Dr. Mark Melton, professor of biology and dean of the School of Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering, was a panelist at the 21st Annual HBCU Faculty Development Network Conference in Raleigh from October 16 through October 18. The title of the panel was “Current Trends in Undergraduate Research at HBCUs.”

“Serving on the panel provided an excellent opportunity to dialogue with faculty and administrators that face similar undergraduate research challenges that we face here at Saint Augustine’s University and to exchange ideas and best practices about overcoming some of the obstacles,” Melton said. “In the end, we all understand the importance of undergraduate research and it is integral role in preparing our young scholars for graduate school, professional school and/or direct entry into the STEM workforce.”

The HBCU Faculty Development Network was founded in 1994 on the Tougaloo College campus under the leadership of Dr. Stephen L. Rozman. The roots of the HBCU Faculty Development Network began to form in 1991, when Tougaloo College received a faculty development grant from the Bush Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2002, with additional funding from the Bush Foundation, the Network added a summer institute to focus on areas of faculty development of particular interest to HBCUs. These focus areas have included learning communities, instructional technology, information literacy, service learning and civic engagement.