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Dr. Greg Karst reviews UNMC’s minority recruiting brochure with Dillard students.
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UNMC’s first formal affiliation with a historically black college or university (HBCU) was with Dillard University in New Orleans in 2001. That groundbreaking partnership has led to affiliations with Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo., in 2002, and a nationally acclaimed joint affiliation in 2004 with Virginia Commonwealth University and all five HBCU’s in Virginia – Virginia Union, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Norfolk State University and St. Paul’s College, as well as the state’s largest junior college, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.
Dillard has sent no less than five students to UNMC for summer research internships for the past three years. On Oct. 27, the relationship reached a new level when UNMC was granted its own recruiting day – 24 hours in advance of the mass campus recruiting drive that drew representatives from more than 80 colleges and universities to Dillard.
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Dr. Todero discusses nursing careers with Dillard students.
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UNMC matched the occasion by sending the highest profile delegation ever to attend a recruiting opportunity at a historically black college or university. The delegation included: Rubens Pamies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of graduate studies; John McClain, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor of Student Equity and Multicultural Affairs; Mary McNamee, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs; Catherine Todero, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Nursing; Kristie Hayes, M.D., assistant dean of student and multicultural affairs; Diane Landon, program coordinator, Physician Assistant Education, School of Allied Health Professions; Valdeen Nelson, MPA, Preventative and Societal Medicine Graduate Public Health Program; Clarence Ueda, Pharm.D., Ph.D., dean of College of Pharmacy; Charles Krobot, Pharm.D., associate dean for Academic Affairs and assistant professor of pharmacy practice, College of Pharmacy; Curtis Kuster, D.D.S., director of admissions, College of Dentistry; Greg Karst, Ph.D., associate professor and associate director, Division of Physical Therapy Education, School of Allied Health Professions; and Denise Maybank, Ph.D., associate to the president, University of Nebraska.
Dillard’s Division of the Natural Sciences and Public Health hosted the Dillard University/UNMC recruitment day.
“We were pleased to provide this special opportunity for UNMC because it dramatized the commitment of both institutions to enhance both universities’ students and faculty and strengthen research infrastructures in science and mathematics,” said John Wilson, Ph.D., dean of the Division of Natural Sciences and Public Health.
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UNMC and Dillard faculty and students before lunch at Dillard’s President’s House.
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“The summer research internships at UNMC by Dillard’s undergraduate science students help them gain a better understanding of how practical laboratory application forms a strong nexus with classroom theory. This student enhancement is a new opportunity for the Division of the Natural Sciences and Public Health to further integrate research into our academic curriculum. During the past three years our universities have demonstrated a strong collaborative relationship. We plan to continue this commitment and extend UNMC its own recruiting day on an annual basis.”
Unlike the following day, when 80 other college representatives only had information tables and scrambled for the students’ attention, the UNMC delegation received breakfast with Bettye Parker Smith, Ph.D., interim president and provost/vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Pamies gave a presentation to Dillard faculty and students on health disparities.
Lunch was served at the President’s House for UNMC and Dillard faculty and students who were former UNMC summer research interns. After lunch, there was a group meeting to answer general questions about UNMC programs and then delegates each had a room to talk with students interested in their specific program.
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Dr. Mary McNamee chats with Dillard student.
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“It was a wonderful opportunity to rekindle relationships with Dillard students that have spent time at UNMC during summer internships,” Dr. Hayes said. “We were able to interact with the biological and physical sciences faculty and talk about potential areas of collaboration and information exchange. There was significant interest in all of the health science programs at UNMC. We could visit at length with students about their career aspirations.”
Dr. McNamee added, “I had a great time. It was a real whirlwind day. The UNMC summer intern students had really spoken highly about UNMC so there were many students completing information cards and wanting to know more about the summer research internships and other opportunities.
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UNMC’s Dr. Kristie Hayes, left, and Dr. Denise Maybank of the University of Nebraska.
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“Both UNMC and Dillard faculty really engaged one another and new networks were initiated. Calvin Spellman, Sadari Fisher, Tasia Hurd and Omar Acres all did several summers at UNMC and will graduate from Dillard in May. Calvin is president of the senior class.
“I am just so proud of the role UNMC has played in these students lives. I have been invited to their graduation ceremony and will sit with Dillard’s faculty in academic robes. Bill Cosby will be the commencement speaker. You just can’t beat that!”