2023 MATC Scholars Program

March 15-18, 2023

The goal of the 2023 MATC Scholars Program is to promote graduate study among underrepresented groups in STEM fields with a special focus on doctoral-granting and research-intensive institutions.

Students will attended seminars on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln led by a diverse group of faculty members and industry professionals from across the nation. This program brings together students and faculty to provide a unique networking opportunity.

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Hotel & Travel Information

The Mid-America Transportation Center is providing hotel rooms to participants of the program at Embassy Suites in Lincoln, Nebraska (1040 P St, Lincoln, NE 68508).

Program Schedule

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Wednesday, March 15

Time Agenda Item Speaker(s) Location
4:00 PM Arrive & Check in Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P St, Lincoln, NE 68508
7:00 PM Welcome Reception Dinner Lied Commons, 301 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68508

Thursday, March 16 - The Why and How of Graduate School

Time Agenda Item Speaker(s) Location
6:30 - 7:15 AM Breakfast at Hotel Embassy Suites Hotel
7:15 - 7:45 AM Transition to Howard L. Hawks Hall, Room 211 - 730 N 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68508
7:45 - 8:15 AM Pre-Conference Assessment Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln		 HLH 211
8:15 - 8:30 AM University of Nebraska-Lincoln Welcome (UNL) and Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) Introduction Dr. Aemal Khattak, Director of MATC, UNL HLH 211
8:30 - 8:40 AM Overview of MATC Scholars Program Dr. Judy Perkins, PE, Prairie View A&M University HLH 211
8:40 - 8:55 AM Welcome from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dr. Jennifer PeeksMease, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Inclusive Leadership and Learning, UNL HLH 211
8:55 - 9:00 AM Break
9:00 - 9:40 AM Rotation 1
Group 1
Why Graduate School		 Mr. Juhann Waller, PE HLH 211
Group 2
Graduate School Student Experience		 Dr. Deo Chimba, PE HLH 223
9:40 - 10:20 AM Rotation 2
Group 1
Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List		 Dr. Ibibia Dabipi HLH 211
Group 2
Choosing Faculty Mentors & Finding “Mentoring Communities” for Academic Success		 Dr. Edgar Blevins HLH 223
10:20 - 10:30 AM Break
10:30 - 11:10 AM Rotation 3
Group 1
Graduate School Student Experience 		Dr. Deo Chimba, PE HLH 211
Group 2
Why Graduate School		 Mr. Juhann Waller, PE HLH 223
11:10 - 11:50 AM Rotation 4
Group 1
Choosing Faculty Mentors & Finding “Mentoring Communities” for Academic Success		 Dr. Edgar Blevins HLH 211
Group 2
Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List		 Dr. Ibibia Dabipi HLH 223
11:50 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch & Keynote Speaker Introduction by Dr. Aemal Khattak
Ms. Jessica Rich, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety		 HLH 231
1:00 - 1:30 PM Group Photos
1:30 - 2:30 PM GEM Overview and Opportunities Dr. Marcus Huggans, Senior Director, External Relations, The National GEM Consortium HLH 211
2:30 - 3:30 PM Graduate School Admissions Exams Mrs. Coleen McGuire Read, Market Manager- Southwest, The Princeton Review HLH 211
3:30 - 3:45 PM Break
3:45 - 5:00 PM Conversation with Former MATC Scholars: Panel Discussion (Virtual Session) Mr. Charles Raleigh, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Mr. Quinton Rogers, Engineer Assistant II, Transportation Department, City of Dallas
Mr. Jarvis Hawkins, Non-Teaching Graduate Student, Prairie View A&M University		 HLH 211
5:00 - 6:00 PM Break & Transition to UNL City Campus Union Heritage Room
6:00 - 8:00 PM Dinner & Network with UNL Faculty and Graduate Students UNL City Union Heritage Room, 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588
8:00 PM Transition from Union to Embassy Suites

Friday, March 17 - Strategies for Succeeding in Graduate School

Time Agenda Item Speaker(s) Location
7:00 - 8:30 AM Breakfast at Embassy Suites Embassy Suites
8:30 - 8:45 AM Transition to UNL Union, Regency Suite - 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588
8:45 - 9:40 AM Rotation 5
Group 1
Communication Skills		 Ms. Amy Maki Union Regency Suite
Group 2
Understanding Funding and Budgeting Finances		 Dr. Luis Vázquez Union Heritage Room
9:40 - 10:20 AM Rotation 6
Group 1
Understanding Funding and Budgeting Finances		 Dr. Luis Vázquez Union Regency Suite
Group 2
Communication Skills		 Ms. Amy Maki Union Heritage Room
10:20 - 10:30 AM Break
10:30 - 11:10 AM Transportation Efficiency Dr. David Bouras, Lincoln University Union Regency Suite
11:10 AM - 12:00 PM Transportation Scholarships and Employment Opportunities Ms. Latoya Jones, Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Talent Development Division, Office of Human Resources Union Regency Suite
12:00 - 1:15 PM Lunch Union
1:15 - 1:45 PM Crash Test Presentation Mr. Brandon Perry, Research Engineer, Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Dr. Mojdeh Asadollahipajouh, Research Assistant Professor, Midwest Roadside Safety Facility		 Union Regency Suite
1:45 - 2:00 PM Transition to Memorial Stadium
2:00 - 3:00 PM Memorial Stadium Tour One Memorial Stadium Drive, Lincoln, NE 68588
3:00 - 3:15 PM Transition to Union
3:15 - 4:00 PM Break & Ice Cream North Side of Union
4:00 - 4:30 PM UNL Graduate Studies: Meeting with the Dean Dr. Lance Pérez, Dean, College of Engineering, UNL Union Regency Suite
4:30 - 5:30 PM Focus Group Dialogue and Assessment
Post Survey Assessment		 Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR), UNL Union Regency Suite
5:30 - 6:00 PM Break & Transition to Wick Alumni Center Great Hall - 1520 R St, Lincoln, NE 68508
6:00 - 7:45 PM Closing Dinner Introduction by Dr. Luis Vázquez
Dr. Erick Jones, PE, CSSBB, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno		 Wick Alumni Center Great Hall
7:45 - 8:00 PM Closing Remarks Dr. Aemal Khattak, Director of MATC, UNL Great Hall
8:00 PM Transition to Embassy Suites

Saturday, March 18

Time Agenda Item Speaker(s) Location
8:00 - 9:00 AM Breakfast at Embassy Suites
Depart to Airport		 Embassy Suites