College and university academics, administrators and alumni from across the nation, and students earning their way up the ladder of learning were honored this weekend in the nation’s capital as a “national role model” for their achievements as academic models for others following the same pursuits.
Minority Access, Inc. (MAI), a small, long-established organization that focuses on recognizing academic achievement, cited more than 40 academicians, nine undergraduate students for their research studies, and others as “Minority Access Role Model” recipients.
Most of the honors included little if any cash. Still, the MAI recognition was characterized as priceless by its founder, staff and people familiar with the program over the years. They say being honored for any level of achievement in academic research and inspiring students to pursue research is rare and understated.
“Our aim is to inspire young people to emulate these people as role models just as they try to emulate sports and entertainment figures,” said MAI President Andrea Mickle, a higher education advocacy operative for more than three decades.
The two-day MAI conference at the Mayflower Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., was marked with mentoring workshops and conferences for honorees and finalists in various student competitions.
U.S. Department of Education Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Linda Byrd Johnson participated as a keynote speaker, offering conference attendees an update on what the department is doing in the final days of the Obama administration to continue advancing higher education.
The numerous honors awarded were most important, however. The organization awarded “national role model” honors to 14 higher education institution administrators, four alumni not directly involved with an institution currently, two faculty role models, five faculty mentors, three faculty research mentors, and one community college president.
