Study to Assess the Racial and Ethnic Experiences at KSU
Our project uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the racial and
ethnic experiences of students, faculty, and staff of color on the two KSU campuses.
Findings will be used to identify potential problem areas and provide concrete recommendations
for improvement.
Jason Rhodes
Jason RhodesThe KSU Food Forest: Building Bridges Between Communities Through Sustainable Urban
Agriculture
The KSU Food Forest, currently under development on 1/3 of an acre at the KSU Field
Station, aims to serve as a demonstration of the potential of food forest systems
to mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration, increase water resilience,
and promote food security. The KSU Food Forest also aims to build community across
lines of race and class, and improve Atlanta's food system, by working with residents
in food insecure Atlanta neighborhoods to design and implement small-scale food forests
in their communities, while developing the math, environmental science, and agroforestry
skills necessary to do so. This project will employ two KSU undergraduate interns
to help develop a curriculum that connects the 9th grade Georgia standards for math
and environmental science to the hands-on project of designing and planting a food
forest. This curriculum will be taught to a pilot group of Atlanta 9th grade students
in Spring, 2021, with training in sustainable urban agriculture to take place at the
KSU Field Station. The curriculum, and analysis of its impact on student learning,
will be published for broader dissemination, and further grant funds will be sought
to teach the curriculum to a larger group of Atlanta high school students in in 2021-2022.
Sadé Tramble
Sadé TrambleProgression and Retention of Black Female Students in STEM Majors at a PWI
The purpose of this study is to learn about Black female students experiences in STEM
majors at a PWI, how Black female student utilize student support services to persist
in STEM majors at a PWI and how Black female students sense of belonging is impacted
by student support services at a PWI.
Afekwo Mary Ukuku
Afekwo Mary UkukuThe Empowered Measures Project
The Empowered Measures Project will have the unique opportunity to explore the aspects
of the lived experiences of people of color on human flourishing, and the social connection.
The development and evaluation of innovative, culturally appropriate, and effective
strategies to prevent health inequalities are critical. Interventions should target
prominent influences in a person’s life. Therefore, the goal of the proposed project
is to gain a greater understanding of how perceived racism and discrimination influence
health behavior. More specifically, the researchers seek to understand the impact
of racism on health behavior and decision-making. In addition, the project aims to
encourage faculty, staff, and students to apply perceived and implicit measures of
oppressions to their research studies. With the increased attention of underlining
health disparities and inequities affecting people of color, this is a timely project.
With increased awareness, it will be essential to educate others on how to apply these
measures across disciplines.
Final Report – In the process of completing IRB application. IRB application will
be submitted by Oct. 30th
Dr. Roneisha Worthy
Dr. Roneisha WorthyFaculty Women of Color in Engineering: A Phenomenological Study at KSU
The goal of this research is to assist faculty in the College of Engineering with
understanding the underrepresented demographic of women of color in engineering. The
purpose is to not only fill the gap in the literature concerning women of color in
the academic engineering field but to also use the findings as a baseline to provide
tangible strategies engineering programs can utilize to attract and retain women of
color. Three work products will be produced: (1) The development of inclusion programming
to assist in the creation of cultural competencies and awareness among faculty and
staff; (2) Dissemination of results in peer-reviewed publications like the Journal
of Engineering Education or similar, and (3) Development of female student circles
to inspire the next generation of women in academia.