Faculty Highlights
 |
Jann H. Adams, Ph.D. Grant Title: MBRS-RISE Program Renewal NIH Division: Psychology Grant Amount Awarded: $ 1,937,613 Grant Period: 07/01/08/’06-30/12
|
Overview: The goals of the Morehouse College MBRS RISE Program are to: increase the number of Morehouse students successfully matriculating in the sciences, increase the number of graduated pursuing graduate study in biomedical research, and to enhance the collaboration and research infrastructure at Morehouse College and the AUC.
For more information about this research project contact Dr. Jann Adams at 404 653 7744 or, jadams@morehouse.edu
 |
Errol Archibald, Ph.D. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of General Medical Sciences Grant Title: “MBRS Score Program at Morehouse College” Division: Math and Science Grant Amount Awarded: $ 212,766 Grant Period: 07/01/ ‘07- 06/ 30/‘10 |
Overview: To support biomedical research activity at Morehouse College. Specifically, the goal is to continue to increase the capacity of the faculty to do research in order to enhance student education. The long term goal of the SCORE program is to continue to significantly increase the number of faulty and students engaging in biomedical research at the College. The College, which has traditionally emphasized excellence in scholarship among its faculty and students, is committed to supporting and encouraging faculty and student participation in scholarly activity. Funding from the MRBS is providing the necessary support for junior faculty members to establish a competitive research program at the College.
For more information about this research contact Dr. Archibald at: (404) 215-2689 or, earchibo@morehouse.edu
Overview: This work is an extension of the ongoing curriculum reform in the Chemistry. Department which was initiated by the MSEIP grant. One of the objectives of this project is to achieve the integration of mathematical skills (quantitative literacy) and other skill building exercises in lectures, laboratories, and problem solving sessions. Another objective is to develop discovery based and Process Oriented Guided Inquiry experiments for organic and physical chemistry courses respectively. The success rate at the end of the work is estimated to be at least 75% in general and organic chemistry. The combination of mentoring and academic tutoring will prepare students for graduate school, professional school, and scientific work.
 |
Obie Clayton, Ph.D. Grant Title: Healthy Marriage Demonstration Project: Strengthening Marriage and Marriage Prospects |
Overview: The Morehouse College Strengthening Marriage and Marriage Prospects (SMPP) project is reversing the negative trends in marriage by creating comprehensive community-based marriage education programs in two cities in Georgia, Atlanta and the city of Cordele in Crisp County. These two cities were selected based on several factors: (1) Geographic diversity ; (2) The existence of viable and active community and faith-based organizations embedded in the neighborhood communities they serve;(3)High incidences of child poverty and,(4) high incidences of female –headed households. Both communities have a need for healthy marriage interventions that seek to stabilize existing marriages and improve the prospects for future marriages.
 |
David Cooke, Ph.D. Grant Title: undergraduate Science Education Program: Student Enhancement through Faculty Vitality Division of: Science & Mathematics Grant Amount Awarded: 14,000 Grant Period: 10/'08-10/'12 |
Overview: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI or the "Institute") is a
nonprofit medical research organization dedicated to basic biomedical
research and education. Its principal objectives are the advancement of
fundamental knowledge in biomedical science and the application of new
scientific knowledge to the alleviation of disease and the promotion of
health. To complement its research activities, HHMI has a grants program
committed to strengthening education in the biological and related
sciences and supporting research by non-U.S. scientists.
For more information about this research contact Dr. Cooke at: (404)
653-7871 or, dcooke@morehouse.edu
 |
Dr. H.C. Crockett, Ph.D. Grant Title: Why and how did African Americans vote in the presidential elections 2008: exit poll research? Division: Political science Grant Amount Awarded: $69,235 Grant Period: 09/01/2008 until 08/2009
|
Overview: 2008 is turning out to be a record breaking year for African Americans registering and voting in the presidential elections. Early indications reveal that this record turnout will be from every sector of the African American community. According to the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, in a survey taken in June 2008 fully 75% of African American voters say they have given a lot of thought to this election, compared to 58% in June 2004.
For more information about this research contact Dr. Crockett at: (404) 507-8600 or, hcrockett@morehouse.edu
 |
Faculty Member of the Year 2008-2009
|
Overview: Dr. Gloria da Cunha has been named Morehouse College’s "Faculty Member of the Year" for the 2008-2009 academic year. The honor recognizes her many accomplishments, including an invitation from the University of Lisbon (Portugal) to present a lecture for a seminar on "Philosophy and Literature in 19th Century Spain, Portugal and Latin America” at the end of November. Among the sixteen lecturers invited, she is the only scholar from outside Europe. Her scholarly activities during 2008-2009 also include the publication of her eleventh book, this one on the Venezuelan historical novel from the 19th century; and seven articles: a study on the short stories of the Ecuadorian female writer; two studies for the Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture 2nd Edition on the work of Uruguayan writer Mario Benedetti and of the Ecuadorian 19th century thinker Marietta de Veintemilla; a collaboration for a book on the short stories of Mario Benedetti; a hypertextual study of 21st-century novels by Latin American women writers for a journal from Spain; a study on the relationship between politics and history in the writings of Marietta de Veintemilla for a collaborative book from Peru on women writers from Latin America; and an article on philosophy and literature in the works of a 19th-century Venezuelan thinker.
During summer 2009, she attended a meeting on Latin American literature and politics in Córdoba, Argentina.
 |
Dr. Walter Earl Fluker For more information, click here. |
Excerpt: A public conversation on the role of ethical leadership is escalating in our society. As I write this preface, our nation is involved in two costly wars; struggling with a financial crisis precipitated by unscrupulous ethical practices on Wall Street; recovering from a presidential campaign that degenerated into character assassination based on race, religion, and unresolved cultural wars; and hearing a confused and frightened citizenry that is asking, “Which way is north?” Leadership studies abound with various approaches to this question. Among the most popular are theories of adaptive strategies, authenticity, personal efficacy, character development, and more recently , a growing literature on emotional and social intelligence, connectivity, and resonance. Absent from many of these approaches is attention to the relationship between spirituality and ethics and how it informs and shapes human consciousness so that leaders are predisposed to make fitting decisions and are enabled to carry out appropriate ethical actions among competing claims and a cacophony of voices and visions.
 |
Valerie Haftel, Ph.D. Grant Title: Neuroscience Initiative to Enhance Biology Education: U.S. Department of Energy
|
Overview: The project enhances the teaching and learning in Science by enhancing
the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Minor. In so doing improvement in
science education and increased participation in the sciences is
occurring. The project is addressing the following specific needs (a)
establishment of a Neuroscience Journal Course(b) Development of new
modules for current laboratory courses within the Neuroscience Minor;(c)
Development of interdisciplinary science modules in neuroscience for
General biology utilizing technology;(d) provides tutors for
neuroscience courses and General Biology;(e) provides peer lead team
learning for General Biology; (f) offers enhanced mentoring;(g) Is
creating the foundation for an interdisciplinary Science seminar
series;(h) Revitalizing the research careers club; and (i)is improving
the competition of students pursuing studies and careers in the
biological sciences, psychology, and neuroscience.
 |
John Hall, Ph.D. U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center Grant Title: “Enhancing the Undergraduate Experience through Materials Science” Division: Chemistry Grant Amount Awarded: $ 250,000 Grant Period: 02/01/ ‘07- 08/03/’09 |
Overview: The goals of the project are to design and develop college level science courses for science majors and non science majors, modeled after the courses in the existing MWM program. Courses are being field tested to ascertain their overall effectiveness in providing science and non-science majors with a firm foundation in the relationship between chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology; students developing an appreciation of the multidisciplinary nature of modern science; students gaining an appreciation of and interest in basic research in the sciences; attracting non-science majors into the sciences by introducing students to the context of science, and career opportunities in science; having students learn, retain, and apply basic scientific concepts to technological design and development; students are gaining an appreciation of materials science in today’s modern, technological, and global society, and to provide new teaching pedagogy to undergraduate science professors at Morehouse and across the nation.
For more information about this research contact Dr. Hall at: (404) 614-3782 or, jhall@morehouse.edu
 |
J. K. Haynes, Ph.D. Grant Title: Dansby Hall Minority Hall Science Center Division: Science and Math Grant Amount Awarded: $700,000 Grant Period: 07/01/’06-08/31/’08
|
Overview: This project is seeking to transform Dansby Hall into a state of the art facility and thus to support the teaching and research activities of the mathematics, physics, and psychology departments housed therein. The completion of the project is allowing Morehouse to produce more graduates in the sciences and is contributing research and educational collaborations with such laboratories as Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos.
 |
Inside Morehouse Article |
Overview: THE IMAGES OF FAMINE, poverty, disease and war in the African continent are true to life.
But they are only one side of a much larger story, said Michael Janis, assistant professor of English. Janis has written a book titled “Africa After Modernism, Transitions in Literature, Media and Philosophy,” published by Routledge Press, to give a broader and more colorful picture of the mother continent.
“People only get the crises,” Janis said. “There’s no in-depth reporting, no reporting on cultural events, achievements. These images of violence and trepidation create a one-sided view of Africa. There is a need for greater context.”
 |
The African American Moral Tradition as a Resource for Leadership Education: Developing Ethical Leaders for America For more information, click here. |
Overview: Dr. Melvinia King, Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies and Curriculum Development Coordinator published a book entitled: The African American Moral Tradition as a Resource for Leadership Education: Developing Ethical Leaders for America.
Other Accomplishments: Dr. King recently attended the 2009 Oprah South Africa Program in Johannesburg and Cape Town; was appointed to serve on a five member advisory committee for the Visionary Heritage Fellows Program; and was invited to conduct a workshop on interdisciplinary curriculum development for the Association of American Colleges and Universities at a conference in Seattle, Washington (2010).
 |
Inside Morehouse Article |
Overview: When I drove by the Morehouse
campus on my
daily commute, I craned
my neck to catch a glimpse of the
recognizable, angular, Graves Hall
bell tower. Illuminated by a soft hue
at dawn, it seemed to beckon me.
On the days that I was unable to see
it, I felt off center.
Maybe there was some inherent truth within the books that I read during my spare time: the motivational bestseller, The Secret, and Rene Descartes’ philosophical treatise, Discourse on the Method. Drawing inspiration from both books, I crafted small notes and secured them inside of my wallet. Each note articulated my heart’s desire – to be there – near that bell tower, teaching on that campus where I belonged, not just simply riding by, wishing and hoping.
 |
Bryant Marks, Ph.D. Grant Title: Morehouse College Male Initiative Division: Psychology Grant Amount Awarded: $80,448.82 Grant Period: 06/01/’08-05/31/’09 |
Overview: This project is increasing the graduation rates of minority students, specifically that of African American males. To that end, there are several important related goals that are being sought. Research has revealed that certain demographics, attitudes, behaviors, experiences and institutional factors affect the academic performance, retention, and graduation rates of African American students in general. The current study is determining the extent to which these factors are related to the academic outcomes of African American males.
For more information about this research contact Dr. Marks at: (404) 215-2627 or, bmarks@morehouse.edu
 |
Alexandra Peister |
Overview: Alexandra Peister and her collaborators received an NIH program project grant which will support research at Morehouse, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Rochester, Emory University, and the University of Queensland in Australia. The grant will be funded for the next two years and will support research at Morehouse at a level of $36,000 per year. Co-Investigator, NIH Challenge Grant (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded): Engineered Delivery of Adult Versus Fetal Stem Cells for Bone Regeneration in collaboration with Georgia Tech. The grant will be funded September 2009.
 |
David Wall Rice, Ph.D. For more information, click here. |
Overview: Scholarly research and depictions within popular culture present black males largely on the basis of their being caricatures— entities that extend not far beyond stereotypical celluloid, televised explanations, print articles, and selective hip-hop commentary. Even within institutions and among individuals that are assumed to have the best interest of the black male at center, there is often an inability to consider them past a faux orbit of one-dimensionality.
Balance is unique in that it approaches Black males from a well-rooted personality perspective within context and utilizes discourse analysis in attempts at advancing identity theory.
 |
Willie Rockward, Ph.D. |
Overview: We are partnering with researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to create an undergraduate terahertz imaging and research laboratory at Morehouse College with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence in Awareness and Localization of Explosives Related Threats (A.L.E.R.T.) at Northeastern University and the University of Rhode Island. Our goal is to establish a state-of-the-art, undergraduate THz Imaging and Research Laboratory (Ug-THz Lab) which will improve the quality of undergraduate Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM) education and research through Integrated Teaching and Learning Technology (ITLT). Through virtual instrumentation and “hands-on” experiments, the Ug-THz lab will allow students in the various SEM departments at Morehouse College to explore the newest THz imaging and sensing technologies for applications in security, biomedical imaging, quality control, and material identification. This research collaboration will be in close collaboration with the Center for Terahertz Research at RPI to address the issues associated with design, assembly, imaging, and analysis of the THz imaging system including instructional modules and research projects. Thus, the Ug-THz lab will allow the students the flexibility to simulate, image, and analyze real-world objects and conditions such as concealed weapons, biological tissues, and material defects. This exposure to THz research and technology, in turn, will (1) increase (and retain) the number of minority students at Morehouse College to pursue careers in SEM and (2) serve as a pipeline to graduate education in THz research.
 |
Ajit Samarsinghe, Ph.D. Grant Title: Health Careers Opportunity Programs (HCOP) Division of: Health Careers Grant Amount Awarded: $104,875 Grant Period: 09/01/’07-08/31/’08 |
Overview: This program is providing opportunities for undergraduate students to experience the medical school environment through research experiences with medical school faculty and frequent interactions with medical students. A pre-matriculate summer program to facilitate entry into the medical profession is being implemented. Students are being supported as they enroll through a board review and counseling services. Workshops are conducted to disseminate financial aid information for enrolled MD students, prospective MSM students and high school students.
 |
Lance Shipman, Ph.D. |
Overview:The Biology department identified biophysical chemistry as a target area of interest and a necessary link in creating interdisciplinary collaboration between the Biology and Chemistry communities at Morehouse College. The broader impact of the project is that it gives insight into one of the critical components of glucose sensing and the establishment of whole body glucose homeostasis while offering a vehicle to increase student interest and exposure to biomedical research. This allows research training for our student demographic, comprised almost exclusively of undergraduate African-American men, thus enabling greater access to careers in research. It also significantly and immediately enhances the climate of undergraduate research and the total research infrastructure of both Morehouse College and the consortium of colleges and universities within the Atlanta University Center.
 |
Cynthia Trawick, Ph.D. Grant Title: Increasing the Knowledge and Skills of Epidemiology and Occupational Safety and Health. |
Overview: The goal of the grant is to better prepare disadvantaged minority
students for entry into graduate schools of public health with special
emphasis on the quantitative areas of: biostatistics, epidemiology,
environmental health and occupational safety and health, areas where
minorities are greatly underrepresented.
 |
Margaret Weber-Levine, Ph.D. Grant Title: Atlanta University NIMH-COR Honors Program Division: Psychology Grant Amount Awarded: $357,449 Grant Period: 7/1/’07-06/30/’10 |
Overview: The Atlanta University Center (AUC) NIMH-COR project is designed as a multidisciplinary research training program. The program is open to junior and senior level students majoring in the natural Sciences and/or Social Sciences. Through a combination of course work and research participation, student trainees are exposed to disciplines such as the bio behavioral sciences (e.g. neuropsychology, behavior genetics, the neurosciences, etc,); psychological sciences, including life span development, physiological, psychology, cognitive processes, health psychology, behavioral medicine, psychoneuroimmunolgy, etc; and, the social and public health sciences dealing with the social and public health sciences in areas such as epidemiology and biostatistics, sociology and health economics. HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention was deeded to the Program’s emphasis (along with the mental health) in response to the supplemental funding received from the Center for mental Health Research on AIDS and NIMH.
For more information about this research contact Dr. Weber-Levine at: (404) 681-7568 or, mweberle@morehouse.edu
 |
Henrietta Yang Introduces Chinese Language to Morehouse Students For more information, click here. |
Overview: Henrietta Shu-Fen Yang remembers the talk about 20th century People’s Republic of China (commonly known as China) becoming a future player on the political and economic world stage.
“I had been hearing that the 21st century would be China’s century,” said Yang, who goes by Henrietta. “Well, there’s no doubt that China has gotten stronger and stronger in politics and the economy.”
Because of that, Yang hopes to get the men of Morehouse out front on the global surge of interest in Chinese business, trade and culture. Yang, an assistant professor of Chinese, is the new director of Chinese Studies at Morehouse.
 |
Sinead Younge, Ph.D. Searching for a Balm in Gilead: The HIV/AIDS Epidemic and the African American Church For more information, click here. |
Overview: In the African American community, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) are major health threats (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2001; Hill, 1999). African Americans represent disproportionately more than half of the newly diagnosed cases of HIV (Balm in Gilead, 2001). The threat of HIV/AIDS to African Americans reaches across every age group. For instance, out of all the pediatric AIDS cases, the majority (65%) of the children in the United States living with AIDS are African American (CDC, 2001) and among adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19, African Americans represent over sixty
percent of the reported cases (CDC, 2001). The infection rates among African American adults is equally alarming and surpassing cancer, heart disease, and homicide, HIV/AIDS ranks as the leading cause of death for African American adults between the ages of 25 and 44 (Balm in Gilead, 2001).
