ANDOVER — The Office of Community and Multicultural Development (CAMD) has announced the 2008-2009 CAMD Scholars. At a dinner meeting last week with their faculty advisors, the six students were introduced by biology instructor Raj Mundra, associate dean of CAMD and founder of the program, and invited to describe their chosen topics for research. The students, their research titles, and advisors are:
- Courtnie Crutchfield ’09 — “The Multiethnic Dilemma: Identity Formation for the Latina, Afro-Latina, and African American” (Carlos Hoyt, associate dean of students)
- Radka Dancikova ’09 — “Retaining Cultural Identities: A Look at the Rusyn Community” (Victor Svec, chair of the Russian department and instructor in Russian)
- Michael Discenza ’09 —“Assessing Types of Heterogeneity in the CT School System: Intramunicipal vs. Intermunicipal Integration” (Frank Tipton, instructor in history)
- Kimberly Kuoch ’09 — Cambodian Immigrants in America (Aya Murata, advisor to Asian/Asian-American students)
- Jane Thomas ’10 — “The Next Step: The Choctaw a Century After the Trail of Tears” (Malinda Blustain, director of the Robert S. Peabody Museum of Archaeology)
- Tori Wilmarth ’09 — “White Privilege: A History and Its Role in Contemporary Education” (Stephanie Curci, instructor in English)
Students interested in becoming CAMD Scholars were required to submit proposals to the CAMD Office in February. Originally, four students were to be named to receive the stipend and expense money to research their topics over the summer months, but Mundra said six students turned in proposals that were so impressive that the group was expanded.
Like last year’s scholars, the six students will have time to research and reflect over the summer. A paper and a presentation of their findings are due the first day of the fall term. Mundra is working to schedule their presentations as they relate to course offerings through the fall, he said, “so that this fascinating student work can be integrated into the curriculum.” Several students will present on Andover’s traditional Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when the entire school meets in a variety of venues to study and experience topics in multiculturalism.
Originally started with an Abbot Association Grant in the 2007-2008 academic year, the CAMD Scholars program has acquired permanent status in the office’s budget. It is one of several examples of unique opportunities that Andover has developed to encourage its students to engage in original research.
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