Background - The Gulf Scholars Program (GSP) is an initiative of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program (GRP) with a mission to build the capacity of the Gulf region’s colleges and universities to prepare and inspire undergraduate students to address critical challenges facing the region at the intersections of human, environmental, and energy systems. The GSP specifies key learning outcomes necessary for undergraduate student to address these challenges, provides funding for participating schools, and supports the development of an interdisciplinary, diverse, and region-wide network of GSP schools and students committed to the GRP's vision of a safer, more resilient, and sustainable Gulf region.

Mission - The mission of the GSP at Jackson State University is to recruit and stimulate diverse and talented undergraduates who are culturally interconnected with the Gulf of Mexico social landscape, to seek advanced training in an integrated transdisciplinary program of logic, research, and shared experiences in physical and biological sciences, engineering, mathematics, social sciences, humanities and art, environmental and public health, and leadership to build upon the diversity and inclusivity of a workforce capable to restore and protect marine and coastal resources in the Gulf of Mexico region, and informed active citizenry to advance community resilience, economic development, social equity, sustainability, and health.

Goals - JSU GSP Goals are: 

1) to adopt curricular alignment measures leading to direct curriculum changes designed towards broadening participation of URG students in the GSP and development of cognitive and academic skills and competencies by rendering the curriculum and teaching strategies and methods more appealing to meet the present challenges and future sustainability of the Gulf Coast Region and the cultural and economic needs of the gulf region communities, 

2) to incorporate research-based pedagogies in college classrooms, laboratories, and discussion sections, and implementing active learning in the new curriculum in the GSP courses and research experiences to improve overall attainment of outcomes and retention, particularly for underprepared and underrepresented students, 

3) to provide Professional Development that supports faculty as they engage the imperative to transform faculty teaching and mentoring practices, including the intentionality of redesigned and reformed curriculum and the alignment of student learning outcomes and research experiences and skill sets, 

4) personalized student-mentor research experiences and products including, high impact publication and innovative personalized research projects, 

5) to increase the research capacity-building of faculty and undergraduate students, and 

6) creating an impactful pathway model that can be shared with the broader community of colleges and universities working to increase the number of minorities in Gulf Studies in the workforce, and bridging the gap to graduate and doctoral attainment.

Contact Information

Dr. Ramzi Kafoury, Program Director

Associate Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Office: Dean's suite, Engineering Building
Email: ramzi.kafoury@jsums.edu
Phone: 601-979-2153