2020-2021 Cohort 4

Temiloluwa is a member of the fourth cohort of the Karsh STEM Scholars program and a chemical engineering student from Lagos, Nigeria. She is motivated to pursue research in chemical engineering or materials science and engineering, fundamentally researching how nanotechnology and characterization techniques can be applied to real-world problems. With her degree, she wants to research materials that can be applied to daily living and environmental challenges. She was attracted to the Karsh STEM Scholars program because of its drive to diversify and increase the number of people in the STEM field. She also believes that going to Howard University has provided her with great opportunities.

Sydney Bell is a biology student minoring in chemistry, from Snellville, Georgia by way of Kansas City, Missouri. Bell chose to attend Howard University through the Karsh STEM Scholars Program because of its mission to equip students for entering the STEM profession pipeline with the goal of promoting diversity within the industry. After completing her undergraduate degree, Bell plans to obtain an MD-Ph.D. investigating Reproductive Endocrinology and focused research in Embryology. Her primary career goals are to develop and support advancements in medicine and other treatments specifically targeting women of color struggling with reproductive-related conditions and bridge the gap between socioeconomic issues and medicine by combating healthcare disparities experienced by people of color. Bell believes Howard’s rich legacy and resources will greatly prepare her for a successful professional career in STEM.

Cade Boggan is a physics and mathematics student from Takoma Park, Maryland. He is interested in researching renewable energy sources and functional materials. He is attending Howard University in order to learn from and become involved with the plethora of talented students and staff. Cade chose to enter the field of STEM due to a lifelong interest in its disciplines and a desire to serve as a role model for aspiring STEM scholars. His interest emanates from the limitless possibilities that STEM offers, both in careers and real-world impact. Cade plans to pursue his PhD in a renewable energy related field with aims to combat the climate crisis and pave the way for many STEM scholars to follow.

Angelle Brown is a biology major, chemistry minor with a concentration in maternal and child health, from New Orleans, Louisiana. Following her undergraduate career, Angelle hopes to go on to medical school to earn her M.D/Ph.D. She wants to become a physician-scientist in pediatrics as she has a passion for working with children. While Angelle has many interests in research, she is particularly interested in studying neurological disorders like autism, as well as cancer research. Angelle grew up with an older sister who is severely learning disabled and on the autistic spectrum. This experience for her has further stimulated her curiosity, allowing her to question how genetics work and impact our lives. Angelle chose to study Biology at Howard University because she recognized that Howard cultivates notable leaders who go on to do great things in their communities. She also wants to join the effort in increasing African American female representation in the medical field, as they make up less than 3% of U.S doctors. Regardless of the type of doctor she wants to be, Angelle wants to help others, especially those who are underserved or overlooked. She hopes to ultimately be a leader and make a difference for her patients and her community.

Kennedy Chastang is an honors chemistry major and Spanish minor from Detroit, Michigan. With the goal of receiving her MD/PhD, she is dedicated to serving communities impacted by tropical disease. The goal of her work is to equip student researchers and clinicians in underserved areas so that they may uplift themselves, which she believes is a mark of successful humanitarianism. Chastang chose Howard University after she realized the disdain for Black lives wasn't found on an individual basis but ingrained in American culture. Kennedy is pursuing chemistry because of the inspiration of her high school chemistry teacher, and the sustained passion she developed in that class. She hopes to leave Howard with a mastery in chemistry that will assist her in the development of tropical disease vaccines and treatment. She hopes, also, to leave with an unbreakable sense of pride that comes from being in a community of scholars who share her ardent commitment to the global reconstruction of broken systems.

Joshua Clemons is from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in computer science. Clemons plans to pursue a Ph.D in computer science before conducting interdisciplinary research on sustainable technology. He chose to attend Howard University for the academic opportunities, diverse student body, and strong mentorship. While at Howard, Clemons looks forward to maturing as a student and gaining a support network through the Karsh STEM Scholars Program. He chose a career in the STEM field to inspire future generations and make long-lasting impacts in disadvantaged communities. Growing up in downtown Atlanta, Clemons has witnessed the harsh effects of gentrification and believes innovation should be accessible to everyone despite race, gender, economic, or social status.

Miles Daniels is a biology major and hemistry minor from Dallas, Texas. Miles is interested in becoming a Physician Scientist in anesthesiology. As a researching anesthesiologist he hopes to combat the growing opioid crisis in the underserved African American communities. Daniels has chosen Howard University because of the caliber of exposure that Howard provides and the success he has seen in his parents and their peers who attended Howard University. He has chosen STEM because he believes that STEM affects the future and is the basis of new methods and technologies. Throughout his career he plans to influence other African American men to join the field of medicine or STEM.

Lucas Davis is a mechanical engineering major with a business administration and mathematics minor from San Antonio, Texas. Davis has had an interest in engineering since he was young and chose Howard University for its community and networking capabilities. During his time at Howard, Davis has participated in various research internships and clubs expanding his knowledge in mechanical engineering. Upon finishing his undergraduate degree he plans to pursue a PhD in robotics. His career interest includes using his PhD to innovate new technology, creating of his own company and using it to help other people’s ideas flourish into reality.

Austin Dellafosse is a chemistry major and mathematics minor from Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is interested in obtaining a combined MD/PhD in the future and becoming a physician scientist. He aspires to become an orthopedic surgeon. As a physician-scientist he wants to educate other physicians how to treat ill patients through a holistic approach that limits the amount of prescription medication usage. Although he is unclear of the exact research he wants to do, he is interested in neuroscience. He has always wanted to utilize his talents and skills to give back to his community. As a physician, he plans to open a wellness clinic that offers medical care and health education for those who cannot afford it. He chose Howard not only because of the amazing alumni it has produced, but also because of the ability to meet new people from every part of the globe. Attending an HBCU like Howard University allows him to be exposed to new viewpoints and perspectives which will foster tremendous amounts of personal growth.

Cameron Drewery is a mechanical engineering major from Mount Juliet, Tennessee by way of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After earning her undergraduate degree, Cameron plans to attend graduate school and earn a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. She plans to continue researching new ways to produce ceramics, metals, and polymers by incorporating novel additive manufacturing technology. Cameron chose to study mechanical engineering and additive manufacturing because of her love for innovation and the desire to contribute to advancements in materials science and manufacturing technology. She believes by attending Howard University as a Karsh STEM Scholar, she will acquire the tools she needs to make a meaningful impact in her respective field by discovering new precision manufacturing methods and pushing the boundaries of material fabrication techniques. In the future, Cameron aspires to pioneer the application of additive manufacturing technology to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of response and relief efforts following natural disasters, particularly amidst the increasing frequency of such events due to climate change. Her goal is to leverage innovative manufacturing techniques to swiftly and resourcefully address the challenges posed by these disasters, ultimately contributing to more resilient and adaptive disaster response systems.

Brady Dye is a physics and political science double major, math minor from Houston, Texas. He is interested in studying the critical American public policy issue of decarbonization through the lens of Black Politics, exploring how the history of discrimination in this country necessitates race-conscious solutions to the climate crisis. His goal is to help make policy decisions that will not only fight climate change, but also ensure that our future is fairer and more just than our present. Dye chose Howard University because he wanted to experience a different environment from the predominantly white areas he lived in through high school. Additionally, Howard’s educational opportunities and proximity to Capitol Hill interested him. Dye hopes that by following in the footsteps of Black trailblazers in the policy and politics fields, he will be able to make a difference in the world and leave a legacy of his own. 

Autumn Edwards is a computer engineering student minoring in mathematics from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Edwards chose Howard University because of its legacy of excellence, rigorous coursework, bountiful resources, and dedication to increasing the number of women in STEM. During her undergraduate career she has sought out opportunities where she can contribute to research focused on space applications. Her most recent experience was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Research Program. Edwards worked in the Space Technology Astronomy Radiation Lab on BeaverCube-2, a CubeSat mission with a goal of obtaining visible and infrared images of Cape Hatteras.Through the Karsh STEM Scholars program, she has gained a wonderful support network and lifelong friendships. After graduating from Howard University, Edwards plans to pursue a PhD in aerospace engineering. Outside of academics, she is a member of the Howard University Student Association Senate, 1867 Undergraduate Assistantship Program, and an E-Board member for the Louisiana Club.  

Charis Haynes is a biology and political science double major with a minor in chemistry from Covington, Georgia. She is passionate about helping others to recognize and walk in their potential. This passion drives her involvement in various community service and extracurricular activities. Charis has a goal to ultimately improve healthcare access and quality in low-income communities, and she would like to work for a government public health agency in the future. Her research interests are in health policy development and community health. Above all, Charis hopes that her life will be full of using her gifts, talents, and training to serve and improve the lives of those around her.

James Hsia is a biology student double minoring in chemistry and psychology from Fruitland, Maryland, intending to pursue an MD/Ph.D. It is his goal to ultimately conduct translational research in either cancer biology or virology. James chose to attend Howard University for its excellent reputation in research and lively community. He is sure that this is a place where he and like-minded individuals can thrive. Hsia chose to pursue a career in STEM because of his unbounded curiosity for the natural world and the study of the human body. He would like to play a part in helping medically under-served areas such as his hometown, and contribute to humanity’s never-ending pursuit of knowledge.

Jasmine Hughley is a Mechanical Engineering student with a minor in Mathematics and an environmental concentration. As an “army brat,” she was born and raised in Georgia but graduated high school in Columbia, South Carolina. Hughley aims to create innovative solutions for pressing climate challenges while mediating environmental discrimination in underserved communities. She is interested in investigating alternative energy technologies to develop widespread sustainability practices that prevent and lessen pollutants. Howard stood out to Jasmine for its production of excellent leaders, commitment to holistic teaching, and cultivation of students’ raw talents; she looks forward to immersing herself in the richness of Howard's legacy. After attending Howard, Hughley will obtain a Ph.D. in Mechanical engineering focusing on environmental protection. She hopes to continue her parallel passion for inclusion and equity in the STEM field.

Esau Hutcherson is a Computer Science and Philosophy double major from Snellville, Georgia. Hutcherson is deeply passionate about esoteric computer science topics, and he is interested in the cross-section of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and ethics. His career interest is to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science, in addition to conducting research in quantum computing, as it relates to complex human behaviors and biases that are embedded in machine learning algorithms. One of Hutcherson's research goals is merging artificial intelligence with philosophical principles to determine if consciousness can be programmed into smart digital devices. With the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Hutcherson understands the importance of eradicating racial biases in data generation processes to implement smarter and ethical AI algorithms. Esau chose Howard University because of the vibrant culture, strong commitment to STEM, and the dedication to service that is present at the institution.

Peja James is a Chemistry student with a minor in Psychology from Sacramento, California. She plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D to fulfill her goal of researching substance abuse and prison rehabilitation in minority communities. James has always been heavily interested in scientific and research-based classes. Her ambition and background in STEM help motivate her to use her skills to bring awareness to the disadvantaged and equip them with the assets necessary for self-sufficiency in modern-day society. She chose Howard University to fulfill her academic aspirations and be immersed in a culture filled with lifelong traditions and black excellence. The cultural awareness, student diversity, unity, and countless networking opportunities the campus provided were just some of the remarkable aspects she liked. James strives to be a part of the notable impact that Howard alumni possess and use her scientific successes to improve the quality of life in underprivileged communities.

Victoria Koffi is a biology student minoring in French, chemistry, and psychology from Mountain House, California. She plans to pursue an MD/PhD in neuroscience and ultimately become a neurologist treating people with neurodevelopmental disorders in addition to being a physician-scientist. Victoria is excited to study more about how the brain affects the body through other diseases, in the hope of using new neuroscience-based approaches to treat a variety of conditions. She chose Howard not only for its history of crafting influential black intellectuals, but also because of how the institution prides itself on educating the whole person. Victoria is hoping to inspire more black physicians, so that more doctors may look like the people they are treating, which is essential when spreading awareness about diseases that disproportionately affect the Black community.

Langston Locke is a chemical engineering major, chemistry minor from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Locke will pursue an MD/PhD degree to conduct biomedical engineering research for treating orthopedic oncology patients. He wants to apply nanotechnology and biomedicine to create devices and delivery systems for intervening on various bone and soft tissue diseases. Langston chose Howard University because it is a prestigious academic institution that embraces intelligent, well-rounded students in a culturally diverse environment. He was particularly interested in the esteemed Karsh STEM Scholars Program because it directs and mentors minority medical scientists. Locke selected engineering as a major because he excels in math and science and wants to diversify the profession and be a leader in the STEM field.

Myles Pope is a Physics and Mathematics double major from Lansing, Michigan. After finishing undergrad, he plans on pursuing a PhD in astrophysics and committing to a career in the field. He chose to study astronomy because of the undiscovered frontier of space, so that he could help us learn more about the universe beyond our planet. He also hopes that he can be an inspiration to the next generation of young Black scholars so that they can see that people who look like them can succeed in more unorthodox fields of STEM.

Isaiah Roberts is a chemical engineering major from Baltimore, Maryland. He aspires to become a physician-scientist by completing his MD/Ph.D in biomedical engineering. Roberts chose to attend Howard because he wanted an experience that would allow him to explore himself while growing both inside and outside the classroom. Engineers' countless real-world applications had a profound impact on his passion, and he plans on making a mark in the STEM fields to be an inspiration to future generations. As a future scientist, he hopes one day to be able to translate innovative cutting-edge research into concrete clinical practice.

Logan Ross is a Computer Science major from Snellville, Georgia with an interest in educational game design and using technology in order to help in learning. His hope is to be able to use what he has learned through his education to make it easier for others to sharpen their skills and feel more empowered by and engaged in the topics that they are learning.

Sarai Sales is a biology major minoring in mathematics and chemistry from Peekskill, New York. Sales aspires to achieve her MD/PhD and become a neonatal-perinatal physician scientist. Sarai’s long-term goals are to reduce health disparities surrounding adverse birth outcomes and establish timely interventions that can improve medical centers and health departments’ responses to adverse perinatal health outcomes. Sarai’s passion for STEM was ignited by her intrinsic love for mathematics and science. Eager to contribute to the Howard University’s tradition of nurturing the next generation of leaders, Sarai was attracted to the plethora of opportunities and resources this institution offers to those pursuing a career in the STEM and biomedical research fields.

Originally from the South side of Chicago, Olivia Sconyers is a biology major and junior researcher with a commitment to STEM community outreach and contributing to the health of our world through basic research. Her passions include community service, public health, and biomedical research. She has a profound interest in probiotics, fermentation, and the human gut-brain axis, specifically the possibility to provide personalized treatment of a range of conditions and diseases according to surpluses and deficiencies in the gut microbiome. She is dedicated to addressing racial health disparities in her own neighborhood and across the globe. Beyond academics, she’s a freelance graphic designer, model, and volunteer. Sconyers hopes to spend her life advocating for improved access to quality healthcare, STEM education, and holistic healing in underrepresented neighborhoods across the globe, as well as contributing to the development of the personalized medicine industry.

Fatima Shaikh is a Biology major with a concentration in child and maternal health, and a minor in Chemistry from Columbia, Maryland. She has a passion for community service within underprivileged communities and will be pursuing an MD/Ph.D. Fatima would like to go into research involving genetics, more precisely finding ways to improve the genetic conditions which many people endure today, as well as joining the medical field as an obstetrician/gynecologist. She strives to use her research and medical specialty to help those in underprivileged communities around the world and be an inspiration to women looking into research and the medical field. Fatima chose Howard University for the many resources and opportunities available. Her choice to pursue STEM was inspired by her natural passion and the importance of the field in advancing society today.

Ivan Sloan is a Chemistry major with a concentration in graphic design and an atmospheric science minor from Brandywine, Maryland. He chose the path of STEM in part because of his love for meteorology and atmospheric science. Since childhood, he has been interested in the weather. His interest grew as he watched The Weather Channel growing up. He started tuning in during a tornado outbreak in 2011, one of the most notable moments in the history of natural disasters. This inspired his goal to study dangerous weather-related phenomena. Another reason was the clear disproportion in representation of Black and other people of color in STEM. He acknowledges this fact and uses it as motivation to remain tenacious to the field. He is both African American and Hispanic, and a goal of his is to represent and advocate for the growth, opportunities, and aspirations of the Black, Hispanic, and Afro-Latino populations interested in STEM.

Jon-Edward Stokes is a physics student who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but calls Chicago, Illinois, home. He has multiple interests which he plans on pursuing throughout his education, including renewable energy development and quantum physics. Stokes’s enrollment in Howard University is due in large part to his desire to be surrounded by talented scholars of African descent from around the world, having the support of a tight-knit Physics department, and a desire to learn more about the African diaspora. He is pursuing physics to help develop safer and more sustainable and equitable ways of living and producing resources, especially within the field of energy. He wishes to gain the knowledge, experience, and expertise to pursue avenues that very few Black students and scholars get the chance to and pave the way for them through internship/research opportunities and education.

Jasmine Terrell, a proud native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a Biology major with a triple minor in Chemistry, Psychology, and Health Education (Maternal and Child Health). She aspires to obtain a PhD investigating the underlying biological mechanisms responsible for the development, progression, and persistence of diseases primarily affecting women. Jasmine’s journey in research has taken her to distinguished institutions such as Children’s National Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Currently, she conducts intensive HIV research as part of the CFAR Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pathway Initiative. Beyond the laboratory, Jasmine is deeply motivated to uplift underrepresented communities. As she continues her academic journey, Jasmine Terrell envisions herself becoming a beacon of inspiration for the next generation of leading researchers while contributing to groundbreaking research within the STEM community.

Selama Tesfamariam is a biology major, chemistry and psychology double minor who is originally from Asmara, Eritrea, and residing in Silver Spring, Maryland. He plans to pursue a combined MD/PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics so that he can make a positive contribution to the scientific community. In a time when bacterial resistance to current medicines is a growing concern, and new viruses are causing health crises, it is his dream to contribute to the advancement of the STEM field so we can be steps ahead of the pathogens. Selama is proud to be a member of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program because he believes that when people from different backgrounds come to one table, they add different perspectives and are better at solving problems because their diverse experiences push them to be creative and innovative. 

Kennedy Thompson is a computer science major from Catonsville, Maryland. Thompson is interested in the interdisciplinary field of Game Technology, and the intersection of human-computer interaction and game development for real-world applications. She was attracted to the Karsh STEM Scholars program to get an early start in pursuing an academic career and looks forward to learning more in this relatively new field of innovative approaches to revolutionize game technology to tackle real-world challenges.