Download Bennett Students Present at the Southern Sociological Society

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APRIL 17, 2015
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Bennett Students Present at the Southern Sociological Society Meeting
(GREENSBORO, NC) - Bennett students Shemiah K. Curry, a junior curriculum and instruction
major from Chicago, IL, and Amra M. Marshall, a junior social work major from Rockford, IL presented
at the recent 78th Annual Meeting of the Southern Sociological Society (SSS) in New Orleans, LA. The
SSS is one of the oldest of the regional professional sociological associations.
Curry and Marshall, both sociology minors, are United Negro College Fund (UNCF)-Mellon
Mays Undergraduate Fellow (MMUF) scholars. Their sociology advisor and MMUF researcher mentor,
Dr. Karla McLucas, accompanied the students.
The students presented a paper on their joint research project, “It’s Race! It’s Social Economic
Status! It’s Gender Inequality? Perceptions about the Identification of and Responses to Gender
Inequality in Academic and Co-Curricular Arenas Experienced by African American College Women”.
The project was a case study concerning how some African American women college students understood
the effects of gender inequality on their lives. They plan to complete their research project and prepare a
co-authored paper with Dr. McLucas and submit it to the MMUF undergraduate research journal.
“I truly appreciated the opportunity to present and discuss my research findings with so many
distinguished scholars throughout the sociological discipline. Reflecting on the 10th year anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina connected the conversations of race, gender, and inequality so much for me that I am
inspired and empowered to move forth in my scholarship,” said Curry.
Echoing her thoughts, Marshall said, “Opportunities such as presenting our research at the SSS
conference has strengthened my passion to conduct research. We were two of the few undergraduate
students who presented and interacted with sociologists and other researchers who were investigating how
gender inequality affects the social, economic, educational and culture spheres of both women and men”.
The students’ research project is a foundational element of their pursuit of academic excellence.
Both students have been admitted into the Leadership Alliance summer research program at the
University of Chicago. They will be mentored by Dr. I. Micere Keels, an internationally renowned
comparative human development researcher and scholar. Dr. Keels is currently conducting research on
the factors that influence the widening academic achievement gap among of students of color.
“When our students are able to participate and present at professional associations meetings, it
exposes them to issues in the larger academic and professional environments and helps make them more
competitive in the graduate school admissions process,” said Dr. McLucas.
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