my freshman year because of FGLSAMP.”

EDESTHELE DECIUSEdesthele, a fourth year biology major at FAMU, has been a part of FGLSAMP for about 2 years. While shadowing Dr. Onyeozili’s lab, she has been exposed to several topics, and has learned several skills and techniques that are helping expand her knowledge in chemistry and are making her more curious about research. She will be participating in the Medical Imaging informatics (MII) Research in Informatics Summer Experience (RISE) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2016. In speaking about the impact FGLSAMP has had on her, Ms.. Decius states, “I am grateful for the opportunities FGLSAMP has engaged me in. They will encourage me to be more assertive and improve my interpersonal skills as I become more involved with people at the educator and researcher levels.

CHAD HOGANChad is a member of the FGLSAMP undergraduate program at FGCU where he will be graduating with a B.S. in Biotechnology in May 2016. Chad is currently applying to graduate programs in the field of Genetics and Genomics and hopes to attend graduate school in the fall of 2016. Chad holds an overall GPA of 3.92 with a major GPA of 4.0. Chad was also a recipient of the FGCU Whitaker Center Mini-Grant for Undergraduate Research and Travel in fall 2015. Currently Chad is working on research in the field of Forensic Biology at Florida Gulf Coast University in the laboratory of Dr. Sulekha Coticone. His work is dealing with the collection and analysis of trace DNA evidence collected from various surfaces found in crime scenes.

ROSHANAK “ROSHIE” GONZALEZRoshanak is a sophomore in the bioengineering program at FGCU. She is currently conducting research with Dr. Jorge Torres. Her research project consists of using a probe to detect naphthalene particles in the air. This involves using a probe coated with titanium oxide to detect the change in current when naphthalene particles stick to the titanium oxide. She will use a chamber made out of a petri dish with holes for the probe and two ends of the vacuum to go into to meet the goals of her research. Another chamber consists of naphthalene particles which air from the vacuum will pick up. The change in amperage from clean air to naphthalene


year, Briana has continued working in Dr. Megraw’s lab. She was just recently selected to be a UROP Leader for 2016-17, during which she will co-teach her own section of UROP.

DAVID PEREZDavid is a transfer student in Environmental Engineering who just began his career at FSU the 2015-16 academic year. Previously, he completed his Associate’s degree at Tallahassee Community College, where he was an active member in their FGLSAMP chapter. David participated in a Department of Energy summer REU at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, which made him very interested in maintaining his involvement with FGLSAMP at FSU. This year, David was also selected to participate in a special section of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), where he has been excelling as a research assistant in addition to being selected to serve as a UROP Leader for his senior year. Finally, David presented at two conferences this fall, the Louis Stokes Midwest Center for Excellence (LSMCE 2015) Conference in Indianapolis in October and the ABRCMS conference in Seattle in November.

BENITA OKEKEBenita, a student at MDC, chose a biopharmaceuticals concentration under the B.S. in biological sciences degree program. Benita’s research experience includes pharmacokinetic studies on antibodies and their drug conjugates. She has also worked as a lab assistant for the School of Science. Benita is passionate about dispensing information to individuals of the college community who are too busy to find that information themselves. This is exemplified by her involvement in the Student Government Association the FGLSAMP Synergy and many other college events like Children’s Holiday at North, Miami-Dade County Public Schools STEM Expo, and the Forensic Science Symposium. One day, Ms. Okeke hopes to earn a doctoral degree in Pharmacology and later to work in the Food and Drug Administration. Through LSAMP support, Ms. Okeke was recently able to travel to Baltimore and attend the 10th Annual Undergraduate Student Research Conference – Minority Access Incorporated, which provided her the opportunity to present her oral research for the first time.

containing air will tell indicate that the air has another element in it. At the moment, Roshanak is working on measuring and experimenting with different concentrations and different organic molecules, as well as concluding the naphthalene tests.

CHARLISSA WHYMSCharlissa, a recent graduate from FMU, is now working as a teacher in K-12 teaching biological sciences. Her goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in molecular biology. Miss Whyms synthesized a series of indenones and tested them against bacteria and yeast; her ultimate goal was to submit them to the National Cancer Institute for testing as anticancer agents; her goal was partially realized when two compounds were submitted and showed moderate activity against two cancer cell lines of the 60 lines available for testing at NCI, Whyms was thrilled to participate and be part of the Expo, as well as a success story for early exposure to research.

SARA CHILDERSSara is in her senior year at FSCJ, where she plans on obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Academically, she has been recognized on three separate occasions by FSCJ for Outstanding Biology Student, Outstanding Science Tutor and Outstanding Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Student. In the future, Sara plans on attending the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine to become the world’s first autistic veterinarian. She will specialize in marine mammal pathology.

BRIANA WHITEHEADBriana is currently a junior biology major planning to complete a minor in criminology (forensics). Briana has been engaged both in and out of the classroom during her time at FSU. During her first year, she heard about FGLSAMP through her participation in the CARE (Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement) program, which supports first generation college students, and through FGLSAMP, she learned about other ways to get involved. During her second year, she was selected as a participant for the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and began serving as a research assistant with Dr. Timothy Megraw, whose lab investigates the functions of centrosomes and cilia in cell division, development, and disease. Spring semester sophomore year Briana completed a summer internship with a non-profit, Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage, in South Africa, where she helped educate local children while also working with injured wildlife. During her junior


DANIEL QUEVEDODaniel graduated with a BS in Biomedical Engineering in 2015 from UM. While in undergrad, he worked in a variety of projects in and out of Miami that included fields such as Cardiac Tissue engineering, Protein Engineering, and applications of Synthetic Biology for biofuels. LSAMP was a huge influence in helping him find and attain two REU programs, and in teaching and guiding him through his early research career. Daniel was a recipient of a Fulbright scholarship to work at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, as well as an NSFGRFP Fellowship to attend the University of Michigan. There, he will work with Prof Joerg Lahann towards a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering while researching the use of nanoparticles for drug delivery.

KENYARIA NOBLEKenyaria conducted Alzheimer’s disease research in the lab of Dr. Patrick Bradshaw at USF. In 2013, Kenyaria was awarded a prestigious UNCF Merck Undergraduate Scholarship. Later that same year, she participated in the Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART) program at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Kenyaria worked in the lab of Dr. Bert O’Malley, a recipient of the National Medal of Science. She was selected for oral presentations during the 2013 ABRCMS and the 2014 NSF funded Emerging National Researchers (ERN) Conference. For the past year, Kenyaria has worked on stem cell and gene therapy in hearing loss at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in Biomedical Sciences at MUSC beginning fall 2015.

ILEANA WALDIleana completed her B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in May 2015 from USF. She was one of 2,000 recipients of the 2015 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Her research interests are water treatment and sanitation for developing countries; detection, inactivation and removal of pathogens from waste sludge and water; biological methods for waste treatment; and resource recovery from wastewater. In summer 2015, she was selected for the University of Virginia NSF REU for Water and Health in Limpopo, South Africa. Her awards include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ernest F. Hollings scholarship. As a Hollings scholar, Ileana conducted research in summer 2013 at NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California. In August, she will enter the doctoral program in Environmental Engineering at UC-Berkeley.

JEWEL BROWNJewel is currently a student at TCC who is pursuing a degree in graphic design. She is originally from Orlando, Florida and will be graduating from TCC in the fall of 2015. Jewel expressed that participation in the TCC STEM program has opened her eyes to several other opportunities as well as providing her with valuable resources to use. One of those resources is the Florida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participants, which has awarded her with more than a scholarship but also has allowed her to meet new people to network with and to receive guidance from. She has also benefited from the academic and career development workshops that helped her navigate the pathway to degree and career and graphic design.

RAMEECH MCCORMACKRameech, a dual-major in mechanical and aerospace engineering and a dual-minor in mathematics and entrepreneurship, is a Spring 2015 graduate from UCF. Over his five years of experience as an undergraduate researcher, he had the opportunity to publish five peer review journal articles, and received numerous awards for his research in nanotechnology. As he originally planned, he will be attending MIT to pursue higher studies in mechanical engineering with a focus on nano/micro engineering.

BRANDON HUNTERBrandon is a recent Civil Engineering graduate at the UF. Under the guidance of Dr. Timothy Townsend in the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences, Hunter’s research studied various doses of ferric chloride as coagulate, to remove dissolved organic matter (DOM) from non-municipal solid waste landfill wastewaters. Hunter was named as a recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship for his graduate work.

I am convinced that the USF FGLSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate program clearly distinguishes itself in creating a family environment which breeds success, both personally and professionally. The program provided office space and computers for us to study. This space evolved into a home away from home wherein we would take refuge when ‘life happens’, have study groups, run simulations, help each other write and review technical papers and proposals and even celebrate birthdays! This created a strong family-type environment within our cohort that was passed down and emulated by succeeding BD cohorts.

As I reflect on the USF FGLSAMP BD program, the moral and financial support, peace of mind, sense of fulfillment in reaching back to uplift others to become scientists and engineers, and family-type environment provided a unique algorithm, which left me no choice but to be successful. Ten years later, I still apply those “lessons learned” in my current position at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.”– QUENTON BONDS, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, 2010


BRIDGE TO DOCTORATE[2003 - 2013]The Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) program is a transformative force in STEM graduate education and beyond. Since 2003, FGLSAMP has hosted 11 BD cohorts at 4 FGLSAMP institutions, thereby providing life-altering experiences for the BD Fellows who have been a part of this dynamic program. The FGLSAMP BD continues to impact the number of URM receiving the STEM Ph.D. The BD provides LSAMP undergraduates a unique opportunity to pursue the STEM Ph.D. with tremendous funding support provided by NSF for the first two years of graduate school. A great number of the BD Fellows go on to receive other prestigious fellowship awards such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Alfred Sloan Minority Fellowship, and McKnight Fellowship. The host institution provides means of funding support once the BD Fellows move into the 3rd year of graduate school. The funding support by NSF is the greatest impact, because it addresses the issue of solid funding support, which is arguably one of the greatest hurdles keeping URMs from pursing STEM graduate education.

WIDER IMPACTSThere is a multiplier effect that comes about as a result of the Bridge to the Doctorate in that it generates greater diversity participation in STEM research at both the academic institutions and at many of the nation’s research laboratory facilities. BD creates unique opportunities for STEM URM populations to participate in international research and professional development. In addition, BD has also generated voluntary institutional funding by each BD institution site to support and place additional (matching) students into the FGLSAMP BD cohort above the 12 that are funded by NSF support. The importance and impact of FGLSAMP BD on institutions is reflected in the commitment to build greater diversity within the STEM graduate populations.

BD INSTITUTION NO. OF COHORTS NO. OF BD FELLOWS

Florida State University 1 20

University of Florida 3 48

University of South Florida 5 76

Florida International University 2 36

To date, the FGLSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate program has achieved a completion to degree rate of greater than 82%. This is significant in that greater numbers of underrepresented minority Ph.D. recipients are entering the U.S. labor force in significant science and research professions. Thus, the impact of the FGLSAMP BD program has been to transform the STEM professional landscape throughout the nation.

FGLSAMP BD Fellows have conducted research and/or started professional careers with organizations such as: NOAA; NASA; U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories; Intel; Draper Industries; Lockheed Martin; National Academies of Science. These are unique professional opportunities that the FGLSAMP BD can bring into the lives of its BD participants.

26 | FGLSAMP

BD Fellowship has provided not just funding but also access to professionals with actual experience and accomplishments to back their advice, help in writing proposals and obtaining additional funding, funding and encouragement for attending conferences, and forging relationships with other BDs of diverse interests. Most importantly, it facilitated the MS completion in 2 years (not particularly common in the discipline of biology)

– NICOLE SEBESTA, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

The NSF Florida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (FGLSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship gave me the opportunity to start my Ph.D. program. It enabled me to focus on my research during the first two years while seeking other opportunities. My dissertation investigated the viral content of reclaimed water with a new molecular technique that allows us to describe the viral community as a whole. Thanks to the FGLSAMP BD fellowship, I was encouraged to apply and participate in other NSF opportunities including the International Polar Year – Research Opportunities in Antarctica for Minorities program and East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) in New Zealand Fellowship. The FGLSAMP BD Fellowship was an incredible resource, not only because of the much-needed financial aid, but also because of the support system it provided through the staff and other BD fellows. The award was a great help for me to accomplish my academic goals and I am very grateful for it.

– KARYNA ROSARIO, PH.D., UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY, 2010

The fellowship provided exposure and support for external funding, grant proposal writing and networking. The Bridge to Doctorate program allowed me to “hit the ground running” so to speak. It kept me sane and it kept me focused on my future as a research scientist. And of course, the funding support has been invaluable.

– KRYSTINE PIMENTEL, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

I truly appreciate the comradery between the fellows. Having a place to go to when you need help in guiding through the “red tape” of grad school. Making a real connection with the BD fellows and staff is what I value the most. I believe it is that connection that gives me the confidence to seek help when I need it. Developing trust within the BD fellows and staff should always take priority. That’s the key to keeping fellows from dropping out. Honestly, if not for the BD, I would have quit the Ph.D. program. So many times the walls in my department were stacked up against me and it was through the support of my BDs and staff that guided me through.

– MICHELLE PIERRE, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY



You can do whatever you want to do today. All you need is the education.– CONGRESSMAN LOUIS STOKES [1925-2015]

KEY IMPACTSAT A GLANCE

A SNAPSHOT

• EconomicImpact/ValueofFGLSAMPto-date:

NSF FGLSAMP (Undergraduate) Funding Support $19,200,000.00

Florida Legislature Funding support (1992-2007) $9,630,000.00

Institutional Match $7,200,000.00

FGLSAMP NSF – Bridge to the Doctorate $15,477,000.00

Institutional Match – Bridge to the Doctorate $4,620,000.00

FGLSAMP EXPO Economic Activity* $3,200,000.00

ValueResearch/InternshipExperiences $19,500,000.00

• ExternalFGLSAMPSummerResearchInternships 2002-2014 average 260 per year

• NumberofUnderrepresentedFemaleEnrolledinSTEM(atFGLSAMPInstitutions) 1994: 52,425

2014: 61,852

• NumberofUnderrepresentedMaleEnrolledinSTEM(atFGLSAMPInstitutions) 1994: 37,028

2014: 47,567

• FGLSAMPScholarGPA 78% Greater than 3.0

• AverageTimeto(BS)Degree:5.52years(FGLSAMPScholars)• AverageSTEMRetention:90.3%• ResearchInternshipExperiences:Over2,961since2002• 4,337InstitutionalURMSTEMBaccalaureateDegreeawardsin2014• 564InstitutionalURMSTEMMaster’sdegreeawardsin2014• 347InstitutionalURMSTEMPh.D.degreeawardsin2014• Greaterthan86%Ph.D.completionratefortheFGLSAMPBridgetotheDoctorateFellows

Photo: Google Images

December 2015

LEADINSTITUTION/ADMINISTRATIVEOFFICELOCATED AT:

FGLSAMPFlorida Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority ParticipationFlorida A&M UniversitySybil Mobley Complex500 Gamble Street, Rm 418C SouthTallahassee, FL 32307(850) 561-2467www.fglsamp.com

Ralph Turner, Ph.D. Principal Investigator

Fglsamp 2015 Program Impact Report

Education

Transcript of Fglsamp 2015 Program Impact Report