June 7, 2022
College of Agriculture/KSRE Diversity Programs Office Summer Update
The start of June means that summer programs have officially begun in the K-State College of Agriculture/K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) Diversity Programs Office (DPO). This summer we have welcomed sixteen students for the Kansas State Research and Extension (KSRE) Summer Research Fellowship Program and four students for the Multicultural Academic Program Success (MAPS) summer program. We are excited for what is to come throughout the remainder of this summer.
The DPO would like to share some information about our summer programs; however, we would first like to recognize the recent loss of Mr. Veryl Switzer, a K-State legend, member of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame and K-State Football Ring of Honor, and trailblazer for multicultural student organizations and programs at Kansas State University. Without his work, we would not have the programs and resources that we have to support our under-represented students today, most specifically my position as the first K-State Assistant Dean for Diversity in the Big XII Colleges of AG. Please join us in remembering him. You can read more about his efforts here: https://bit.ly/VerylSwitzer.
DPO Summer Programs:
2022 KSRE Multicultural Summer Research Fellowship: This program is educational in nature and designed so that the participants receive the primary benefit by learning hands-on research techniques, methods, procedures and about related topics. This summer we have adapted the program into a hybrid format, allowing for the first two weeks to be virtual and the remaining six weeks will be in-person. By the end of the 8-week period, June 3 to July 30, students should have produced tangible research results demonstrating his/her knowledge of experimental research and will report the results in a special research forum.
The following students are participants of the 2022 KSRE Research Fellowship Program:
- Kayla Adams, Central State University – Biology
- Mentor: Dr. Kaliramesh Siliveru – Department of Grain Science
- Zenzele Asante, Kansas State University (K-State MANRRS) – Agricultural Technology Management
- Mentor: Dr. Jayendra Amamcharla – Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, Food Science Institute
- Colby Bonier, Southern University and A&M College – Animal Science
- Mentor: Dr. Joel DeRouchey – Department of Animal Sciences and Industry
- Karla Branch, North Carolina A&T State University – Laboratory Animal Science
- Mentor: Dr. Sara Gragg – Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Food Science Institute
- Olivia Cooper, Tuskegee University – AG Communications
- Mentor: Dr. Katie Burke – Department of AG Communications and Journalism
- Alisa Evans, Alcorn State University – Agriculture Science, Veterinary Medicine
- Mentor: Dr. Yoonseong Park – Department of Entomology
- Addison Gooden, Alcorn State University – Agriculture Science, Veterinary Medicine
- Mentor: Dr. Randy Phebus – Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Food Science Institute
- Cortez Henderson, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – Regulatory Science, Agriculture
- Mentor: Dr. Anita Dille – Department of Agronomy
- Camiyah Knox, Tuskegee University – Animal Science
- Mentor: Dr. Kristopher Silver & Dr. Cassandra Olds – Department of Entomology
- Maya McGaha, Tuskegee University – Animal Science
- Mentor: Dr. Kaliramesh Siliveru – Department of Grain Science
- Kiara McCalister, Florida A&M University – Animal Science: Pre-Vet
- Mentor: Dr. Greg Aldrich – Department of Grain Science
- India Myers, Oakwood University – Biology
- Mentor: Dr. Elisa Karkle – Department of Grain Science & Industry
- Kerrah Oliver, Prairie View A&M University – Agriculture
- Mentor: Dr. Zelia Wiley & Summer Santillana – Diversity Programs
- Vincent Otchere, Kansas State University (K-State MANRRS) – Horticulture
- Mentor: Dr. DeAnn Presley – Department of Agronomy
- Kaia South, Southern University and A&M College – Animal Science
- Mentor: Dr. Zelia Wiley & Summer Santillana – DPO, John Jobe – Riley Co. 4-H
- Kamron Wright, Fort Valley State University – Agricultural Economics
- Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Yeager – Department of Agricultural Economics
2022 MAPS: The Project Impact Summer Bridge Program gives students the opportunity to get familiar with their respective colleges and academic rigor. The students will be here for four weeks with the College of Agriculture hosting four students for the program. Students arrived last Friday, June 3, and will be on campus until Friday, July 1.
The following students are members of the 2022 MAPS College of Agriculture Cohort:
- Leah Roane - Agronomy; Jordyn Napier-Johnson – General Agriculture; Tyler Schultz - Agronomy; and Tirah Daniels – Animal Sciences & Industry
The DPO will also be partnering with the Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs (DMSA), the Department of Agronomy, and K-State Athletics to host two College for a Day programs. We will host up to 45 students on June 22, 2022, from the Jr. MANRRS/Boys and Girls Club of Topeka. On July 18, 2022, we will host 30 students from the Jr. MANRRS/Nicodemus Educational Camp. Each of these days will give middle school and high school students the opportunity to explore majors and careers in the agriculture industry as well as participate in hands-on activities that teach about agriculture.
Please continue to look for more diversity events as we continue to advertise. We appreciate your support. For more information about upcoming events or to collaborate with the DPO, please call 785-532-5793 or email Dr. Zelia Wiley at zwiley@ksu.edu.