Introducing the 2022 Class of the Hank & Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute! This program hosted by the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, in collaboration with Durham Public Schools, offers high school students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of academic research while exploring complex social issues and equity topics.
Meet Our Scholars
Each Scholar has completed a rigorous curriculum and culminated their experience by presenting a research poster (Cohort 1) and a research paper (Cohort 2) on pressing social issues. Their projects, ranging from gender bias to belonging, are highlighted below. To learn more about our Scholars, view their individual profiles which showcase their project topics and the schools they attend.
Scholars in each cohort hail from various high schools across Durham, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the program.
Cohort 1
Kristopher Smith
Project:
The Repercussions of Redlining In Durham, North Carolina
Education:
Durham School of the Arts
Maria Hester
Project:
Mental Health in the LGBTQ+ Youth Community
Education:
School for Creative Studies
Natalie Courliss
Project:
Asexuality: Common Stereotypes and How They Affect the Asexual Community
Education:
Durham School of Technology
Payton Patterson
Project:
Closing the Racial Wealth Gap Through Government Policies
Education:
Hillside High School
Rafaela Drake
Project:
The Long-Term Psychological Effects of Gun Violence
Education:
Riverside High School
Rafia Ansari
Project:
Education Inequality: The Impact of Academic Implicit Biases from Teachers Against English Language Learners in American High Schools
Education:
Charles E. Jordan High School
Sadie Allen
Project:
Inequities In Health Care For Black Women in the United States: An Examination of Maternal Health
Education:
Riverside High School
Cohort 2
Camilla Zumaeta (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
The Importance of Content Diversity in Dermatological Practices
Education:
Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) at Florida International University (FIU)
Eric Zumaeta (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
Outcomes of Implicit Bias and Algorithms
Education:
Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) at Florida International University (FIU)
Judah Cannon (Visiting Scholar)
Project:
Black Players Matter
Education:
Trinity School Of Durham And Chapel Hill
Landon Futrell
Mikal Ali
Project:
Sense of Belonging Predicting Motivation in the Classroom
Education:
Hillside High School
Octavia Brown
Project:
Inequitable Academic Tracking: Effects on AP Class Enrollment
Education:
Charles E. Jordan High School
Victoria Morris
Project:
Separation from STEM: Factors that Hinder Elementary Children of Color
Education:
Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School
Meet Our Team
The Aaron Young Scholars Summer Research Institute is driven by a dedicated team of staff, administrators, instructors, interns, teaching assistants, mentors, and volunteers who support the growth and success of our scholars. Their collective expertise, passion, and commitment provide invaluable guidance throughout the program, fostering a nurturing environment for students to excel.
Below, you can explore the profiles of our team members to learn more about the people who help bring this program to life.
Institute Personnel
Amelie Novio
Role:
Research Intern
Institution:
Charles E. Jordan High School
Brianna Tuscani
Role:
Cohort 2 Instructor
Institution:
Durham Public Schools
Catherine Kiplagat
Role:
Research Intern
Institution:
City of Medicine Academy
Daniel Bullock
Role:
Durham Public Schools Program Liaison
Institution:
Executive Director for Equity Affairs at Durham Public Schools
Genevieve Furges
Role:
Research Intern
Institution:
Hollins University
Iwinosa Idahor
Role:
Co-Program Liaison
Institution:
Student Equity, Engagement and Opportunity Coordinator with Durham Public Schools
2022 Hank and Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Capstone Conference
On July 25, 2022, the Duke University Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity hosted its Capstone Conference digitally for the eighth annual Hank and Billye Suber Aaron Young Scholars Research Institute. In addition to highlighting research from the latest cohort of Young Scholars, the Conference featured a keynote address from Fenaba R. Addo, Associate Professor of Public Policy at UNC College of Arts and Sciences and Faculty Affiliate of the Cook Center.
Capstone
Explore images from the Institute and Capstone Project Showcase.
