Kansas State University

Diversity Programs Office July Update

Submitted by Zelia Wiley

Please join the K-State College of Agriculture/K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) Diversity Programs Office (DPO) in saving the date for the 16th Annual KSRE Summer Research Fellows Program closing ceremony on July 28, at 9 a.m. in the K-State Student Union, Wildcat Chamber or via Zoom ID: 989 4084 6882.

At this event, each of the 14 KSRE fellows will give an oral presentation about their summer research projects. Throughout the program, the fellows will have produced tangible research results demonstrating their knowledge of experimental research and will report the results during the closing ceremony. This year, the final research presentations will be in conjunction with the Kansas State University REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) Final Research Symposium, where numerous REU groups across campus will present the results from their research, all in the K-State Student Union on July 28.

The following students are participants of the 2022 KSRE Research Fellows Program:

• Kayla Adams, Central State University – Biology
• Mentor: Dr. Kaliramesh Siliveru – Department of Grain Science and Industry
• Zenzele Asante, Kansas State University (K-State MANRRS) – Agricultural Technology Management
• Mentor: Dr. Jayendra Amamcharla – Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Food Science Institute
• 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 Communications and Agricultural Education
• 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
• Maya McGaha, Tuskegee University – Animal Science
• Mentor: Dr. Kaliramesh Siliveru – Department of Grain Science and Industry
• Kiara McCalister, Florida A&M University – Animal Science: Pre-Vet
• Mentor: Dr. Greg Aldrich – Department of Grain Science and Industry
• India Myers, Oakwood University – Biology
• Mentor: Dr. Elisa Karkle – Department of Grain Science and Industry
• Kerrah Oliver, Prairie View A&M University – Agriculture
• Mentor: Dr. Zelia Wiley & Summer Santillana – Diversity Programs Office
• 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 4-H, & Dr. Gregg Hadley – KSRE
• Kamron Wright, Fort Valley State University – Agricultural Economics
• Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Yeager – Department of Agricultural Economics

This is the program’s largest group to date, and we are proud to congratulate these students on a job well done thus far. We look forward to seeing what they have learned during the 2022 KSRE Summer Research Fellows Program and hope that you can join us!

An additional congratulations go to the 2022 Project IMPACT MAPS (Multicultural Academic Programs Success) cohort on a successful program. Out of 20 total students, the following students represented the College of Agriculture during the 4-week MAPS summer program, June 3 – July 1, 2022:

Tirah Daniels – Animal Sciences & Industry; Jordyn Napier-Johnson – General Agriculture; Leah Roane - Food Science; and Tyler Schultz - Agronomy

Join us in congratulating these students and thanking the K-State Office of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs (DMSA), College of Agriculture, College of Business, and College of Engineering for another successful MAPS partnership. We are proud of the students’ growth throughout the program and are excited to welcome them back to campus in the fall!

Please look for more College of Agriculture diversity news in the coming weeks. Thank you to everyone who has aided in making our summer programs successful. For more information about upcoming events or to collaborate with the DPO, please call 785-532-5793 or contact Dr. Zelia Wiley, Assistant Dean & Director, zwiley@ksu.edu.