REACH

REACH

An opportunity for qualified students who have a sincere interest in pursuing graduate work for the express purpose of pursuing a career in academia. 

Research. Engagement. Action. Community. Humanities.

In December 2019, UNC Pembroke received a three-year $950,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to establish R.E.A.C.H—a program designed to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in faculty positions in institutions of higher education across the United States. R.E.A.C.H. aims to create a groundswell of future scholars among American Indian, African-American, Hispanic-American and other underrepresented minorities interested in advanced study in the humanities--although any qualified student is eligible. 

Each Mellon Fellow will be paired with an individual faculty mentor to develop a research project. Mentors will also help Mellon Fellows target research repositories and appropriate conferences within their respective disciplines. Funds will be provided for research, travel, graduate school entrance exams, and an application to a graduate degree program in the humanities. Room and board will also be provided for the Summer Research Exploration Program that will be held on campus.

REACH cohort 2024-2025

2024 - 2025 REACH Cohort

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W. Jacob Fischak Talbert
W. Jacob Fischak Talbert

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

I like to watch historical documentaries and essay videos

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

My Grandfather to get one more life lesson

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

I would have like to experience the city of Tenochtitlan

If you had one wish what would it be?

I wish I was fluent in all languages to connect with more people

What is your theme song?

Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer

Abelina Sosa Capote
Abelina Sosa Capote

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

I love to plant a garden.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

I would love to have dinner with my dad.

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

I would of liked to had experience when MLK was giving the speech "I have a dream"

If you had one wish what would it be?

If I had one wish, I would ask to be in the presence of the Lord.

What is your theme song?

One day at a time

Sheena Holbrook
Sheena Holbrook

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Cookie Butter on apple slices and Oreo ice cream bars!

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Eleanor Roosevelt

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

Early North America prior to colonization by Europe

If you had one wish what would it be?

To have more time to spend with my son.

What is your theme song?

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker by The Ramones

Jenna Humble
Jenna Humble

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

The smell of book pages.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Anthony Bourdain.

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

The conversation(s) that lead to the establishment of the Paris catacombs.

If you had one wish what would it be?

To have a selective eidetic memory.

What is your theme song?

Who Are You, Really? by Mikky Ekko

Monica Shelton
Monica Shelton

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Supernatural (TV show)

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Shakespeare or Jane Austen

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

The Charles Manson Murders/Cult

If you had one wish what would it be?

To know everything.

What is your theme song?

Goofy Goober Rock from Spongebob

Lisa Beth Campbell Crouch
Lisa Beth Campbell Crouch

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

I collect patches to sew on my backpack when I travel.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

My sister, who died unexpectedly in 2020.

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

Middle Ages, but only if I was a princess.

If you had one wish what would it be?

I wish for everyone to find joy in every day. It is there, you just have to notice it.

What is your theme song?

The Letter by The Box Tops

David Haltom
David Haltom

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Playing Pokémon games for sure!

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

I would love to see the ancient city of Tenochtitlan before the Spanish pillaged it.

If you had one wish what would it be?

To know everything.

What is your theme song?

Laplace’s Angel by Will Wood

Kai Anderson
Kai Anderson

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Studying social theory on my own time

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Marilyn Monroe

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

The Roaring Twenties

If you had one wish what would it be?

That everyone had equal opportunity to financial stability

What is your theme song?

Everybody wants to rule the world by, Tears for Fears

Skyla Miller
Skyla Miller

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

The show how i met your mother

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Reece Witherspoon

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

When they were writing the constitution, i just wanna know what was going through their head and the reasoning behind a lot of stuff they wrote

If you had one wish what would it be?

BE RICH

What is your theme song?

i have no clue

Chloe Locklear
Chloe Locklear

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Audio engineering

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Rick Rubin

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

The Occupation of Alcatraz in the 60s and 70s

If you had one wish what would it be?

To restore indigenous foodways in my community

What is your theme song?

stay flo- by Solange

Mason Schwenneker
Mason Schwenneker

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Pokemon

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Ulysses S. Grant

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

The American Civil War

If you had one wish what would it be?

That diseases would no longer exist

What is your theme song?

Lose Yourself - Eminem

Kristin Stowell
Kristin Stowell

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

I love watching Bluey, my favorite character is Bingo

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Kevin McGarry from When Calls the Heart

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

I would have loved to experience 18th century Scotland.

If you had one wish what would it be?

My one wish would be to own two cows. I can't own just one or it would be lonely.

What is your theme song?

My theme song at the moment is "Listen to the Radio" by Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings

Ashlee Allen
Ashlee Allen

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

Collecting CDs

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Donny Hathaway

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

The Stone Age

If you had one wish what would it be?

World peace

What is your theme song?

Never Too Late - Nat Turner Rebellion

Savanna Lowery
Savanna Lowery

What is your nerdy guilty pleasure?

I love broadway musicals.

If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?

Leonardo da Vinci

Which historical period/event would you have liked to experience?

Ancient Greece

If you had one wish what would it be?

If I had one wish it would to be a solid 6’4 so I could live out my D1 sports dreams.

What is your theme song?

Livin’ on a Prayer

2023 - 2024 REACH Cohort

REACH cohort 2023-2024

2024 REACH Summer Exploration trip to Washington, DC

2023-2024 R.E.A.C.H. Fellows

Research Changes Lives: How UNCP Provides a Pathway to Graduate School for Students from Underrepresented Minority Groups

https://www.aacu.org/aacu-news/campus-model/research-changes-lives-how-uncp-provides-pathway-graduate-school-students

- REACH Fellow Spotlight -

REACH Spotlight - Peace Ajirotutu

                - 30 Brave Minutes Podcast episode featuring REACH Fellow Kaila Thompson -

Meet the New Director: