Browse Items · VT Special Collections and University Archives Online

Black Excellence Oral History with OmiSoore Dryden, June 18, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. OmiSoore Dryden developed a passion for social science and health equity from an early age, influenced by her parents' professions in education and nursing. She pursued undergraduate studies in political science, sociology, and women and gender…

Black Excellence Oral History with Michelle Samuel-Foo, June 23, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Michelle Samuel-Foo, born in Trinidad and Tobago, grew up in a large family practicing subsistence agriculture. Excelling in her studies, she won a scholarship to Brewton-Parker College in Georgia, where she graduated summa cum laude in biology.…

Black Excellence Oral History with Jonathan Auguste, June 18, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Jonathan Auguste, born in Trinidad and Tobago, and raised in Arima, where he experienced both urban and rural lifestyles. Despite a challenging start to his undergraduate career, he excelled academically at the University of the West Indies…

Black Excellence Oral History with Jessica Ware, June 24, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Jessica Lee Ware, born on May 12, 1977, is an entomologist currently holding a dream position at the American Museum of Natural History. Raised in Toronto by a single mother and later her father, Dr. Ware grew up in a challenging environment but…

Black Excellence Oral History with Robert Green, June 31, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Robert Green, born in Johns Island, South Carolina, grew up in the Gullah-Geechee community. His parents nurtured his natural curiosity and analytical skills. Excelling in science and math, Green attended magnet schools before majoring in…

Black Excellence Oral History with Aris Winger, June 30, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Aris Benjamin Winger II, from Washington, D.C., is a mathematics educator at Georgia Gwinnett College. His early interest in mathematics was encouraged by significant mentors and his family, which inspired him to pursue higher education at Howard…

Black Excellence Oral History with Sarah Lemer, June 15, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Sarah Lemer is an assistant professor in marine invertebrate genomics at the University of Guam, focusing on mollusk evolution and coral gene expression during climate change. Growing up, Dr. Lemer lived in multiple countries due to her father's…

Black Excellence Oral History with Pascale Guiton, June 19, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Pascale Schaaba Guiton, grew up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, before moving to the United States at 18. She currently serves as an assistant professor of biological sciences at California State University, where her research focuses on exploring…

Black Excellence Oral History with Austin Gray, June 15, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Austin Douglas Gray, born oin North Charleston, South Carolina, is an assistant professor in the biological sciences department at Virginia Tech. Growing up, Dr. Gray was inspired by his father's academic achievements and his mother's dedication…

Black Excellence Oral History with Kevin Cox, June 16, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Kevin Cox, born and raised in Florissant, Missouri, is a postdoctoral associate at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. He attended the University of Missouri in St. Louis for his bachelor's degree in biology. Initially aspiring to become a…

Black Excellence Oral History with Vernon Morris, June 27, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Vernon Morris, as an Air Force brat, grew up in many places including the United States and Japan. His early education was marked by combative experiences with teachers, leading him to focus on sports and later develop an interest in science.…

Black Excellence Oral History with Candice Duncan, June 10, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Candice Morrison Duncan, born in Durham, North Carolina, grew up in a close-knit family, where her mother encouraged her academic pursuits, fostering her early interest in STEM. She attended UNC Greensboro for her undergraduate degree in biology…

Black Excellence Oral History with Scott Edwards, July 7, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Scott Edwards, raised in Colorado Springs and New York City, developed an early interest in natural history and birds. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy for high school and went on to Harvard University, initially studying the history of science…

Black Excellence Oral History with Ela-Sita Carpenter, January 31, 2022 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Ela-Sita Carpenter, born in Baltimore, Maryland, grew up in a small, nature-loving family. Despite living in a cramped rowhouse, her parents fostered her early interest in nature. This passion led her to Hampton University, where she studied…

Black Excellence Oral History with Keenan Adams, June 24, 2021 (Ms2024-072)

Dr. Keenan Jerome Adams, born at Landstuhl Air Force Base in Germany, grew up navigating the complexities of his mixed heritage and frequent relocations due to his father's Air Force career. Despite initial academic hurdles, Keenan excelled in…

Oral History with Rick Boucher Part 2, October 25, 2023 (Ms2021-048)

In this second part of the oral history interview, former Congressman Rick Boucher focuses this interview on the legislative achievements he was involved in during his time in the State Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

After getting…