Undergraduate Emerging Scholars Program

One of the objectives of the National African American Child & Family Research Center (NAACFRC) is to build research capacity, develop research infrastructure, and conduct research with communities.

The Emerging Scholars program is a mentored research internship designed to increase the knowledge and skills of students interested in research on economic mobility and early care and education for children and families.

Learn about the 2025-2026 Undergraduate Emerging Scholars Cohort

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SCHOLARS RECEIVE:

Personalized, cross-disciplinary training to strengthen their capacity to design and implement research that impacts children and families
Mentoring from the mentor of their choice
Opportunity to attend an in-person orientation and the annual NAACFRC Community-Engaged Research (CER) Conference at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA
Financial support for professional development

2025 EMERGING SCHOLARS COHORT

Jaycob Beasley is a senior at Tuskegee University, majoring in sociology with a minor in global humanities. He is a Global Ambassador, an Open Society University Network (OSUN) Global Engagement Fellow, and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. Jaycob’s research focuses on the sociological factors that influence how young people engage with democracy. After graduation, Jaycob is excited to begin pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology and launch a nonprofit that will focus on empowering communities through civic engagement and grassroots organizing.

Mentor: Nicole Early

Nicole Early is a seasoned communications professional and the founder of EARLY PR. She is a board member of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon and was named the 2017 New PR Professional of the Year by Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Oregon. With a background in politics and health care, she brings a deep understanding of the need for effective storytelling to help address complex issues facing communities. Nicole’s leadership and dedication to her clients have earned EARLY PR a reputation as a trusted partner for organizations seeking to make a real difference.

Blaze Miles is a senior majoring in psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Their research interests include trauma, grief, and behavioral challenges among children and the role of supportive educational environments and community engagement in fostering resilience and healing. With aspirations to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Blaze is dedicated to research that supports trauma-impacted children through school-based interventions. Outside of academics, Blaze finds inspiration in art, using creative expression as a personal outlet and a potential therapeutic tool for others.

Mentor: Lynda Gibson, Ph.D., M.S.

Lynda Gibson, Ph.D., M.S., is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Psychological Services Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Additionally, she is the director of the Safe First Steps School, Parent, and Community Engagement (SPACE) Clinic, a mental health initiative developed to support young children and families who experience intergenerational trauma. Dr. Gibson’s research includes risk and resiliency factors, early exposure to trauma and community violence, techniques for building community partnerships, and implementation of trauma-informed care in schools.

Past Undergrad Emerging Scholars Cohort

2024 Emerging Scholar Cohort
London Miller is an accomplished student at a university in Cincinnati, Ohio, majoring in social work. Her research interests include child welfare and the factors influencing teen pregnancy. She aspires to become a licensed social worker with a focus on children and families.

Mentor: Ivis King, Ph.D.

Ivis King, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at Clark Atlanta University in the Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work. She has over thirty years of experience in public and private child welfare, juvenile justice, and correctional systems. Her research interests include child welfare and data science methodology in social work, particularly on issues related to consent decrees. She integrates data science into her teaching and research and is a certified Quality Matters Peer Reviewer, Faculty Learning Community Coordinator, and Blueprint course designer at the university.
Brittany Boakye is a graduating senior at Prairie View A&M University, majoring in social work. She has a strong interest in child welfare and aspires to make a significant impact on the lives of children and families. In addition to her academic pursuits, Brittany is an avid poet, using her writing as a source of solace and expression. Looking to the future, Brittany dreams of opening her own private therapy practice where she can provide compassionate and effective support to those in need.

Mentor: Arlisha Francois, M.S.W.

Arlisha Francois, M.S.W., is a graduate of the University of North Texas in Denton, where she earned a B.S. in rehabilitation studies with a minor in human services management and leadership. She also holds an M.S.W. in social work from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Arlisha has 10 years of experience in social work and rehabilitation, with a focus on mental health and autism. She currently works as a case management analyst at Aetna/CVS Health Corporation in the Medicaid Texas Star Kids Service Coordination Program. Arlisha aspires to transition her career into a role that focuses on compliance and technology services while continuing to support clients in social services.
Eura Jackson is an undergraduate senior studying psychology. She aspires to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and become a psychologist and researcher. Her research focuses on the process of achieving goals and the psychological influences involved in goal setting, particularly the distinction between needs and desires. She also examines how childhood experiences and unmet early aspirations affect goal-setting behaviors. Additionally, Eura is interested in researching anxiety, especially the effectiveness of “comfort behaviors” as innovative approaches for alleviating generalized anxiety disorder.

Mentor: Medha Talpade, Ph.D.

Medha Talpade, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at Clark Atlanta University. She teaches experimental psychology I and II as well as statistics. She holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology and statistics and an M.A. in industrial/organizational psychology.

Under her mentorship, students have presented their research at various conferences, published in academic journals, and received awards. Her research focuses on early puberty, nutrition, and evaluating programs related to homelessness and substance abuse. Her Sankofa Scale has guided teaching initiatives at the university.

She views research as an art, using scientific inquiry to create innovative studies that promote positive change. She believes teaching and research are closely connected, representing “love made visible” through their collaborative outcomes.