March 15-18, 2023
The goal of the 2023 MATC Scholars Program is to promote graduate study among underrepresented groups in STEM fields with a special focus on doctoral-granting and research-intensive institutions.
Students will attended seminars on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln led by a diverse group of faculty members and industry professionals from across the nation. This program brings together students and faculty to provide a unique networking opportunity.
Hotel & Travel Information
The Mid-America Transportation Center is providing hotel rooms to participants of the program at Embassy Suites in Lincoln, Nebraska (1040 P St, Lincoln, NE 68508).
Program Schedule
Wednesday, March 15
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | Arrive & Check in | Embassy Suites Hotel, 1040 P St, Lincoln, NE 68508 | |
| 7:00 PM | Welcome Reception Dinner | Lied Commons, 301 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68508 |
Thursday, March 16 - The Why and How of Graduate School
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:30 - 7:15 AM | Breakfast at Hotel | Embassy Suites Hotel | |
| 7:15 - 7:45 AM | Transition to Howard L. Hawks Hall, Room 211 - 730 N 14th St, Lincoln, NE 68508 | ||
| 7:45 - 8:15 AM | Pre-Conference Assessment | Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR) University of Nebraska-Lincoln | HLH 211 |
| 8:15 - 8:30 AM | University of Nebraska-Lincoln Welcome (UNL) and Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) Introduction | Dr. Aemal Khattak, Director of MATC, UNL | HLH 211 |
| 8:30 - 8:40 AM | Overview of MATC Scholars Program | Dr. Judy Perkins, PE, Prairie View A&M University | HLH 211 |
| 8:40 - 8:55 AM | Welcome from University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Dr. Jennifer PeeksMease, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Inclusive Leadership and Learning, UNL | HLH 211 |
| 8:55 - 9:00 AM | Break | ||
| 9:00 - 9:40 AM | Rotation 1 | ||
| Group 1 Why Graduate School | Mr. Juhann Waller, PE | HLH 211 | |
| Group 2 Graduate School Student Experience | Dr. Deo Chimba, PE | HLH 223 | |
| 9:40 - 10:20 AM | Rotation 2 | ||
| Group 1 Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List | Dr. Ibibia Dabipi | HLH 211 | |
| Group 2 Choosing Faculty Mentors & Finding “Mentoring Communities” for Academic Success | Dr. Edgar Blevins | HLH 223 | |
| 10:20 - 10:30 AM | Break | ||
| 10:30 - 11:10 AM | Rotation 3 | ||
| Group 1 Graduate School Student Experience | Dr. Deo Chimba, PE | HLH 211 | |
| Group 2 Why Graduate School | Mr. Juhann Waller, PE | HLH 223 | |
| 11:10 - 11:50 AM | Rotation 4 | ||
| Group 1 Choosing Faculty Mentors & Finding “Mentoring Communities” for Academic Success | Dr. Edgar Blevins | HLH 211 | |
| Group 2 Choosing a Graduate Program: Making a Short List | Dr. Ibibia Dabipi | HLH 223 | |
| 11:50 AM - 1:00 PM | Lunch & Keynote Speaker | Introduction by Dr. Aemal Khattak Ms. Jessica Rich, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety | HLH 231 |
| 1:00 - 1:30 PM | Group Photos | ||
| 1:30 - 2:30 PM | GEM Overview and Opportunities | Dr. Marcus Huggans, Senior Director, External Relations, The National GEM Consortium | HLH 211 |
| 2:30 - 3:30 PM | Graduate School Admissions Exams | Mrs. Coleen McGuire Read, Market Manager- Southwest, The Princeton Review | HLH 211 |
| 3:30 - 3:45 PM | Break | ||
| 3:45 - 5:00 PM | Conversation with Former MATC Scholars: Panel Discussion (Virtual Session) | Mr. Charles Raleigh, Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Mr. Quinton Rogers, Engineer Assistant II, Transportation Department, City of Dallas Mr. Jarvis Hawkins, Non-Teaching Graduate Student, Prairie View A&M University | HLH 211 |
| 5:00 - 6:00 PM | Break & Transition to UNL City Campus Union Heritage Room | ||
| 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Dinner & Network with UNL Faculty and Graduate Students | UNL City Union Heritage Room, 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588 | |
| 8:00 PM | Transition from Union to Embassy Suites | ||
Friday, March 17 - Strategies for Succeeding in Graduate School
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 - 8:30 AM | Breakfast at Embassy Suites | Embassy Suites | |
| 8:30 - 8:45 AM | Transition to UNL Union, Regency Suite - 1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 68588 | ||
| 8:45 - 9:40 AM | Rotation 5 | ||
| Group 1 Communication Skills | Ms. Amy Maki | Union Regency Suite | |
| Group 2 Understanding Funding and Budgeting Finances | Dr. Luis Vázquez | Union Heritage Room | |
| 9:40 - 10:20 AM | Rotation 6 | ||
| Group 1 Understanding Funding and Budgeting Finances | Dr. Luis Vázquez | Union Regency Suite | |
| Group 2 Communication Skills | Ms. Amy Maki | Union Heritage Room | |
| 10:20 - 10:30 AM | Break | ||
| 10:30 - 11:10 AM | Transportation Efficiency | Dr. David Bouras, Lincoln University | Union Regency Suite |
| 11:10 AM - 12:00 PM | Transportation Scholarships and Employment Opportunities | Ms. Latoya Jones, Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Manager, Federal Highway Administration, Talent Development Division, Office of Human Resources | Union Regency Suite |
| 12:00 - 1:15 PM | Lunch | Union | |
| 1:15 - 1:45 PM | Crash Test Presentation | Mr. Brandon Perry, Research Engineer, Midwest Roadside Safety Facility Dr. Mojdeh Asadollahipajouh, Research Assistant Professor, Midwest Roadside Safety Facility | Union Regency Suite |
| 1:45 - 2:00 PM | Transition to Memorial Stadium | ||
| 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Memorial Stadium Tour | One Memorial Stadium Drive, Lincoln, NE 68588 | |
| 3:00 - 3:15 PM | Transition to Union | ||
| 3:15 - 4:00 PM | Break & Ice Cream | North Side of Union | |
| 4:00 - 4:30 PM | UNL Graduate Studies: Meeting with the Dean | Dr. Lance Pérez, Dean, College of Engineering, UNL | Union Regency Suite |
| 4:30 - 5:30 PM | Focus Group Dialogue and Assessment Post Survey Assessment | Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR), UNL | Union Regency Suite |
| 5:30 - 6:00 PM | Break & Transition to Wick Alumni Center Great Hall - 1520 R St, Lincoln, NE 68508 | ||
| 6:00 - 7:45 PM | Closing Dinner | Introduction by Dr. Luis Vázquez Dr. Erick Jones, PE, CSSBB, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Nevada-Reno | Wick Alumni Center Great Hall |
| 7:45 - 8:00 PM | Closing Remarks | Dr. Aemal Khattak, Director of MATC, UNL | Great Hall |
| 8:00 PM | Transition to Embassy Suites | ||
Saturday, March 18
| Time | Agenda Item | Speaker(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 - 9:00 AM | Breakfast at Embassy Suites Depart to Airport | Embassy Suites |