NEWS

University fondly looks back at Natural Sciences' efforts at annual National Institute of Science and Beta Kappa Chi Conference

July 15, 2010

Southern University at New Orleans co-hosted the 67th Joint Annual National Institute of Science (NIS) and Beta Kappa Chi (BKX) Conference at the Hilton, Riverside, New Orleans, March 24th through 28th. Dr. Ukpolo was present at the opening plenary session to bring greetings to conference participants on behalf of SUNO. Twenty seven LS-LAMP, E3MaS, and SENS Scholars participated in the conference.

Undergraduate research students were supported and encouraged by the research mentor and faculty team, which consisted of Drs. Murty S. Kambhampati, Joe Omojola, Carl P. Johnson, Illya Tietzel, and Heon Kim. Five students (Selam Workeneh, Dorcas Falodun, Raquel Johnson, Demetria Henry, and Brandi Adams) presented their research. Brandi Adams (mentored by Dr. Omojola), Dorcas Falodun (mentored by Dr. Kambhampati), and Raquel Johnson (mentored by Dr. Tietzel) won cash awards in the areas of Biology and Mathematics for their presentations. Throughout the conference, SUNO students and faculty were supported by Drs. Lisa Mims-Devezin and Mostafa Elaasar who also served as judges. Dr. Kim, an Assistant Professor of Mathematics , also served as the chair of the mathematics oral presentation session.

The SUNO team led the High School Student Poster Presentation component under the leadership of Drs. Kambhampati, Omojola, and Johnson. A total of twenty seven science posters in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, environmental sciences, and earth sciences were presented by high school students. Awards were given to the top three posters and a teacher who mentored maximum number of science projects. Kevin Akor, a SUNO Biology graduate and a teacher at the Greater Gentilly High School won an American Express Gift Card for his mentoring efforts in science.

SUNO Biological Science Club chapter presidents and their executive members, Demetria Henry (Tri Beta Biological Honor Society), Katherine Boykin (National Institute of Science Honor Society), and Ashley Cagle (Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society), won praises from the organizations' national leadership teams for their successful execution of conference activities.

Khambhampati and Maldonado earn national mentoring awards

October 7, 2008

Dr. Murty Kambhampati (KAM-bahm-PAH-tee) received the National Role Model Faculty Award along with SUNO student Carmen Maldonado ('09), who received the National Role Model Student Award from Minority Access, Inc.  The two received the award at the 9th Annual National Role Models Conference Banquet on September 28, 2008 in Arlington, Virginia. 

Dr. Kambhampati received the award in recognition of his outstanding dedication and commitment to mentoring minority and women undergraduate students at SUNO and elsewhere.  Ms. Maldonado is the first undergraduate student from SUNO to receive the national award. 

In late spring 2008, Dr. Joe Omojola (OHM-oh-JOH-lah), professor of math and physics from SUNO, nominated Dr. Kambhampati and Ms. Maldonado (upon the recommendations of her mentor) for the award.  Dr. Omojola was a recipient of the 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from the National Science Foundation.