2016 STSI Participant Biko Caruthers Reflects on his Experience
I f i r s t h e a r d a b o u t Columbia ’ s IRAAS STSI program from my colleague at the University of Central O k l a h o m a . T h o s e introductions in my courses where I offered a soundbite about my research interests paid off . My colleague was well aware of my research i n t e r e s t s : g e n d e r a n d sexuality in black liberation movements and black literature across the African diaspora . My colleague also understood my deep love and fascination with New York City and sent me the link he came across while looking for conferences to a t t e n d . A f t e r g e t t i n g accepted into the STSI program I can vividly recall looking over the schedule of events and telling every person in my circle that I was going to learn about “ the many worlds of black New York ” at Columbia University . Before attending the institute , I anticipated meeting people and learning about their projects . I gained so much from my cohort it was a diverse group and I am still in contact with several of them . Lauren
Broussard and I had great conversations regarding i n t e r s e c t i o n a l i t y a n d academia . I am excited to see what she does when she completes her Doctor of Public Health at Columbia . Peter Blackmer is in the doctoral programs . I know I have not listed everyone but those three in particular are mentors to me because they are in doctoral programs . I also wanted to know more about their experiences navigating the many levels of academia . Dr . Samuel K . Roberts was the first of the excellent seminars that week . His work on the Rockefeller drug laws and how those laws served as the adopted model for major cities under the guise of the “ w a r o n d r u g s ” reinforced in my mind the importance of telling t h e h i s t o r y o f marginalized people . I
Biko Caruthers with STSI seminar leaders and am a history grad student author of Black Ethnics , Christina Greer and seeing Dr . Roberts
present his work made a huge impression on my final stages of his doctoral mind in regards to future work in African American doctoral work , Columbia studies and was very helpful University , and validating in connecting me with my goals of being a leader professors at the University and teacher in academia . of Massachusetts-Amherst . Looking back on my
T r a c e y J o h n s o n i s undergrad years there was a completing her doctoral t y p e o f t e a c h e r a n d work in history at Rutgers instructor that I needed that and she continues to offer was not available to me . Dr . me support as I begin the Roberts represents the type application process for of mentor and professor I