The 2021 MATC Scholars Program was held March 26 – April 9 through a series of online weekend sessions. The program hosted students and faculty from historically black colleges and universities and provided presentations from participating university professors and STEM professionals focused on informing undergraduate students on the benefits of pursuing a graduate degree with a focus on the field of transportation.
Program Schedule
Week 1 - The Why and How of Graduate School
Friday, March 26
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 - 7:00 PM | 2021 Scholars Program Welcome Reception | |
| 6:50 - 7:00 PM | Reception Wrap Up |
Saturday, March 27
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:30 AM | Pre-Conference Assessment | Bureau of Sociological Research, UNL |
| 9:30 - 9:50 AM | UNL Welcome and MATC Introduction | Dr. Larry Rilett, P.E., Director, Mid-America Transportation Center |
| Office of the President Welcome | Dr. Ted Carter, President, University of Nebraska | |
| UNL Office of the Chancellor Welcome | Dr. Ronnie Green, Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln | |
| 9:50 - 10:00 AM | UNL Office of the Chancellor Welcome | Dr. Bob Wilhelm, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, UNL |
| 10:00 - 10:10 AM | Break | |
| 10:10 - 10:30 AM | Overview of MATC Scholars Program | Dr. Erick Jones, P.E., CLSSMBB, MSIED, George and Elizabeth Pickett Endowed Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, University of Texas-Arlington |
| 10:30 - 11:30 AM | Session Topics | |
| Why Graduate School? | Mr. Juhann C. Waller, P.E., Instructor, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | |
| Graduate School Student Experiences | Dr. Deo Chimba, P.E., PTOE, Associate Professor, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Tennessee State University | |
| 11:30 - 11:50 AM | UNL College of Engineering Welcome | Dr. Lance C. Pérez, Dean, College of Engineering, UNL |
| 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM | Break | |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch | Dr. Robert Hampshire, Acting Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation |
| 1:05 - 2:05 PM | GEM Overview and Opportunities | Dr. Marcus A. Huggans, Senior Director, External Relations, The National GEM Consortium |
| 2:05 - 3:05 PM | Session Topics | |
| Why Graduate School? | Mr. Juhann C. Waller, P.E., Instructor, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | |
| Graduate School Student Experiences | Dr. Deo Chimba, P.E., PTOE, Associate Professor, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Tennessee State University | |
| 3:05 - 3:10 | Break | |
| 3:10 - 4:00 | Conversations with Former MATC Scholars from PVAMU UMES | Mr. Devan Addison Turner, Undergraduate Senior Student, Prairie View A M University Ms. Tochi Chukwu, Field Test Validation Engineer, Cummins Inc. Mr. Rasul Diop, Graduate Research Assistant, Purdue University Mr. Joshua Orebiyi, Graduate Research Assistant, Villanova University |
| Wrap Up | ||
Week 2 - Strategies for Succeeding in Graduate School
Friday, April 2
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:10 AM | Agenda Review | |
| 9:10 - 9:45 AM | Careers in Transportation | Dr. Larry Rilett, P.E., Director, Mid-America Transportation Center |
| 9:45 - 10:45 AM | Session Topics | |
| Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List | Dr. Ibibia Dabipi, Professor and Acting Chair, Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore | |
| Choosing Faculty Mentors and Finding "Mentoring Communities" for Academic Success | Dr. Edgar Blevins, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Southern University | |
| 10:45 - 11:45 AM | Session Topics | |
| Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List | Dr. Ibibia Dabipi, Professor and Acting Chair, Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore | |
| Choosing Faculty Mentors and Finding "Mentoring Communities" for Academic Success | Dr. Edgar Blevins, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Southern University | |
| 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Break | |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch | Paul C. Ajegba, P.E., Director, Michigan Department of Transportation |
| 1:05 - 2:05 PM | Graduate Admissions Examinations | Ms. Coleen Read, Outreach Specialist - Southwest Region, The Princeton Review |
| 2:05 - 2:50 PM | NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and Internship Programs | Dr. Erick Jones, P.E., CLSSMBB, MSIED, George and Elizabeth Pickett Endowed Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, University of Texas-Arlington |
| 2:50 - 3:00 PM | Break | |
| 3:00 - 3:15 PM | Dr. Elizabeth Spiller | Dr. Elizabeth Spiller, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UNL |
| 3:15 - 3:45 PM | Session Exercise Debrief | |
| Why Graduate School? | Mr. Juhann C. Waller, P.E., Instructor, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | |
| Graduate School Student Experiences | Dr. Deo Chimba, P.E., PTOE, Associate Professor, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Tennessee State University | |
| 3:45 - 4:00 PM | Wrap Up | |
Saturday, April 3
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:15 AM | UNL Department of Civil Engineering Welcome | Dr. Shannon Bartlet-Hunt, Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, UNL |
| 9:15 - 10:15 AM | Session Topics | |
| Communication Skills | Ms. Amy Maki, A.O. Maki Associates, L.L.C | |
| Understanding Funding and Budgeting Finances | Dr. Luis Vázquez, Regents Professor, Associate Vice President for Research, New Mexico State University | |
| 10:15 - 10:25 AM | Break | |
| 10:25 - 10:50 AM | Faculty and MATC Scholar Networking Session | |
| 10:50 - 11:50 AM | Session Topics | |
| Communication Skills | Ms. Amy Maki, A.O. Maki Associates, L.L.C | |
| Understanding Funding and Budgeting Finances | Dr. Luis Vázquez, Regents Professor, Associate Vice President for Research, New Mexico State University | |
| 11:50 AM - 12:00 PM | Break | |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM | Lunch | Ms. Tamiko Burnell, Program and Project Deliver Leader, Office of Freight Management Operations, Federal Highway Administration |
| 1:05 - 2:05 PM | Building Solidarity During Disaster Reconnaissance: Student Immersion and Field Studies | Dr. Terri R. Norton, Professor and Associate Dean for Student Success Initiatives, Bucknell University |
| 2:05 - 3:05 PM | Efficiency in Transportation | Dr. David Bouras, Professor, School of Business, Lincoln University |
| 3:05 - 3:10 PM | Break | |
| 3:10 - 4:00 PM | Focus Group Dialogue and Assessment | Bureau of Sociological Research, UNL |
| Wrap Up | ||
Week 3 - Industry and Graduate Expo: Recruitment and Opportunities
Friday, April 9
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 - 9:05 AM | Agenda Review | |
| 9:05 - 9:35 AM | Session Exercise Debrief | |
| Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List | Dr. Ibibia Dabipi, Professor and Acting Chair, Department of Engineering and Aviation Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore | |
| Choosing Faculty Mentors and Finding "Mentoring Communities" for Academic Success | Dr. Edgar Blevins, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Southern University | |
| 10:30 - 11:00 AM | Career Expo | Mr. Mike Malone, Transportation Department Manager, JEO Consulting Group Inc. Mr. Andy Damkroger, Vice President of IT Strategy an Operations, Werner Enterprises Dr. Brian G. Easley, Associate Director, Human Capitol Planning and Solutions Division, Chief Learning, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation |
| 11:00 - 11:30 AM | Graduate Expo | Dr. Genda Chen, P.E., F.ASCE, F.SEI, F.ISHMII, Robert W. Abbett Distinguished Professor of Civil engineering, Structural Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology Dr. Paul Hanley, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa Dr. Larry Rilett, P.E., Director, Mid-America Transportation Center |
| 11:30 - 11:40 AM | Break | |
| 11:40 AM - 12:10 PM | Post Conference Assessment | Bureau of Sociological Research, UNL |
| 12:10 - 12:30 PM | Closing Remarks | Dr. Larry Rilett, P.E., Director, Mid-America Transportation Center Dr. Erick Jones, P.E., CLSSMBB, MSIED, George and Elizabeth Pickett Endowed Professor, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, University of Texas-Arlington Dr. Judy Perkins, P.E., Professor Interim Department Head, TAMUS Regents Professor, Prairie View A M University |
| Virtual Conference Adjourn | ||