EXPANDING MINDS, EXPLORING WORLDS JPFP DIRECTORY OF FELLOWS 2007HARRIETT G. JENKINS PRE-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROJECT [JPFP] National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Office of Education TABLE OF CONTENTS Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Project ..........................3 List of Fellows by Cohort......................................... 6 List of Fellows Alphabetically.................................. 9 Fellow Biographies >> C1 Cohort 1...........................................................13 >> C2 Cohort 2......................................................... 25 >> C3 Cohort 3 ..........................................................37 HARRIETT G. JENKINS >> C4 Cohort 4......................................................... 49 PRE-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROJECT [JPFP] >> C5 Cohort 5..........................................................61 National Aeronautics and Space Administration >> C6 Cohort 6 ..........................................................73 >> C7 Cohort 7 ..........................................................85 JPFP Project Management ................................... 92 United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation Division of Science & Technology JPFPthe introduction Harriett G. Jenkins The objectives of the Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Pre-doctoral Fellowship Project are: Fellowship Project >> To hone STEM expertise of interest to NASA among underrepresented groups ;=ß ß*0&0ß&ELLOWSß$IRECTORY >> To minimize financial barriers of fellows pursing STEM advanced degrees DR. HARRIETT G. JENKINS >> To provide “hands-on” research opportunities at NASA installations >> To expose fellows to the salient aspects of professional and career development In September of 2000, the National Aeronautics and Space Thus, this effort seeks to not only provide access and opportunity Administration (NASA) entered into a cooperative agreement to those underrepresented and underutilized persons of society with the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation who want to earn advanced degrees, but it also facilitates the to administer the Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship development of a more inclusive, multicultural and sustainable Project (JPFP). The program provides the salient emphasis items STEM workforce. needed to eliminate the noticeable dearth of skilled workers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Eliminating the Barriers to a Competitive STEM Workforce related disciplines. The ultimate goal of the JPFP is to increase the U.S. talent pool of the underrepresented groups, including While the Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Project women, minorities, and disabled persons with Masters and Doctoral seeks to increase the numbers of underrepresented persons in the degrees participating in the STEM workforce. STEM Ph.D. pipeline, it also seeks to holistically develop the fellows while they are in the pipeline. The aspect of student development A Quick Glance at the JPFP alone distinguishes the JPFP from any other fellowship program of its kind. >> Since the program’s inception in 2000, the JPFP has opened new worlds of opportunity to tomorrow’s scientific pioneers. While there are a number of pre-college and college programs that attempt to address the barrier problem holistically, there >> More than 130 graduate students, representing over 50 higher are few if any graduate educational programs that address the education institutions, have participated in the JPFP. needs of underrepresented students for support, mentoring, coaching and nurturing during their graduate school experience. >> While maintaining a high level of diversity, the JPFP contains a This is due to the assumption that coaching and mentoring occur proportionate number of male and female graduate students. naturally with little or no effort. American Indian - 2% The JPFP was developed to help eliminate the fiscal, educational Caucasian - 14% quality and most importantly the support barriers to graduate African-American - 51% student success. In the program, young minds are cultivated; Hispanic - 24% community is formed among kindred spirits; and a sense of Asian/Pacific Islander - 8% conquest over all adversity is instilled in all of the students. It Females - 58% is believed that the essence of these principles will be born out Males - 42% in the JPFP Fellow’s academic and work performance, workplace Persons w/ disabilities - 6% and self image and desire to be more exposed to diverse perspectives of research and life. >> Graduates of the JPFP have entered the STEM workforce to pursue careers in government, academia, and private industry. >> During the 2005-2006 academic school year, 22 fellows published “All of the critical support provided allowed me to bridge the gap from 31 research articles in peer-reviewed, scientific journals. graduate student to Ph.D. As a graduate student, there were several issues as I meandered through toward the doctoral degree, but money >> In 2006, 22 fellows participated in the JPFP Mini Research Award was not one of them. This was an immense relief. Graduate school was Program. These students conducted research at 6 NASA centers difficult enough. I sincerely owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the and 2 research institutions. pioneers who realize the importance of education and fight hard to secure funding, especially Dr. Harriett G. Jenkins.” -- Dr. Hassan Moore, JPFP Cohort 2 Quotes from JPFP Fellows "This life changing experience as a JPFP recipient resides and is “I expected that I would simply receive a check in the mail and a deeply lodged in my heart. As a Cohort 1 fellow, I have had the letter telling me how the program was excited to be supporting my opportunity to meet some of the world’s greatest gifts (i.e. researchers, education. Instead there was a feeling of belonging to a family that professors, entrepreneurs, etc.); an opportunity of this magnitude served as a support group” …Priceless! With your help, JPFP, you have allowed me to participate -- Bryan Reid, JPFP Cohort 3 in programs, symposiums, grants, etc. and all have exposed me to a world full of opportunities. Thanks Dr. Jenkins and JPFP!" “The program's financial support was clearly instrumental in allowing --Dr. Tatangla S. Coleman, JPFP Cohort 1 me to complete my Ph.D. [The] mini-grants in 2004 and 2005 helped me make real progress on my thesis work. Furthermore, the Jenkins “I’ve always been extremely interested in NASA’s Space Program, family is a fantastic support network and resource, and one that I will and I want to land a career that will let me use my engineering continue to interact with for years to come, I hope.” skills to contribute to that cause in some way. I’m really excited -- Dr. Marcel Agueros, JPFP Cohort 3 that I discovered the JPFP program because I’m sure that it will help me navigate my career path to reach my goals.” “[JPFP] has provided funding that let me focus on my Ph.D. research, -- William MacKunis, JPFP Cohort 6“ without having to undertake other research activities to provide for funding.” -- Janine Johnson, Cohort 4 LIST OF FELLOWS BY COHORT >> C1 COHORT 1 >> C2 COHORT 2 Carrie M. Anderson....................................................................14 John L. Baker Jr........................................................................26 Kera Z. Bell ................................................................................14 Lakesha Bates ..........................................................................26 Nathan R. Brooks.......................................................................15 Reginald Crawford....................................................................27 Jorge Camacho..........................................................................15 April R. Crenshaw .....................................................................27 Tatangla S. Coleman ..................................................................16 Rachel Cruz...............................................................................28 Felicia L. Conley.........................................................................16 Tiffany M. Finch ........................................................................28 Talithia Daniel-Williams..............................................................17 Hiram A. Firpi............................................................................29 Miguel A. Figueroa-Villanueva ..................................................17 Brian K. Harris ..........................................................................29 Joseph Gale ...............................................................................18 DaJuanicia N. Holmes...............................................................30 Natasha A. Greene.....................................................................18 Hassan Moore...........................................................................30 Dawn M. Holt..............................................................................19 Oseoghaghare Okobiah..............................................................31 William C. Howell........................................................................19 Merlyn X. Pulikkathara...............................................................31 Laura M. Hudy...........................................................................20 Ramiro L. Rivera-Rivera............................................................32 Shellie M. Jones........................................................................20