Past McKnight Doctoral and Dissertation Fellows

The McKnight Fellowship Program is a state-wide program administered through the Florida Education Fund (FEF). The program is designed to address the under-representation of African American and Hispanic faculty at colleges and universities in the state of Florida by increasing the pool of citizens qualified with Ph.D. degrees to teach at the college and university level. As a by-product, it is expected that employment opportunities in industry will also be expanded. The McKnight Doctoral Fellowship provides up to five years of funding support for newly enrolled African American and Hispanic graduate students who intend to seek a Ph.D. degree. The McKnight Dissertation Fellowship provides up to one year of stipend support to graduate students working to complete dissertations.

This page contains a list of past Fellows. Current fellows can be found here. *McKnight Dissertation Fellows.


2022-2023

Sediqua Bufford

Sediqua Bufford

Biomedical Sciences
"Representation and access to healthcare matter"

View Sediqua Bufford Profile

Johnnie Allen Jr

Johnnie Allen Jr.

Higher Education
"Builds bridges to help others cross"

View Johnnie Allen Jr. Profile

 
Gabrielle Haggins

Gabrielle Haggins

Higher Education
"Become the representation in Higher Education!"

View Gabrielle Haggins Profile

 
Jhamieka Greenwood

Jhamieka Greenwood

Computational Science
"Acquiring knowledge comes in many forms"

View Jhamieka Greenwood Profile

 
Emilio Carrero

Emilio Carrero

Creative Writing
"Education demystifies what haunts us"

View Emilio Carrero Profile

Jasmine Smith

Jasmine Smith

Communication Science & Disorders
"Your insight can help improve outcomes"

View Jasmine Smith Profile

 
Charlisa Whyms

Charlisa Whyms

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
"Increase Minority Representation in STEM Careers"

View Charlisa Whyms Profile

 
Rodney Ndum

Rodney Ndum

Finance
"Having a seat at the table"

View Rodney Ndum Profile

 
Brianna Alston

Brianna Alston

Statistics
"To access better career opportunities"

View Brianna Alston Profile

M. Re'Shaun Blake

M. Re'Shaun Blake

Curriculum and Instruction
"Knowledge. Impact. Service. Experience. Advocacy. Access"

View M. Re'Shaun Blake Profile

Dissertation Fellows

Tiffaney Tomlinson

Tiffaney Tomlinson

Criminology
"Educates the minds of future scholars"

View Tiffaney Tomlinson Profile

Nikki Chappell

Nikki Chappell

Accounting
"More Black professors needed in classroom"

View Nikki Chappell Profile

 
Nicole Zampieri

Nicole Zampieri

Geography
"Knowledge changes you and the world!"

View Nicole Zampieri Profile

 
Joshlyn Thomas

Joshlyn Thomas

Higher Education


2021-2022

Keturah Young

Keturah Young

Education Policy and Evaluation
"Black woman representation in academia matters"

View Keturah Young Profile

Rose Archer

Rose Archer

Sociology
"Your community is depending on you"

View Rose Archer Profile

 
Alaba Ilesanmi

Alaba Ilesanmi

Musicology
"Becoming trained to influence others"

View Alaba Ilesanmi Profile

 
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         Mark Buckwalter

Mark Buckwalter

Finance
"Education positively impacts future generations"

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Annais Muschett Bonilla

Annais Muschett Bonilla

Ecology and Evolution
"Continual education growth and societal advancement"

View Annais Muschett Bonilla Profile

Shaylyn King

Shaylyn King

Communication Science & Disorders
"We need more diversity in academia"

View Shaylyn King Profile

 
Gabriela Caviedes

Gabriela Caviedes

Sport Psychology
"Opportunities for expert development and credibility"

View Gabriela Caviedes Profile

 
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         Daniel Betancourt

Daniel Betancourt

Biomedical Sciences
"A path to improving our world."

View Daniel Betancourt Profile

 
Andrea Hodge

Andrea Hodge

Strategic Management
"Good management serves us all"

View Andrea Hodge Profile

Dissertation Fellows


2020-2021

Camille Lewis

Camille Lewis

Learning and Cognition
"Make an impact in your community."

View Camille Lewis Profile

Frederick Feely II

Frederick Feely II

Biomedical Science
"Bringing the world to new heights."

View Frederick Feely II Profile

 
 
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         Bertha Crombet

Bertha Crombet

English - Creative Writing
"Learning is more exciting than settling."

View Bertha Crombet Profile

 
Kalan Horton

Kalan Horton

Business Admin – Strategy

View Kalan Horton Profile

 
Royce Pokela

Royce Pokela

Mechanical Engineering

View Royce Pokela Profile

 
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         Fatou Gaye

Fatou Gaye

Psychology
"A path to improving our world."

View Fatou Gaye Profile

Sheila Labissiere

Sheila Labissiere

Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
"Knowledge, Credibility, Desire, Change Agent, Impact"

View Sheila Labissiere Profile

Christy Chatmon

Christy Chatmon

Information Science
"Don't be trapped by Dogma."

View Christy Chatmon Profile

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         Camille Adams

Camille Adams

English - Creative Writing
"What is true persists and prevails."

View Camille Adams Profile

 

2019-2020

Alexandria Meyer

Alexandria Meyer

Psychology
"I want to contribute to science."

View Alexandria Meyer Profile

Benjamin Gardner

Benjamin Gardner

Marketing
"Go and climb the mountain people."

View Benjamin Gardner Profile

 
Cynthia Norris

Cynthia Norris

Developmental Psychology
Developing research to change children's lives."

View Cynthia Norris Profile

 
Francesca Otero Vargas

Francesca Otero Vargas

Marriage & Family Therapy
"I am worth it. Endless possibilities."

View Francesca Otero Vargas Profile

 
James Hernandez

James Hernandez

Educational Psychology & Learning Systems
"Freedom to boundlessly serve students."

View James Hernandez Profile

Melissa Clairjeune

Melissa Clairjeune

English
"Here by hard work and faith."

View Melissa Clairjeune Profile

 
O'Juan Edwards

O'Juan Edwards

Higher Education
"Higher education can change the world."

View O'Juan Edwards Profile

2019-2020 Dissertation Fellows


2018-2019

Dionne Wilson

Dionne Wilson

Curriculum & Instruction
"This is a pivotal stepping stone."

View Dionne Wilson Profile

Herman Autore

Herman Autore

Statistics
"Just one more line of code."

View Herman Autore Profile

 
James Brown

James Brown

Neuroscience/Psychology
"I hope to pay it forward."

View James Brown Profile

 
Nella Delva

Nella Delva

Biomedical Sciences
"Transform my passion into a tool."

View Nella Delva Profile

 
Valeria Rigobon

Valeria Rigobon

Developmental Psychology
"Committed to enhancing my scholarly abilities."

View Valeria Rigobon Profile

Estee Hernandez

Estee Hernandez*

Higher Education
"Answer to my immigrant family’s prayers."

View Estee Hernandez Profile

 

2017-2018

Nataly Abrams

Nataly Abrams

Neuroscience
"Knowledge revolutionizes my world and other's."

View Nataly Abrams Profile

Adriane Jackson

Adriane Jackson

Higher Education
"I am my daughter's role model."

View Dionne Wilson Profile

 
Latoya Leary

Latoya Leary

Religion
"The intrigue of unearthing silenced voices."

View Latoya Leary Profile

 
Brandon Mendez

Brandon Mendez

Finance
"Finally pursuing my desired career field."

View Brandon Mendez Profile

 
Dustin Pearson

Dustin Pearson

Creative Writing
"To open the doors that wouldn't."

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Andrea Tillet

Andrea Tillet

Accounting
"Be passionately curious about your environment."

View Andrea Tillet Profile

 

Dissertation Fellows

  • Genevieve Bell, Neuroscience (Arts and Sciences)
  • Pablo Correa , School of Communication (Communication and Information)
  • Reginald Harris, Management (Business)
  • Joel Mendez, Urban and Regional Planning (Social Sciences and Public Policy)
  • Lakeisha Norton, School of Teacher Education (Education)
  • Cocoa Williams, English (Arts and Sciences)

2016-2017

Terence Fisher

Terence Fisher

Physics
"To push beyond what is known."

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Eduardo Fuste

Eduardo Fuste

Accounting
"Sow a seed, cultivate its growth."

View Eduardo Fuste Profile

 
Erin Harrell

Erin Harrell

Psychology
"Empowering self. Inspiring Hope. Awakening dreams."

View Erin Harrell Profile

 
Jorge Hernandez

Jorge Hernandez

Criminology
"I keep telling myself I'm good."

View Jorge Hernandez Profile

 
Lawrence Jackson

Lawrence Jackson

Family and Child Sciences
"You must inspire before you expire."

View Lawrence Jackson Profile

Danielle Krusemark

Danielle Krusemark

Psychology
"Make the world a little better."

View Danielle Krusemark Profile

 
Malcolm McCray

Malcolm McCray

Chemistry
"I just want to learn more."

Ivanna Pengelley

Ivanna Pengelley

Science Education
"Supporting others supports us in turn."

View Ivanna Pengelley Profile

 
Jackson Powell

Jackson Powell

Biology
"Become the role model I lacked."

View Jackson Powell Profile

 
Luis Saucedo

Luis Saucedo

Chemistry
"To be the best in nanoscience."

View Luis Saucedo Profile

 

Dissertation Fellows

  • Ashley Carter, Nutrition & Food Science (Human Sciences)
  • Yolanda Franklin, English (Arts & Sciences)
  • Jordyn Rosario, Criminology (Criminology and Criminal Justice)
  • Jenay Sermon, Higher Education (Education)