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K-State Today

March 13, 2014

National Science Foundation director to speak Friday about Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program

Submitted by Brenee King

Dr. A. James Hicks

James Hicks, National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation senior program director, will be visiting Kansas State University at 10 a.m. Friday, March 14.

Hicks received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Tougaloo College, earned his doctorate in botany at the University of Illinois, Urbana and received postdoctoral training at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.

Prior to becoming the program director in 1997, Hicks served as chairman and professor of biology from 1977-1988, and later dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1988-1997 at North Carolina A&T. Under his leadership the Louis Stokes alliance program has broadened its scope, geographical locations and program performance.

The goals of program are to increase the quality and quantity of students successfully completing science, technology, engineering and math baccalaureate degree programs, as well as increasing the number of students qualified, prepared and accepted into graduate study programs. It is named in honor of Louis Stokes, a longtime African-American congressman from Ohio. The programs partially accomplish their goals by helping to create alliances amongst multiple institutions.

Hicks will be on campus to participate in the initial meeting to introduce the newly funded Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program. The Kansas alliance members include Kansas State University as the lead institution as well as Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College and Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, all in southwest Kansas, and Donnelly College, a minority-serving private institution in Kansas City, Kan. The $2.5 million grant aims to increase student’s success in science, technology, engineering and math fields by implementing various initiatives at each partner institution.

The meeting will introduce the program, its alliance members and the initiatives being funded at each partner site. There will be opportunities before and after the program to interact with Hicks. Below is an overview of the events planned for the meeting:

  • 9:30–10 a.m. refreshments in Room 113 of the Leadership Studies Building
  • 10–11:15 a.m. scheduled program in Town Hall of the Leadership Studies Building
  • 11:15–11:55 a.m. refreshments in Room 113 of the Leadership Studies Building

The meeting is open to the public. RSVPs are encouraged. You can learn more about the Kansas program online.

Questions may be directed to Brenee King, Kansas project coordinator, at 785-532-6054