Annual SPIRE Distinguished Scholar Seminar
SPIRE Fellows work collaboratively to plan and host the Annual Distinguished Scholar Seminar for the academic community and undergraduate students from North Carolina's minority serving institutions (MSIs). This event brings a distinguished science researcher, educator, administrator, or policy maker to the UNC-Chapel Hill campus to address issues relating to science education and diversity.
Past Distinguished Scholars include:
- Dr. Mark Forsyth
- Professor of Biology, College of William & Mary
- Dr. Ben Cuker
- Professor of Marine and Environmental Studies, Hampton University
- Dr. Marian Johnson-Thompson
- Director of Education and Biomedical Research Development, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Dr. Joseph Dunbar
- Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University
- Dr. Shirley Malcom
- Head, Education and Human Resources, American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Dr. George Langford
- Professor of Natural Sciences, Dartmouth University
- Dr. Howard Adams
- Professional Mentor and Educator
- Dr. Juliette Bell
- Professor of Chemistry, Fayetteville State University
Undergraduate students from the HMUs receive the opportunity to meet and attend a lecture by the Distinguished Scholar. Their visit to UNC-Chapel Hill also includes participating in activities designed to promote their interest in scientific research, including:
- Meeting faculty members from UNC-Chapel Hill's graduate programs
- Attending an information session on undergraduate summer research programs
- Joining a roundtable discussion with graduate students and postdocs
- Touring research labs at UNC-Chapel Hill
