Meet the Scholars Team
The Social Science Scholars Program is made possible through the dedication of our leaders, students, alumni and supporters. Learn more about the amazing people who make this program possible!Faculty & Leaders
Our program's leaders are here for one reason: to make sure the Social Science Scholars Program provides the best possible education for the students we serve. Meet the people who have shaped the program into the incredible experience it is below.
John Waller, Ph.D., Director
John Waller, PhD, has degrees in History, Human Biology, and the History of Science from Oxford University, Imperial College, London and University College London. He joined the MSU faculty in 2006. His research interests include the history of science, medicine, psychology and child labor. He is dedicated to student learning and research and is a recipient of MSU’s Teacher-Scholar Award, the Honors College Award for Distinguished Contributions to Honors Students and the Engagement Innovator Award.
Karen Holt, Ph.D., Assistant Director & Associate Professor, MSU School of Criminal Justice
Karen Holt, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and criminologist in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. She received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in forensic psychology and holds a master’s and doctoral degree in criminal justice. Dr. Holt’s research focuses on sexual deviance, sexual offending, and sexually motivated violence. She recently received funding from the Michigan State Police to develop offender-focused knowledge and investigation practices for the Michigan Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
Dr. Heather McCauley, Assistant Professor
Heather McCauley is a faculty member in the MSU School of Social Work, and co-teaches several classes for the Social Science Scholars Program. She is a founding member of Spark 4 Change, a community research lab dedicated to violence prevention, and is an expert on gender and sexuality, climate change and marginalization/health disparities.
Dr. Melissa Fore, Associate Professor
Melissa Fore, PhD. is an Associate Professor in MSU’s James Madison College and Director of Community Initiatives for the Scholars Program. A graduate of MSU, Dr. Fore teaches how concepts of race, class, gender, and sexuality are socially and culturally constructed through social, political, and economic values. She also works with undergraduate researchers on a project that examines representations of race and gender in high school history textbooks. In addition, Dr. Fore oversees the community engagement initiatives of the Scholars Program.
Student Success Stories
How does the program help its students succeed? Check out just some of our students and their accomplishments below!
The Bridge Scholars
The Bridge Scholars is a coalition of students of color within the Social Science Scholars Program that work to ensure that minority and international students feel fully welcome and comfortable within the Scholars Program. They also help to foster important conversations about race, inequity, and privilege so that students from all walks of life can learn from each other's experiences. Small cohort programs like ours provide rare and valuable opportunities for students of diverse backgrounds to connect, form lasting friendships, and unlearn any stereotypes they've grown up with.
Alumni
After 6 months following their graduation, over 98% of Scholars go on to pursue graduate school or find full-time employment. While just over half of our Scholars move on to pursue graduate school, others have landed meaningful jobs in a variety of professional career fields.
Many of our Scholars have pursued graduate education at world-renowned universities such as Duke University, Oxford University, Georgetown University, Emory University, and the University of Michigan Law School. Other Scholars have gone on to start their careers with well-known companies and important social justice organizations such as Bittrex, Barclay, Teach for America, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, and Movement Search & Delivery.
For more information, contact:
John Waller, Ph.D.
Director, Social Science Scholars Program
wallerj1@msu.edu
Karen Holt, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Social Science Scholars Program & Associate Professor, MSU School of Criminal Justice
holtkar1@msu.edu