Introducing Centre College's inaugural cohort of Atkins Scholars
The J.H. and Artie Atkins Scholars Research Program, announced in 2021, was launched through a generous grant from the James Graham Brown Foundation. Participating scholars will prepare for a lifetime of active leadership that contributes to an equitable society and a more just, inclusive and diverse world.
“I am deeply impressed by and proud of this first cohort of Atkins Scholars,” said Andrea Abrams, program director and vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. “Each has taken seriously the work of producing meaningful scholarship focused on diversity and applying their insights to create a more inclusive and equitable community. Seeing them support one another in their projects is especially gratifying.”
A key program goal is to prepare scholars to confidently integrate inclusion and equity practices in future professional and academic endeavors. As part of this initiative, scholars have worked closely with faculty advisors to implement yearlong research projects focused on analyzing or engaging one of the following areas:
- Underrepresented groups or marginalized identities; or spaces and dynamics of privilege.
- Systems of inequity, injustice, resistance or empowerment.
- Theories or practices of inclusion, equity or social justice.
The Atkins Scholars’ work culminated with presentations of their findings to the campus community during the College’s RICE Symposium last Thursday.
Learn more about each scholar's yearlong projects at the Q&A links below:
Uliana Bazavluk
Major: International Studies & French, Class of 2023
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Russia
Advisor: Katrin Bahr, Assistant Professor of German
Project: Is Centre Committed to Health and Wellness for its Students: Analyzing Centre’s Institutionalized Mental Health Support for International Students Going through Conflict in their Home Countries.
Lorena Bonet Velazquez
Major: International Studies, Class of 2023
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky
Advisor: Satty Echeverria, Associate Professor of Spanish
Project: Decolonial Feminisms in Spanish Speaking Worlds
Caroline E. Dahl
Major: Anthropology/Sociology, Class of 2023
Hometown: Georgetown, Kentucky
Advisor: Kaelyn E. Wiles, Associate Professor of Sociology
Project: Examining Relationships Between Gender, LGBTQ+ Identity, and Resource Utilization for Eating Problems in College Students: A Qualitative Case Study
Anahit Grigoryan
Major: Biology, Class of 2023
Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia
Advisor: Jamie Shenton, Associate Professor of Anthropology
Project: Military Conflict and Health: War on Women’s Bodies
AJ Howell
Major: Computer Science, Class of 2023
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Advisor: Michelle M. Burdine, Visiting Assistant Professor of Studio Art
Project: Exploration of BIPOC Issues in Higher Education
Vati Pham
Major: Data Science, Class of 2023
Hometown: Vinh City, Nghe An Province, Vietnam
Advisor: Aaron Godlaski, Associate Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience
Project: Is Buddhism Inherently Opposed to Queerness
