August 8, 2023
Diversity Programs Summer 2023 Update
Happy August!!
As the Fall 2023 semester approaches, the College of Agriculture/K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) Diversity Programs Office (DPO) are wrapping up our summer events. This summer was busy with many programs, including our partnerships with the Diversity and Multicultural Students Affairs (DMSA) office with Project IMPACT KOMPASS and MAPS, the K-State Jr. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS), and Nicodemus Educational Camps. We also hosted the seventeenth annual KSRE Summer Research Fellows Program. Thank you to all the faculty mentors, student mentors, sponsors, and partners who made the 2023 summer programs successful, and a special thanks to the DPO staff – Summer Santillana, Lonnie Hobbs, Jr., Raymond Thomas, and Me’Laiha Enriquez.
The DPO staff are proud of the resilience these students have shown throughout the programs and are excited to see where these experiences take them in the future. Participants and mentors of these programs are noted below, please join us in congratulating them!
This summer was also unique as we co-hosted the Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (KS-LSAMP) Research Immersion program (RiPs). Thanks to their contributions as well!
With appreciation to our partners: Cargill, Phillips 66, Hormel Foods, and Spirit Aerospace for an informative Project IMPACT MAPS program. We would also like to thank our partners for the KSRE Fellows Program: The Missouri Department of Conservation, Merck Animal Health, Ardent Mills, College of Health & Human Sciences, and K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. Most importantly, the College of Agriculture Dean/Director and Associate Dean for Research Offices.
KSRE Summer Research Fellows Program:
Maya Brown, Prairie View A&M University – Animal Sciences/Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Randall Phebus – Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Food Science Institute
Ireyon Buchanna, Southern University and A&M College – Agricultural Science
Mentor: Dr. Morgan Zumbaugh – Department of Animal Sciences & Industry
Dyla Butler, Kentucky State University – Environmental Systems
Mentor: Dr. Charles Rice/Endy Lopes Kailer – Department of Agronomy
Gabrielle Cameron, Tennessee State University – Agriculture Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Brian McCornack – Department of Entomology
Charles Carpenter III, Prairie View A&M University – Agriculture, Plant & Soil Science
Mentor: Dr. Jeremy Cowan – Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources
Darian Davis, Prairie View A&M University – Agriculture, Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Michael Kleinhenz – Department of Animal Sciences and Clinical Sciences in College of Veterinary Medicine
Keshauna Ashley Davis, South Carolina State University – Agribusiness
Mentors: Dr. Zelia Wiley/Summer Santillana– College of Agriculture/KSRE Diversity Programs Office
Terriah Dunn, Prairie View A&M University – Agriculture and Human Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Chad Paulk– Department of Grain Science and Industry
Mya Gremillion, North Carolina A&T – Agricultural & Environmental Systems, Sustainable Land & Food Systems
Mentor: Dr. Anita Dille – Department of Agronomy
Elissa Hall, Tuskegee University – Food and Nutritional Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Kaliramesh Siliveru – Department of Grain Science
Charia Hishaw, Langston University – Agriculture Crop and Soil Science
Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Williams – Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources
Robert "Trey" Lewis III, Prairie View A&M University – Agribusiness
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Barkley – Department of Agricultural Economics
Angelina Lindert, Langston University – Animal Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Joel DeRouchey – Department of Animal Sciences & Industry
Myles Lowery, Langston University – Agriculture
Mentors: Dr. Mike Day and Anthony Fink – Department of Animal Sciences & Industry
Emery Minor, Tennessee State University – Family and Consumer Science, Nutrition and Dietetics
Mentor: Dr. Randall Phebus – Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Food Science Institute
Giovanni Moore, Prairie View A&M University – Animal Sciences/ Pre- Veterinary Medicine
Mentor: Dr. Cassandra Olds – Department of Entomology
McKenzie Scott, Florida A&M University – Animal Science Pre-Vet
Mentors: Dr. Zelia Wiley and Summer Santillana - Diversity Programs Office and Kansas Black Farmer’s Association (KBFA)
Quentin Sparrow, Langston University – Agriculture Science, Agribusiness
Mentor: Dr. Colby Moorberg – Department of Agronomy
April Mason-Taylor, Prairie View A&M University – Agricultural Science
Mentor: Dr. Bradford Wiles – Department of Applied Human Sciences
Kelleigh Wakefield, Tuskegee University – Animal Sciences
Mentor: Dr. Kaliramesh Siliveru – Department of Grain Science
KS-LSAMP RiPS 2023:
Xania Cobian, Dodge City Community College –Associates of Science
Mentor: Dr. Lydia Zeglin – Division of Biology
Jessica Davis, Kansas State University – Medical Laboratory Science
Mentor: Dr. Bill Hsu – Department of Computer Science
Dennis Meyer, Kansas State University – Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Torben Amtoft – Department of Applied Human Sciences
Osbel Oceguera-Regaldo, Seward County Community College – Associates of Science
Mentor: Dr. Husain Aziz – Department of Civil Engineering,
Marco Ramirez Ramirez, Donnelly University – Associates of Art
Mentor: Dr. Walter Dodd – Division of Biology
Javier Vazquez, Kansas State University incoming transfer student from Dodge City Community College – Biomedical Science
Mentor: Dr. Sanzhen Liu – Department of Plant Pathology
Project IMPACT MAPS (College of AG) 2023:
Jocelyn Armendariz - Animal Sciences & Industry
Bianca Blair - Animals Sciences & Industry
Dulce Reyes - Animals Sciences & Industry
Mariam Fernandez – Agricultural Communications
Abbygail Lopez - Animal Sciences & Industry
Student Mentor 2023:
Leah Roane – Sophomore, Food Sciences Major
KSTATE MANRRS Chapter 2023-24 Vice President
Undergraduate Student Mentor, Project IMPACT MAPS & KOMPASS
Additionally, we partnered with DMSA, the Department of Agronomy, the Department of Animal Sciences & Industry, and the FMC Corporation to host over 45 students during College for a Day Programs with the Salina Trio Upward Bound, Nicodemus Educational Camp and High Aspirations (KC, MO) for informative Jr MANRRS programs.
Special thanks to these partners as well! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Please continue to look for more diversity news and events as we continue to advertise. If you would like any additional information about these events or to collaborate with the DPO, please contact Dr. Zelia Wiley at zwiley@ksu.edu or 785-532-5793.