Durant, Okla. – Southeastern Oklahoma State University sophomore Emma Hamblin will participate in the Ph.D. Pathway for Advancement in the Humanities and Social Sciences (PATHS) program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., this summer as part of Southeastern’s fellowship with the Leadership Alliance.
Hamblin is a history and art double major from Caddo in the Southeastern Honors program, who will join the McNair Scholars program in the fall semester and has also previously studied Italian at the Middlebury Summer Language School.
PATHS is a 10-week residential summer research program for undergraduate students enrolled at minority-serving institutions, including Native American-Serving Institutions like Southeastern, who undertake independent research projects in a student-centered, collaborative setting using peer modeling to develop undergraduates as subject matter experts.
Building on the model of the Mellon Humanities Collaboratory, PATHS brings together students from different branches of humanities and social sciences scholarship to work together constructively while pursuing individual projects, each culminating in a research paper and a presentation at the Hopkins Summer Research Symposium and/or the Leadership Alliance National Symposium.
“I’m excited about the Johns Hopkins PATHS Program because it gives me the chance to dive deeper into archival research and history in a hands-on way,” Hamblin said. “I want to learn more about how historical narratives are shaped and preserved, and I hope to come away with a stronger ability to analyze and interpret the past. The Johns Hopkins PATHS Program seems like the perfect place to do that, and I hope to gain not just skills, but a deeper appreciation for how history is crafted by historians.”
The PATHS program also includes additional mentoring infrastructure and a more advanced framework for college juniors and seniors who are ready to pursue graduate school. Participants will leave the program with a portfolio of materials for applying to Ph.D. programs, an established relationship with a Hopkins faculty mentor and with JHU’s Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity (URSCA) research staff, and a cohort of peers who will remain a support network as they enter graduate programs.
“Emma exemplifies what is possible when a smart, motivated student chooses to pursue every opportunity available to her,” Honors Program Director and Professor of English Dr. Margaret Cotter-Lynch noted. “In her summer at Johns Hopkins, Emma will have the opportunity to learn skills in art preservation and history which will allow her to bring together her academic interests to serve her long-term career goals.”
About Southeastern
Founded in 1909, Southeastern Oklahoma State University provides an environment of academic excellence that enables students to reach their highest potential. By having personal access to excellent teaching, challenging academic programs, and extracurricular experiences, students will develop skills and habits that promote values for career preparation, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning. Our over 6,000 students include 50% first-generation students and 28% students of Native American descent, with 82% receiving financial aid. Southeastern ranks amongst the most affordable schools in the region thanks to out-of-state tuition waivers and is proud of its exceptional affordable accredited MBA program, stellar aerospace and teacher education programs, and outstanding national ranking in graduating Native American students.
