This fall, 21 new members of the Social Science Scholars Program arrived on campus to begin their journey as scholars and Social Scientists. It is the 13th cohort in the program’s history, and is made up of a diverse group of students from across the world studying in a variety of fields.
Open to all incoming College of Social Science freshmen, the Social Science Scholars program led by Dr. John Waller brings together a selective group of highly motivated students who are eager to begin collaborating with their peers, working closely with faculty, and taking on leadership roles on campus and in the community.
Students in the program participate in small group seminar courses, undergraduate research, internships, community engagement, and study abroad and away opportunities. They are deeply involved in several community initiatives, including the Tenant Resource Center of Mid-Michigan, AgeAlive, Citizens for Prison Reform and the Flint Pediatric Public Health Initiative. Scholars receive faculty mentorship in addition to forming close relationships with program alumni in their chosen field via the Scholars Mentorship Program.
The Scholars program supports its students and provides them with a wealth of experiences that will prove worthwhile both throughout their time at Michigan State and when preparing for competitive careers, graduate school, law school and other advanced professional programs. Participating students are often the nominees and recipients of several prestigious national awards, including the Truman, Rhodes, and Marshall scholarships.
The newest members of the Social Science Scholars program are listed below along with their home state and areas of study.
Aiden Niemiec: Michigan, Psychology with a double minor in Public Policy and Digital Storytelling
Anna Foote: Michigan, Psychology and Spanish
Avery Baker: Michigan, Political Science Pre-Law, Philosophy of Law
Daniel Mathis: Michigan (born in Jordan), Political Science with a minor in Business
Devyn Plozai: Michigan, Psychology
Emad Shahjahan: Toronto, Canada, Physics, Global and International Studies, and Politics, Rights & Culture
Evan Johnson: Michigan, Psychology & History
Ethan Forman: Florida, Criminal Justice
Fadi Dardar: Michigan (born in Iraq), Economics and Human Biology
Julia Valla: Michigan, Economics
Larissa Dudicz: Michigan, Political Science Prelaw and Psychology
Lilian Bates: Michigan, Political Science and Psychology
Madison Borg: Michigan, Psychology
Marin Johnson: Michigan, Anthropology
Natalie Grit: Michigan, History: Social Studies Education
Paul Krone: Illinois, Political Science
Sophia Tavarez: New York, Economics
Sonya Pales: Colorado, Social Work and Residential College in the Arts and Humanities
Sophie Hong: Illinois, Psychology and Political Science
Zoe McAlister: Michigan, Psychology and Sociology
Zora Key: Arkansas, History