Graduate 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 Emerging Scholars Cohort
SCHOLARS RECEIVE:
- Personalized, cross-disciplinary training to strengthen their capacity to design and implement research that impacts children and families
- Mentoring from experienced researchers who will create an Individual Development Plan (IDP) for success
-
Opportunity to contribute to the field through peer-reviewed manuscripts and scientific presentations
-
Financial support for professional development and travel to present research findings
2025-2026 EMERGING SCHOLARS COHORT
Vandeka Rodgers Eze, M.S.W., is a Ph.D. candidate in education and social policy at the University of Delaware. Vandeka’s research is dedicated to supporting communities through poverty alleviation and community development. She earned an M.S.W. in management and policy from Rutgers University and a B.A. in criminal justice and sociology from Rider University. In addition to her academic work, she has gained practical experience through her roles with the Juvenile Justice Commission, AmeriCorps, and as a Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Scholar.
Devon Slaughter, M.Ed., is a third year Ph.D. candidate in school psychology at Georgia State University. Devon’s research explores psychoeducation, mentorship, community outreach, and spirituality as pathways to bridge schools and communities and promote healing. He earned his B.A. in psychology in 2019 and Ed. in school psychology in 2025 at Georgia State University. He is on track to complete his Ed.S. in 2026, with the doctoral degree serving as his terminal degree.
Dionna Tillery, M.A., M.S., is a third year Ph.D. candidate at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Dionna’s research centers on the roles of risk and resilience in the lives of families, specifically at the intersections of parenting and early childhood education. She earned a B.A. in elementary education, an M.A. in community leadership, and an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies. She has served children and families for over 10 years in various roles, including as a teacher, nonprofit executive, and community birth and postpartum doula.
Jullanar Zakiyyah Williams, M.A., is a fourth year Ph.D. candidate in sociology at the University of California, Merced. Jullanar’s research focuses on the emotional and mental health of social institutions, including families, kinship networks, and communities, particularly as they confront a rise in suicide among youth. Her work also explores the reported impacts of youth suicide on familial and communal life, mapping the emotional, spiritual, and psychological toll such tragedies take on caregivers, siblings, elders, and chosen kin. Jullanar brings over a decade of experience as a paralegal in criminal, constitutional, and civil rights law to her academic pursuits.
