Bridging Excellence: The Trotter-HBCU Partnership

Authors:

Kohl E. Crawford, Cornell Brooks

Date Created:

2025-01-01

Course Title:

Professor:

Not specified

About Paper:

This research promotes a practical partnership between Harvard collaboration bridges the gap between rigorous academic research Kennedy School and HBCUs to develop responsible, community- and grassroots activism by enabling students from both institutions rooted leaders. Emphasizing personal accountability, civic to work together on community-driven advocacy projects in engagement, and opportunity creation it strengthens democracy real time. Unlike often-theoretical scholarship, this partnership and addresses social challenges by empowering local talent to prioritizes applied, hands-on work addressing social justice issues develop solutions grounded in American values of self-reliance facing underserved communities. HBCU undergraduate and and leadership. Despite persistent underfunding and systemic Harvard graduate students collaborate to jointly design and inequities, Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) implement advocacy campaigns, translating research into practical profoundly shape American leadership and civic engagement, solutions. By combining Harvard’s institutional strengths with producing the most Black judges, public officials, and civil rights the lived experience and resilience embedded in HBCUs, this leaders while cultivating generations of grassroots activists and partnershipfostersmutuallearningandamplifiesimpact. Itmodels community advocates. Harvard Kennedy School, with extensive how elite universities and historically under-resourced institutions academic resources and policy expertise, similarly produces can collaborate– not just to study social problems, but to solve leaders influencing national governance. This research examines them through shared leadership and community-rooted action. a vital partnership between Harvard University’s William Monroe Ultimately, this cultivates a new generation of leaders equipped Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice and a network of HBCUs to advance equity and justice, strengthening democracy from the through the Creating Justice in Real Time clinical branch. This ground up. HealingtheMargin: AddressingInstitutionalExpansionThroughCommunity- Centered Health Approaches Landen Thompson, Daniel Palazuelos Morehouse College | Sociology | 2026 As the landscape of healthcare changes, so must our interventions. Rising from this complexity, I aim to explore how community- Beginning as charitable organizations in the early 20th century, informed, people-centered care can address the historical and hospitals have since evolved into research-oriented and financiallyongoing impacts of institutional expansion in medically adjacent motivated institutions. As healthcare has made significant clinical,ommunities. Applying conflict theory, I aim to produce a institutional, and technological advancements, the preeminence literature review that explores scholarship on urban development, of people-centered care is underscored. People-centered care is community engagement, and their interplay with health systems, defined by the WHO as being focused and organized around specifically examining the power dynamics that have shaped this the healthcare needs of people and communities rather than structural inequality. Pushing to identify practical models and diseases. For clarity, a people-centered approach regards interventions for equitable care, the project will incorporate a patients as stakeholders within their process of care. Though narrativeframingtoblendasummerofcommunity-adjacenthealth already daunting, the implementation of the people-centered care work in Boston’s Mission Hill and other areas shaped by the framework is compounded within medically adjacent communities expansion of medical institutions. Grounding health interventions and medical institutions, creating a complex relationship. These in community voices and histories, I offer a nuanced discourse communities are considered those bordering major healthcare and practical effort to repair and strengthen relationships between institutions, hospitals, research centers, and medical schools. health institutions and the communities they impact. ModelingKeplerandTESSObjectsofInteresttoCharacterizeandVetPlanet Candidates Bryce Joseph, Jason Eastman North Carolina A&T State University | Physics | 2027 NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has it is determined that they exist they will be further examined, provided invaluable information on thousands of exoplanet and their associated periods will be assigned by comparison and candidates. The datasets of any given candidate must be put probability. Currently exoplanet candidates TOI 1563.01, TOI through further assessment for its characteristics and legitimacy 1895.01, and TOI 706.01 are under scrutiny. TOI 1563.01 and to be determined. Datasets will be found and retrieved through TOI 1895.01 have many possible periods and eccentricities. After NASA’s Exoplanet Follow-up Observing Program (ExoFOP.) recording the possible characteristics of these candidates, they will EXOFAST, a software tool produced for the use of astronomers, be compared to datasets with known values, so the most likely willbeusedfordeterminingthecharacteristicsofadatasetthatwill characteristics of the candidate can be determined. It is currently produce the best fit. Candidates with long periods are most likely unclear if TOI 706.01 is a transiting exoplanet or an eclipsing to have shorter periods that are not initially recorded accurately binary star system. The examination of the three given candidates by TESS, so long period candidates will be examined and if will continue, ideally until the best fit has been determined. 40 Du Bois Scholars Program From Merger to Metal? Timescales of R-Process Enrichment from Neutron Star Mergers Zion Smith, Vadim Semenov, Ashley Villar, Anya Nugent North Carolina A&T State University | Astrophysics | 2026 Currently, neutron star mergers (NSMs) are the only observed throughagalacticsimulation,whichtracksthemovementsoftracer astrophysicalsitesoftherapidneutron-captureprocess(r-process), particles (analogous to the movement of r-process elements) and through which elements like gold and platinum are synthesized. A determines how long it takes them to become star-forming. To lingering question within the astrophysics community is whether contextualize these timescales, we compile a sample of 85 short NSMs are responsible for creating all r-process elements in the gamma-raybursts(GRBs), thetransientsthatoriginatefromNSMs Universe. For instance, it is widely debated whether the observed and, thus, produce r-process elements. Convolving the GRBs’ r-process elements in very old, metal poor stars were created from observed galactocentric offsets with the initial positions of the an NSM. It is estimated the r-process event(s) that enriched the tracer particles, we calculate the enrichment timescales for this star-forming gas in which these stars were born happened within population. We find that their enrichment timescales are almost a few hundred million years, while the timescales for NS systems all >200 million years, corroborating the idea that NSMs enrich to merge and their r-process to be incorporated into star-forming environments too slowly to be responsible for metal poor star r- gas are thought to be much slower than this. To investigate this process enrichment. Therefore, we find that it is implausible for dilemma, we develop a method for determining the “enrichment” NSMstocreateallther-processintheUniverseandanothersource timescale of an NSM, or the timescale for r-process elements from islikelyneededtoexplainr-processenrichmentinmetalpoorstars. NSMs to enrich star-forming gas. We estimate these timescales The Immigrant Touch: Enhancing U.S. Innovation through Cross-Cultural Collaboration Payton Garcia, Sachin Srivastava, Paul Gompers Howard University | Economics | 2027 Immigrants play a critical role in U.S. innovation and geographically in venture capital hubs such as California, entrepreneurship, driving substantial economic growth. Previous Massachusetts, and New York. Furthermore, U.S. universities research highlights the productivity advantages of immigrant serve as key gateways for immigrant talent, as an increasing share inventors and entrepreneurs, but less is understood about how ofimmigrant-foundedstartupsemergenearfounders’almamaters, collaboration with high-skilled immigrants affects native-born generating significant local economic impacts. professionals. This study explores immigrants’ contributions To analyze spillover effects, the study examines patent both directly, through patents and entrepreneurship, and indirectlycitations, scholarly publications, and career advancement metrics, throughpositivespilloversontheirnativecollaborators’innovation assessing whether native-born inventors and entrepreneurs and productivity. experience greater professional success through collaboration with Using comprehensive data from Infutor, Dow Jones immigrants. Preliminary results suggest positive externalities: VentureSource, and U.S. patent records, immigrant status was collaboration with immigrant innovators increases the productivity identified previously by exploiting Social Security number and innovation capacity of native-born professionals. assignment patterns. Immigrants represent roughly 16–20% Future directions will expand analysis to further quantify these of inventors and startup founders in the U.S., yet they spillovers and clarify their implications for immigration and account for approximately 23% of total innovation output, education policy. By highlighting the outsized role of immigrant measured by patents and associated economic value. Immigrant talent, this research emphasizes the importance of policies that entrepreneurs predominantly focus on technology-intensive industries, particularly information technology, and cluster attractandretainhigh-skilledimmigrants, ultimatelystrengthening the competitive advantage of the U.S. innovation economy. Foundational Undergraduate Experiences in the Laboratory

Abstract:

This research promotes a practical partnership between Harvard collaboration bridges the gap between rigorous academic research Kennedy School and HBCUs to develop responsible, community- and grassroots activism by enabling students from both institutions rooted leaders. Emphasizing personal accountability, civic to work together on community-driven advocacy projects in engagement, and opportunity creation it strengthens democracy real time. Unlike often-theoretical scholarship, this partnership and addresses social challenges by empowering local talent to prioritizes applied, hands-on work addressing social justice issues develop solutions grounded in American values of self-reliance facing underserved communities. HBCU undergraduate and and leadership. Despite persistent underfunding and systemic Harvard graduate students collaborate to jointly design and inequities, Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) implement advocacy campaigns, translating research into practical profoundly shape American leadership and civic engagement, solutions. By combining Harvard’s institutional strengths with producing the most Black judges, public officials, and civil rights the lived experience and resilience embedded in HBCUs, this leaders while cultivating generations of grassroots activists and partnershipfostersmutuallearningandamplifiesimpact. Itmodels community advocates. Harvard Kennedy School, with extensive how elite universities and historically under-resourced institutions academic resources and policy expertise, similarly produces can collaborate– not just to study social problems, but to solve leaders influencing national governance. This research examines them through shared leadership and community-rooted action. a vital partnership between Harvard University’s William Monroe Ultimately, this cultivates a new generation of leaders equipped Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice and a network of HBCUs to advance equity and justice, strengthening democracy from the through the Creating Justice in Real Time clinical branch. This ground up. HealingtheMargin: AddressingInstitutionalExpansionThroughCommunity- Centered Health Approaches Landen Thompson, Daniel Palazuelos Morehouse College | Sociology | 2026 As the landscape of healthcare changes, so must our interventions. Rising from this complexity, I aim to explore how community- Beginning as charitable organizations in the early 20th century, informed, people-centered care can address the historical and hospitals have since evolved into research-oriented and financiallyongoing impacts of institutional expansion in medically adjacent motivated institutions. As healthcare has made significant clinical,ommunities. Applying conflict theory, I aim to produce a institutional, and technological advancements, the preeminence literature review that explores scholarship on urban development, of people-centered care is underscored. People-centered care is community engagement, and their interplay with health systems, defined by the WHO as being focused and organized around specifically examining the power dynamics that have shaped this the healthcare needs of people and communities rather than structural inequality. Pushing to identify practical models and diseases. For clarity, a people-centered approach regards interventions for equitable care, the project will incorporate a patients as stakeholders within their process of care. Though narrativeframingtoblendasummerofcommunity-adjacenthealth already daunting, the implementation of the people-centered care work in Boston’s Mission Hill and other areas shaped by the framework is compounded within medically adjacent communities expansion of medical institutions. Grounding health interventions and medical institutions, creating a complex relationship. These in community voices and histories, I offer a nuanced discourse communities are considered those bordering major healthcare and practical effort to repair and strengthen relationships between institutions, hospitals, research centers, and medical schools. health institutions and the communities they impact. ModelingKeplerandTESSObjectsofInteresttoCharacterizeandVetPlanet Candidates Bryce Joseph, Jason Eastman North Carolina A&T State University | Physics | 2027 NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has it is determined that they exist they will be further examined, provided invaluable information on thousands of exoplanet and their associated periods will be assigned by comparison and candidates. The datasets of any given candidate must be put probability. Currently exoplanet candidates TOI 1563.01, TOI through further assessment for its characteristics and legitimacy 1895.01, and TOI 706.01 are under scrutiny. TOI 1563.01 and to be determined. Datasets will be found and retrieved through TOI 1895.01 have many possible periods and eccentricities. After NASA’s Exoplanet Follow-up Observing Program (ExoFOP.) recording the possible characteristics of these candidates, they will EXOFAST, a software tool produced for the use of astronomers, be compared to datasets with known values, so the most likely willbeusedfordeterminingthecharacteristicsofadatasetthatwill characteristics of the candidate can be determined. It is currently produce the best fit. Candidates with long periods are most likely unclear if TOI 706.01 is a transiting exoplanet or an eclipsing to have shorter periods that are not initially recorded accurately binary star system. The examination of the three given candidates by TESS, so long period candidates will be examined and if will continue, ideally until the best fit has been determined. 40 Du Bois Scholars Program From Merger to Metal? Timescales of R-Process Enrichment from Neutron Star Mergers Zion Smith, Vadim Semenov, Ashley Villar, Anya Nugent North Carolina A&T State University | Astrophysics | 2026 Currently, neutron star mergers (NSMs) are the only observed throughagalacticsimulation,whichtracksthemovementsoftracer astrophysicalsitesoftherapidneutron-captureprocess(r-process), particles (analogous to the movement of r-process elements) and through which elements like gold and platinum are synthesized. A determines how long it takes them to become star-forming. To lingering question within the astrophysics community is whether contextualize these timescales, we compile a sample of 85 short NSMs are responsible for creating all r-process elements in the gamma-raybursts(GRBs), thetransientsthatoriginatefromNSMs Universe. For instance, it is widely debated whether the observed and, thus, produce r-process elements. Convolving the GRBs’ r-process elements in very old, metal poor stars were created from observed galactocentric offsets with the initial positions of the an NSM. It is estimated the r-process event(s) that enriched the tracer particles, we calculate the enrichment timescales for this star-forming gas in which these stars were born happened within population. We find that their enrichment timescales are almost a few hundred million years, while the timescales for NS systems all >200 million years, corroborating the idea that NSMs enrich to merge and their r-process to be incorporated into star-forming environments too slowly to be responsible for metal poor star r- gas are thought to be much slower than this. To investigate this process enrichment. Therefore, we find that it is implausible for dilemma, we develop a method for determining the “enrichment” NSMstocreateallther-processintheUniverseandanothersource timescale of an NSM, or the timescale for r-process elements from islikelyneededtoexplainr-processenrichmentinmetalpoorstars. NSMs to enrich star-forming gas. We estimate these timescales The Immigrant Touch: Enhancing U.S. Innovation through Cross-Cultural Collaboration Payton Garcia, Sachin Srivastava, Paul Gompers Howard University | Economics | 2027 Immigrants play a critical role in U.S. innovation and geographically in venture capital hubs such as California, entrepreneurship, driving substantial economic growth. Previous Massachusetts, and New York. Furthermore, U.S. universities research highlights the productivity advantages of immigrant serve as key gateways for immigrant talent, as an increasing share inventors and entrepreneurs, but less is understood about how ofimmigrant-foundedstartupsemergenearfounders’almamaters, collaboration with high-skilled immigrants affects native-born generating significant local economic impacts. professionals. This study explores immigrants’ contributions To analyze spillover effects, the study examines patent both directly, through patents and entrepreneurship, and indirectlycitations, scholarly publications, and career advancement metrics, throughpositivespilloversontheirnativecollaborators’innovation assessing whether native-born inventors and entrepreneurs and productivity. experience greater professional success through collaboration with Using comprehensive data from Infutor, Dow Jones immigrants. Preliminary results suggest positive externalities: VentureSource, and U.S. patent records, immigrant status was collaboration with immigrant innovators increases the productivity identified previously by exploiting Social Security number and innovation capacity of native-born professionals. assignment patterns. Immigrants represent roughly 16–20% Future directions will expand analysis to further quantify these of inventors and startup founders in the U.S., yet they spillovers and clarify their implications for immigration and account for approximately 23% of total innovation output, education policy. By highlighting the outsized role of immigrant measured by patents and associated economic value. Immigrant talent, this research emphasizes the importance of policies that entrepreneurs predominantly focus on technology-intensive industries, particularly information technology, and cluster attractandretainhigh-skilledimmigrants, ultimatelystrengthening the competitive advantage of the U.S. innovation economy. Foundational Undergraduate Experiences in the Laboratory

Source:

Harvard / Hampton University | Educational Studies | 2026 / 2025

Topics:

community, immigrant, star, candidate, university, timescale, institution, people, care, toi, element, innovation

Co-authors:

@kohlecrawford187 , @cornellbrooks167