The McNair Scholars who attended the conference, left to right: front row, Stevena King, Zaria Nolan, Kashyla Brooks, Syed Mohammed Amanuddin, and Johvan Hill-Dick; second row, Abigail Hynum, Jakayla Washington, Alexis Austin, Hertayshia Thomas, Joelle Dick, and Quincy Hughes; third row, Dakota Conway, Khyla Grant, Ashley Griffin, Denicia Diew, and Nicholas Walters.
The McNair Research Scholars traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Oct 3-6, 2018 to attend the 2018 University of New Mexico McNair Scholars Research Conference. This year’s conference theme was “Discover the Power of Networking!” This space provided opportunities for the 16 Delta State McNair Scholars to meet and network with McNair Scholars from 49 other institutions and more than 100 graduate and professional schools. Scholars also had the opportunity to participate in a tethered-hot air balloon ride and watch balloons from the 2018 Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta grace the skies during the conference.
Also during the conference, six Delta State McNair Scholars presented their research from the McNair Summer Research Experience. The scholars who presented research are listed below with their faculty mentors:
• Syed Mohammed Amanuddin (Dr. Tanya McKinney): “Comparison of Factors Affecting Population Dynamics of Sharks and Stingrays Between the Gulf of Mexico and Bay of Bengal”
• Abigail Hynum (Dr. Tanya McKinney): “Are You Really a Happy Camper?”
• Dakota Conway (Dr. Sally Zengaro): “Crime and Punishment? The Mental Health Outcomes of Female Rape Survivors of a Single Rapist”
• Joelle Dick (Dr. James Gerald): “The Effects of Training and Anti-Fatigue Mat on Balance, Muscle Activity, and Discomfort/Fatigue During Prolonged Standing in Sit-Stand Workstation Use”
• Ashley Griffin (Dr. Kendra Wallace): “Renal Injury and Blood Pressure Persists into the Post-Partum Period in Rats with Severe Preeclampsia/HELLP Syndrome and Acute Kidney Injury during Pregnancy”
• Nicholas Walters (Dr. Melody Fortune): “The Widening Gap of Health Disparity for Prostate Cancer Among Men in the Mississippi Delta”
To view pictures and content from the conference, as well as updates about the program, follow “Delta State University McNair Research Scholars” on all social media platforms.
