TRB Announces 25 Minority Student Fellows for 2021

WASHINGTON — The Transportation Research Board (TRB) today announced the 2021 class of Minority Student Fellows. As part of its commitment to increasing diversity and inclusiveness in transportation, the TRB Minority Student Fellows Program funds students from select minority-serving institutions to attend and present their research at the TRB Annual Meeting and help them engage in TRB’s network of transportation professionals.

To ensure that solutions to the nation’s transportation problems address people from a variety of backgrounds, TRB established the Minority Student Fellows Program in 2010 to actively explore research, ideas, and solutions from diverse perspectives. This program seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in the transportation field and in TRB activities.

“TRB is very pleased to provide opportunities for students interested in transportation from minority-serving institutions to be able to participate in the premier transportation research conference in the world,” said Neil Pedersen, executive director of TRB.  “It gives them an unparalleled opportunity to be exposed to and learn from the top transportation researchers and professionals in the world.”

In 2021, 16 undergraduate and nine graduate students studying civil and electrical engineering, planning, security, business, and geographic sciences have been selected to take part in the program. The fellows will participate in TRB’s 2021 Annual Meeting with paper presentations and Young Members Council sessions as well as in the new attendee welcome event, a career panel, and committee meetings.

The students selected are:

• Luis Abreu, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at City College of New York
• Joseph Abujana, pursuing a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Morgan State University
• Chappelle Branch, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Transportation Engineering at Morgan State University
• Jacqueline Camacho, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at California State University, Long Beach
• Laura Camarena, pursuing a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at University of Texas, El Paso
• Morgan Chatmon, pursuing a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Tennessee State University
• Braxton Chong, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering at University of Hawaii
• Edward Clay, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• David Corona, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles
• Austin Dikas, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Prairie View University
• Lincoln Edwards, pursuing a master’s degree in Urban Planning at University of Arizona
• Brandon Graham, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electric Engineering Technology at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• Isabel Gutierrez, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Geographic Sciences at North Carolina Central University
• Emmanuel James, pursuing a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Northern Arizona University
• Darrell Johnson, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Tennessee State University
• Benson Long, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at University of New Mexico
• Helena Mascorro, pursuing a master’s degree in Civil Engineering at University of Texas, El Paso
• Joshua Murillo, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Global and National Security at University of Hawaii
• Roodson Pierre, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
• Amy Romero-Garcia, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at Florida International University
• Selena Scott, pursuing a master’s degree in Transportation Planning and Management at Texas Southern University
• Patrick Stanley, pursuing a master’s degree in Business Administration at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University
• Micah Tang, pursuing a master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Hawaii
• Allun Ward, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View University
• Kamal Windom, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at Prairie View University

An article about program outcomes published in Transportation Research Record (TRR) documents the results of a survey of students and reflections by those involved in the program. Survey respondents indicated the program successfully increases fellows’ exposure to TRB, encourages ongoing TRB participation, and contributes to the students’ career growth.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration provides funding for half of the students in the program. The program also receives financial support from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), and the state departments of transportation in Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as from contributions by individual attendees at the TRB Annual Meeting.

Adviser Brendan Russo of Northern Arizona University and staff at the Arizona State Department of Transportation work together to encourage students to apply. Emmanuel James (undergraduate student cohort, 2019) will participate again in 2021 as a graduate student.

“Meeting a network of students who share my interests and motivation in figuring out solutions to ongoing challenges is a highlight of the program,” said James. “Especially as a minority student, you can see how our diverse perspective matters in this field.”

The Transportation Research Board is a program unit of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. The National Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.