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Douglass Scholars to present research

2007 Frederick Douglass Scholars from left: Kesha Morant, Tehani Finch, and Valerie Jefferson.

Clarion University’s 2007 Frederick Douglass Scholars will present topics from black hole spacetime, to African American males in higher education, to urban talk radio, in two upcoming sessions.

Kesha Morant and Tehani Finch, both from Howard University, and Valerie Jefferson, from Northern Illinois University are teaching at Clarion University during the first five-week summer session. They will make their presentations Tuesday, June 26 at 1 p.m. in room 279, Gemmell Student Complex, the Minority Student Services Lounge; and Friday, June 29 at Clarion University – Venango Campus’ Rhoades Auditorium at 1 p.m., following a noon luncheon in Rhoades Lounge. The presentations are free and open to the public.

Finch’s presentation is “Three – Charger Supertubes in a Rotating Black Hole Spacetime.” A Ph. D. candidate in physics, he is teaching with Dr. John Heard, assistant professor of physics. He expects to receive his degree in 2008. His research interests are general relativity in four and higher dimensions. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jefferson’s presentation is “Resilience Among African American Males in Higher Education.” A Ph.D. candidate in education and counseling, expecting to receive her degree in December 2007, she is teaching with Dr. Barrie Brancato, professor of education, and Dr. Greg Goodman, professor of education. Her research interests are adult and higher education studies. She received her B.A. in criminal justice from Northern Illinois University and master’s degree in higher education from Aurora University, Aurora, Ill.

Morant’s presentation is “Urban Talk Radio and the Black Public Sphere.” A Ph.D. candidate in the communication and culture program concentrating on discourse and power, health communication, and entertainment education, she expects to graduate in 2008. She is teaching with Dr. Scott Kuehn, professor of mass media arts and journalism, and Dr. Joanne Washington, associate professor of mass media arts and journalism. She received her B.A. in communication studies from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and M.A. in humanities from Penn State University.

This is the seventh consecutive summer Clarion University is hosting visiting Frederick Douglass Scholars. This program provides university experience for doctoral candidates primarily from historic black colleges and universities. The presence of these teaching fellows diversifies the summer session faculty. Dr. Jocelind Gant, assistant to the President for Social Equity, coordinates the summer scholars program.

The Summer Scholars program is one of the three components of the Frederick Douglass Institute at Clarion University, which also includes the Frederick Douglas Collection in Carlson Library and the Frederick Douglass Graduate Assistantship program.

Frederick Douglass (1818-95) was an escaped slave, fiery abolitionist, revolutionary journalist, dedicated defender of women’s rights, a spellbinding orator, prolific writer, advisor to President Abraham Lincoln, and a public official.

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