OAAA main house
OAAA E-Weekly February 12, 2024
Spring 2024 Academic Calendar
Saturday, March 2 – Sunday, March 10
Spring Recess
Tuesday, April 30
Courses end
Student Spotlight: Aida Doucoure
Aida Doucoure is a 4th-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences studying Human Biology and Data Science from Roanoke, Virginia. She has a love for the university community and UVA. Aida has been a proud executive board member of the Afro-Hoos dance team, the Organization of African Students, and Black Muslims at UVA. She is also currently the Senior Resident Advisor for the Lambeth Association, a scribe for the UVA ED, and a proud member of the Theta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. During her final year, she is completing her DMP thesis in the Guler malaria lab, and preparing for graduate studies in public health and medicine. In the future, she hopes to practice as an OB/GYN and conduct health-equity-based research. During her free time, Aida enjoys choreographing dances, reading fantasy novels, engaging in craftwork, and cooking traditional African food.
Selecting a Dean for a One-on-One Appointment
Many of you are aware of our spaces throughout Dawson’s Row, some have figured out ways to engage with our programming, and most of you have broken bread in Dawson’s Row with us and one another. In addition to the cultural programs we host, however, each Dean is available to meet with students to provide one-on-one support (i.e., academic, social, and emotional) to all our students.
Schedule a Meeting with a Dean
Quote of the Week
“I always believed that when you follow your heart or your gut, when you really follow the things that feel great to you, you can never lose, because settling is the worst feeling in the world.” —Rihanna
OAAA Alumni Engagement: Shamia Moore
Name: Shamia Moore
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Graduation Year: 2016
Major: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major, Bioethics Minor
Current Occupation: Health Scientist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Advice: It’s okay if your career trajectory does not look exactly how you imagined during your first year of college. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to pivot, as it may take time to find exactly where your passion meets purpose. Utilize your networks as well. Most people are willing to offer advice to fellow Hoos!
Favorite OAAA memory: One of my favorite memories of OAAA was being able to stop by whenever I had free time between classes. It was great to meet with Deans informally, as well as have a central place to catch up with friends.
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Graduation Year: 2016
Major: Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Major, Bioethics Minor
Current Occupation: Health Scientist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Advice: It’s okay if your career trajectory does not look exactly how you imagined during your first year of college. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to pivot, as it may take time to find exactly where your passion meets purpose. Utilize your networks as well. Most people are willing to offer advice to fellow Hoos!
Favorite OAAA memory: One of my favorite memories of OAAA was being able to stop by whenever I had free time between classes. It was great to meet with Deans informally, as well as have a central place to catch up with friends.
The Race Card Project
We are excited to invite you to participate in "The Race Card Project," a unique opportunity to share your thoughts on race in just six words. This initiative, conceived by Michelle Norris in 2010, has gathered over 500,000 personal narratives from individuals across 50 states and 90 countries.
At the Office of African American Affairs and the Luther P. Jackson Black Cultural Center, we are proud to be a part of this important dialogue on race. We believe that by sharing our perspectives, we can foster understanding and promote meaningful conversations on this complex topic.
At the Office of African American Affairs and the Luther P. Jackson Black Cultural Center, we are proud to be a part of this important dialogue on race. We believe that by sharing our perspectives, we can foster understanding and promote meaningful conversations on this complex topic.
As we prepare for the Johnson Elementary African American Heritage Night, we are excited to extend an invitation for individuals and/or groups who would like to share an African folktale of their choosing. We believe that storytelling is a powerful way to connect with our cultural heritage and foster a sense of community.
If you have a favorite African folktale that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. Alternatively, if you would like to participate but do not have a folktale in mind, we are happy to provide a book for you to select a story from. Please contact Ms. Amy Jamieson [email protected] or Johnson Elementary School (434) 245-2417 (office).
If you have a favorite African folktale that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you. Alternatively, if you would like to participate but do not have a folktale in mind, we are happy to provide a book for you to select a story from. Please contact Ms. Amy Jamieson [email protected] or Johnson Elementary School (434) 245-2417 (office).
Opportunities with Deadlines
Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry Grants
Application Deadlines: January/Early February
The grants summer research and arts projects all have deadlines coming up in the next few weeks so don’t delay any further, especially with recommendations! To apply for grants click here
Wake Forest University’s School of Business Inclusion Weekend 2024
Application Deadline: Monday, February 12 by 11:59pm EST
Takes Place: Friday, February 23-Saturday, February 24
Wake Forest University’s School of Business is strongly committed to supporting the University’s mission of creating a learning environment that fosters equity and inclusion. This event is open to all college juniors and seniors from all undergraduate institutions to learn more about careers in business and specifically how the Wake Forest MS in Management, Accountancy, and Business Analytics programs can prepare you to succeed in a wide range of professions. Participants have the opportunity to meet faculty members, students, and alumni from the School of Business. The goal of the event is to introduce prospective students to the program’s curriculum and admissions processes while demonstrating the value of a business master’s degree. Participants’ expenses, travel costs, and accommodations are covered. Qualified Inclusion Weekend participants who apply and are admitted to one of our MS programs are eligible for a minimum $7,500 per year scholarship. Please be aware we can only admit a limited number of attendees. Applying early is highly recommended. Eligibility: Must be a college junior or senior currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university, all majors welcome, subject to individual program requirements, and have not attended a prior Wake Forest Inclusion Weekend or AFTF event. Application Components upload resumes with the online application. Please reach out to Janasi Rawlings with questions.
UVA Student Highlights for Upcoming Diversity Office Events
Application Deadline: Friday, February 16, 2024
Doctoral Diversity Dinner (Monday, April 15, 2024)
Celebration of Excellence (Wednesday, May 1, 2024)
The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs-Diversity Programs is gearing up to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of our graduate and professional students during our signature events. We desire to highlight and share your accomplishments with the UVA community via print, digital, and video formats for these events. Please complete a brief survey on the next screen that should take 3-5 minutes to complete. We look forward to celebrating with you! we encourage you to please VISIT. For more information EMAIL. For More Information Contact Name Denisha Megginson
Virginia College Advising Corps
Priority Application Deadline: Friday, February 16
Looking for a fun, rewarding, and dynamic public service position after graduation? The Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) may be right for you! VCAC hires recent college graduates to serve as college advisers in high schools throughout the Commonwealth to increase the number of low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students who enter and complete higher education. Benefits of being a VCAC college adviser include a compensation package, including a living stipend, health insurance, and an Education Award; funding for campus tours, events, and college/career readiness projects; fully funded travel for national and statewide conferences; guidance and support with career and graduate school goals, a large network of College Advising Corps and AmeriCorps alumni; and being part of a mission-driven community of recent college graduates. Applications submitted past February 16 will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply Here!
UVA Alumni Association Scholarships
Applications Due by Friday, March 1
The spring scholarship cycle is now open, featuring a wide variety of scholarships ranging from small stipends to full scholarships covering tuition and fees. Decisions are made on a rolling basis, with most scholarships awarded by April 30. Winners will see scholarship amounts applied to their accounts for the academic year 2024-2025. To find and apply for scholarships, we invite you to sign up for AwardSpring, which will store your application materials and make applying for multiple scholarships easy. We encourage you to apply today Apply on AwardSpring!
Sherri King Memorial Scholarship
Applications Due by Friday, March 1
Amount: $30,000 - 2nd and 3rd-year women majoring in mathematics, economics, or finance who demonstrate leadership and an inclusive style of service.
Glenn D. Kirwin Scholarship
Applications Due by Friday, March 1
Amount: In-state tuition and fees - 2nd and 3rd year students who exhibit qualities of leadership, determination, generosity, and wisdom, and who demonstrate a passion for entrepreneurship.
R. H. Melton First Amendment Scholarship
Applications Due by Friday, March 1
Amount: $4,000 - 2nd and 3rd year students engaged in debating, student-run journalism, or the study of politics.
Jade Song Memorial Scholarship
Applications Due by Friday, March 1
Amount: $3,000 (2 scholarships available) - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year students who have overcome adversity and demonstrate strong ties to their cultural backgrounds.
Peter C. Gillcrist Memorial Scholarship
Applications Due by Friday, March 1
Amount: $10,000 - Rising 4th-year engineering students who exemplify qualities of servant leadership, good character, integrity, community service, and loyalty to friends.
Greer Family Scholarship
Applications Due by Sunday, March 3
Amount: $16,000/year - 1st-year students from rural or underprivileged areas of Virginia who strive to use their education to better serve their communities. Renewable for up to 3 years for a total award of $48,000.
Apply to be a mentor or intern!
Application Deadline Wednesday, March 1
Develop your leadership skills as an intern or mentor with the Women’s Center! Mentoring: Be a Big Sibling. Make a Big Difference. The Young Women Leaders Program (YWLP) and Men’s Leadership Project (MLP) are community-based mentoring programs which pair UVA undergraduate students with middle school students from the Charlottesville/ Albemarle area. Interns: Join us and hone your skills to be a more effective advocate on Grounds and in the community. Combine classroom study of gender equity and other social justice issues with practical work on a team led by a member of our staff. You'll also gain valuable leadership and teamwork experience that you can use in a wide range of careers. Apply now for the 2024-2025 academic year! For access to the online applications and more information about mentor and intern applications, please visit our website. For more information. Contact Name: Sarah Jenkins
The Ridley Scholarship Programs’ Gregory Ledford Scholarship
Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 5
This scholarship will be awarded to a rising 3rd year who has been admitted to the McIntire School of Commerce. Please feel free to share this link or the attached graphic with anyone who may be eligible and interested in applying. Scholarship finalists must be available to attend Scholar Selections Weekend on Thursday, March 21-Saturday, March 23, 2024. Apply Here!
Application Deadline: Friday, March 8
The Professional Development Award supports graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at UVA by providing funds for activities related to their career development for which funds may not exist. For More Information.
Contact Name: Diversity Programs Office
Getting Word African American Oral History Project at Monticello
From Friday, March 15-Sunday, March17
Getting Word is hosting a Black Family History Lab in collaboration with The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. You may recall “Memories Matter,” a community history day we’ve held in years past – this year, we’ve reimagined it as a three-day program. The Lab invites local residents to connect with family history experts on how to best save family treasures (i.e. photographs, letters, books, quilts, stories, and more), sit for professional family portraits, attend genealogy and oral history workshops, and find out what community groups are doing to tell local stories – all free of charge. As members of our community continue to preserve and research their family histories, our aim is to provide resources that assist that vital work.
Various Locations
This website lists opportunities from the larger Co-op/Internship and Summer Research Opportunities in the Life Sciences website that meet any of the following criteria - 1. biomedical research, 2. located in a medical or clinical setting, 3. located in a medical school or health science center, 4. has "biomedical" as a descriptor, 5. may be of particular interest to pre-med students.
From Fear to Action: Thriving in a Changing Climate Resources Fair
Hosted by UVA’s Environmental Institute and Contemplative Sciences Center, Britt Wray, an expert on the psychological impacts of the climate crisis especially among young people, shares research and experiences from her journey from fear to hope and finally to action. Wray will offer ways to thrive, feel less alone and restore ourselves for the long haul. A student resources fair and nature walk will follow the talk. For More Information Contact Name: Mai Hukuoka
UVA School of Medicine club GAS (Guides to Application Success)
Our goal is to provide individualized medical school application mentorship between UVA SOM students and UVA undergraduates throughout the medical school application process. The mentoring relationship will likely focus on application preparation, including extracurriculars, the primary application, school lists, secondaries, letters of recommendation, CASPer/SJT, and interview preparation/mock interviews. In March, we will match each applicant with a mentor. The process of selection of undergraduates will likely be on a first-come first-served basis for those who are applying in the upcoming 2024-2025 cycle. Please share this interest form with interested and eligible undergraduates to fill out. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
Did you know? 76 years ago, Rosa Lee Ingram, an African American sharecropper and widowed mother of 12 children, was at the center of one of the most explosive capital punishment cases in U.S. history in the 1940s. Ingram farmed adjoining lots with white sharecropper John Ed Stratford in Schley County, near Ellaville. On November 4, 1947, Stratford confronted Ingram, accusing her of allowing her livestock to roam freely on his land. When Ingram reminded Stratford that their landlord owned both the livestock and the land Stratford, sexually assaulted Ingram, and struck her with a gun. Ingram's sons came to her defense, and Stratford was killed. The trial of Rosa Lee, Wallace, and Sammie Lee, lasted just one day, held on January 26, 1948 in Ellaville, Georgia; they were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Her son Charles was tried separately and was released at the conclusion of his trial due to insufficient evidence. In response to national protests led by Sojourners for Truth and Justice, their sentences were commuted to life in April 1948. On August 26, 1959, Ingram and her sons were paroled and released from prison. Following Ingram's release, she lived in Atlanta, Georgia until her death. Danielle Nekole, entrepreneur, social media influencer, makeup artist, and great granddaughter of Ingram – shared that they are still fighting to overturn their convictions to this day.
Upcoming UVA Events, Learning & Services
Fellowships & Undergraduate Research Series
Every Monday at 4:00 pm – Rotunda Multipurpose Room
The full schedule is attached and also available here. Getting Started in Undergraduate Research sessions and Exploring Opportunities at UVA & Beyond workshops occur about once a month. Many sessions this spring are dedicated to those fellowships that have a deadline in the fall. It is important that students start considering those opportunities early so that they can take advantage of our spring and summer advising to be well prepared.
Black Graduate Students Support Group
Every Friday – 3:00 pm-4:30 pm – Student Health & Wellness
This is a weekly support space centered on the Black, African American, and African graduate and professional student experience. This support space provides a safe and affirming opportunity to make connections, give and receive support, and engage in open dialogue about lived experiences as a graduate or professional student at a PWI. To join email Group leader: Lavender Williams, LPC
From Fear to Action: Thriving in a Changing Climate feat. Britt Wray
February 22 – 12:30 pm- 1:30 pm – Newcomb Hall Ballroom
Hosted by UVA’s Environmental Institute and Contemplative Sciences Center, Britt Wray, an expert on the psychological impacts of the climate crisis especially among young people, shares research and experiences from her journey from fear to hope and finally to action. Wray will offer ways to thrive, feel less alone, and restore ourselves. A student resources fair and nature walk will follow. For more information Contact Name: Mai Hukuoka
Fulbright Forum
Wednesday, February 21 - 4:30 pm – Special Collections Library Auditorium
This is our kick-off event for the application cycle for the Fulbright U.S. Student Award, a great opportunity for students interested in further study, research, teaching, or creative opportunities after graduation. Join us for a panel discussion and reception with past UVA Fulbright recipients at. Register here
2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium
Thursday, April 18 – 9:00 am-5:00 pm – Newcomb Hall
(Deadline to sign up: March 12th) Undergraduate students from all disciplines at UVA are invited to present their research and creative inquiry at this annual event. There is also a flyer you can print and post on your door to get your friends involved. https://undergraduateresearch.virginia.edu/undergraduate-research-symposium
Male Undergrads: Compensated Research Project
Were your elementary or middle school experiences dehumanizing, pleasant, supportive, dismissive, caring, humanizing, degrading? Please consider joining a team of researchers who are centering how Black Male undergraduates describe their elementary and middle school student-teacher relationships to help train pre-service teachers. If you are selected to participate you will receive a $25 Target gift card for your time and completion of the interviews. For more information. Contact Name: Aaron Blatt
Nature Walk: Embodied Practice for Eco-Anxiety
Mindfulness facilitator Geoff Cox will lead a practice designed to navigate climate anxiety providing a rich, sensory and contemplative experience that fosters connection with nature and self. This outdoor event is hosted by the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) and will take place at the Dell located across from Newcomb Hall. It is being held in connection with "From Fear to Action: Thriving in a Changing Climate" talk by Britt Wray and a resources fair held on the same day and sponsored by CSC and the Environmental Institute. Feel free to participate in any of these events. For more information https://csc.virginia.edu/event/nature-walk-embodied-practice-eco-anxiety
Contact Name: Mai Hukuoka, [email protected]
Invitation to Participate in Qualitative Study
A 4th year nursing student in the Distinguished Majors Program conducting a qualitative study titled Sexual Health Disparities Among Black Youth and Young Adults (IRB-SBS 6343).
Study details: In the United States, African American adolescents and young adults are disproportionately affected by STI/STD prevalence and incidence. This is a widespread disparity across African Americans of different backgrounds (educational, socioeconomic, etc.) which indicates that the cause of this disparity is due to sexual decision-making and the factors that influence it.
The aims of this study are to illuminate the sociocultural factors that impact and influence sexual decision-making among Black young adults and to provide guidance on future prevention strategies that could have the best impact.
This study will involve a demographic questionnaire and an in person 1:1 interview; your participation will be kept confidential to ensure an open and honest discussion. The interview will ask questions about your general background, sexual health, and topics surrounding influences on sexual decision-making.
Your estimated participation will require approximately 1 minute for the demographic questionnaire and one hour for the interview. Interviews will take place at Student Health and Wellness in a private room to ensure privacy and confidentiality. I understand that your time is valuable, and I truly appreciate your willingness to contribute.
Your participation in this study can lead to future development of sexual health promotion strategies that may lead to decreased sexual health disparities among Black youth and young adults. By sharing your personal experiences, you will also contribute to a broader understanding of the sociocultural factors that most influence sexual decision making in the Black young adult population. As a Black young adult, I understand the importance and the sensitivity around this topic, which is why I want to shed light on the factors that could be leading to the disparity.
https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5A41sP7jldhhCJM If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me by email at [email protected]. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and I appreciate any consideration. Contact Name: Morgan Allen, Principal Investigator, UVA School of Nursing [email protected]
