Mechanical engineering graduate’s dedication to research paves way for Ph.D. pursuit
With three universities and roughly four years of college under her belt, Valesia Davis was still looking for the right fit. She tried different majors as well as institutions, but finally found her place as a mechanical engineering major in the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing and a mathematical sciences minor in the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University.
“I started off as a computer engineering major at a college in Daytona, Florida, right after high school,” Davis said. “After a summer program there, I moved to a school in Savannah, then one in Atlanta before COVID hit. When that happened, I decided to take a year off to really explore my next steps. It was great to meet people and form connections at each university, but, looking at my future, I found Georgia Southern had an excellent mechanical engineering program and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
Davis’ shift to mechanical engineering came from her love of working with physical projects. Hands-on work is something Davis got a lot of experience with at Georgia Southern as a student research assistant.
“Participating in hands-on research gives you a much better understanding of the concepts and theories you learn about in the classroom,” Davis said. “Looking at equations is one thing, but when you see those equations take life in front of your eyes, it’s really cool. It makes the applicability of the work more tangible than it is in a classroom and that’s why I love doing it.”
Most recently, Davis participated in research on an artificial pancreas system that is being developed through a grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation that was awarded to Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Georgia Southern.
“In the mechanical engineering classroom we don’t talk a lot about applications to biomedical fields, but the research you can participate in in this field is actually incredibly varied,” Davis said. “Being a part of research like this really shows you the human impact of your work as you step outside yourself and recognize all of the people in the world who struggle with type 1 diabetes on a daily basis.”
In combination with her research participation, Davis has also traveled the country presenting the work at local, regional and national conferences.
“My favorite conference had to be in Anaheim, California,” Davis said. “It was the annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students, which was an amazing opportunity to network with other women and underrepresented populations doing amazing work in STEM. It was really encouraging to connect with other people like me in my field.”
Her travel for conference presentations was sponsored by the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the program prepares underrepresented, high-performing students for graduate school.
“I knew that after my undergrad I wanted to work toward my Ph.D,” Davis said. “The McNair Scholars program was perfect for that because they really encouraged me through the college process. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to go to these conferences and present the research we’ve been working so hard on.”
The McNair Scholars program also provided introductions to additional funding opportunities for future studies.
“The director, Issac Taylor, talked to me about scholarships and fellowships that I didn’t even know existed,” Davis said. “One of the major ones he encouraged me to apply for was the GEM Fellowship and, after going through the process, I was selected.”
The GEM Fellowship Program is part of the National GEM Consortium and focuses on supporting individuals from underrepresented populations in finding opportunities to participate in graduate level research and development, product development and high-level technical careers.
“This was an amazing opportunity,” Davis said. “To have my graduate school paid for is a major relief. They pay for tuition, housing and provide a stipend, but you have to be accepted by a GEM employer partner before you can be approved and, thankfully, I was accepted by Lam Research.”
Davis will cross the stage at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on May 11 with her bachelor’s degree before moving to California just one week later to begin her position at Lam Research. Her advice for others looking to go into a STEM field is simple: go for it.
“Being a minority, a lot of times, we don’t get as many opportunities as others,” Davis said. “But I would encourage others to not think about where you come from or what you look like as something that will detract from who you are and what you know. If you want something, you can go and get it. Put yourself out there, be open to different possibilities and the opportunities will come.”
Last updated: 9/20/2023
Call Me MISTER: Georgia Southern junior Jordan Moreno is passionate about teaching, changing the education paradigm
Program applications being accepted through May 1 for the 2023-24 academic year; informational session on March 2.
Jordan Moreno, a junior in the College of Education (COE) at Georgia Southern University, recalls not having a Black teacher until the 7th grade. Since then, he’s dreamed about being a part of a paradigm shift in education while pursuing his passion for teaching and mentoring elementary students.
“I’ve always wanted to change the game in education,” Moreno said. “As far as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a teacher. It’s really the only career for me. It ticks all the boxes and I’m able to impact my future students so they can impact the world.”
As a member of the inaugural 2022-2023 cohort of Georgia Southern’s Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program, Moreno is doing just that.
In partnership with Clemson University, the Call Me MISTER program aims to increase the number of Georgia teachers from diverse backgrounds and experiences; recruit, retain and nurture participants; and build educator talent in high-need areas.
“It’s such an amazing program,” said Moreno. “We need more people in the classrooms who are passionate about teaching, passionate about getting our students engaged and in love with school again. That’s really the program model. We are servant-leaders and role models in elementary and middle schools.”
According to the Pew Research Center, U.S. public school teachers are considerably less diverse than the student populations they teach. Only 7% of U.S. public school teachers are Black, and of those, 2% are Black males.
Moreno, who will be the first in his family to graduate from college, thought that it would be impossible to have a Black male professor in college.
At Georgia Southern, he was excited to meet Calvin Walton, Ph.D., lecturer in Georgia Southern’s Department of Curriculum, Foundations and Reading and Call Me MISTER program director. Walton is passionate about the organization’s directives.
“It is my distinct honor to serve as the inaugural director of our Call Me MISTER program,” Walton said. “My passion to build a strong Call Me MISTER program emerges from a desire to improve school outcomes and experiences for students from traditionally marginalized backgrounds. Our mission is to increase the pool of Black male teachers and teachers from broader and more diverse backgrounds to work in some of the region’s lowest performing elementary and middle schools. I have high expectations that Georgia Southern University’s Call Me MISTER program will produce talented and passionate teachers who embody social justice education and transformational change for marginalized students.”
Walton encouraged Moreno to join the new cohort, emphasizing the networking, leadership, camaraderie and achievement opportunities under the guidance and support of adult advocates.
There are biweekly meetings with other MISTERS and a summer institute at Clemson where current and alumni MISTERS from around the country come together.
“We’re able to collaborate, remember why we want to be teachers,” he said. “It’s a really beautiful program.”
Additionally, the MISTER program offers tuition and book assistance and coordinates efforts on behalf of the students for mentoring and teaching placements.
Currently, Moreno works with fourth and fifth graders at Largo-Tibet Elementary School in Savannah once a week. He guides his own lessons with playful learning as they explore future careers.
“I have such a good time with it,” he said. “I’m being supported and I get to support my future students, so I’m having a ball.
“And I’ve gotten rave reviews from the school counselor and the school social worker. They can tell that I love it.”
The College of Education is accepting applications for the Call Me MISTER program for the 2023-2024 academic year through May 1. There will be an information session via Zoom at 6 p.m. on March 2.
For more information on how to join the Zoom info session or apply to the program, visit https://coe.georgiasouthern.edu/call-me-mister/ or contact Calvin Walton at calvinwalton@georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 9/20/2023
Appleton Achieves Much in Spring Semester
The Spring Semester of 2020 has been full of surprises. However, in Andrea Appleton’s case, it has been full of awesome news!
Appleton was invited to become a 2020 intern in the Evolution, Ecology, and Environment (E3) REU program at Harvard University this year. The Harvard program is designed to build an inclusive and diverse community of science mentorship so that students benefit from the skills and knowledge of their peers in the program, their PhD mentors, and program faculty. Appleton’s travel, housing , and course related expenses will be covered by the Ivy League School. In addition to that she will also receive a weekly stipend.
Appleton’s Achievements didn’t end there! Andrea has also been named a Goldwater Scholar, the highest national award for undergraduate students in the STEM majors. The scholarship is awarded to undergraduates who show exceptional promise of becoming the nation’s next generation of research leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. You can read more about Andrea and her award here.
Appleton directs the Georgia Southern Herbarium, a collection of 40,000 plant specimens from around the world. Her research passion, and accomplishments set her apart as a student of outstanding merit. Congratulations to her for her accomplishments and achievements acknowledging just that!
Last updated: 5/5/2020
