The new Minerva Graduate Scholars Program is one of the highest recognitions a doctoral or MFA student at UNCG can receive. “The idea,” says Vice Provost and Dean Kelly Burke, “is to bring our top student scholars out of the silos of their disciplines, to exchange ideas, inspire each other, and grow.”
After completing her undergraduate degree with honors at UNCG, Raleigh native INDYA WALKER worked for three years with a Greensboro-area mentorship program for African American boys.
“I saw students grow and thrive despite their circumstances, but I also saw a lot of gaps in the research around mentorship. There wasn’t much focus on African American youth. It’s mainly a Eurocentric view,” says Walker. “That led me back to grad school. I want to shed a spotlight on these individuals and give them a voice.”
The Human Development and Family Studies student plans to focus on resilience in black families. “Looking back at my own life as a first-generation college student, I’m wondering what factors contribute to growth and success.”