TWU Professor Honored As Role Model
8/15/03
DENTON — Dr.
Lynda Uphouse, professor of biology at Texas Woman’s University, will
receive a Role Model Citation from Minority Access Inc. at its Fourth Annual
National Role Models Conference, Sept. 13-15 in Washington, D.C. The citation
is being awarded as part of the Maryland-based nonprofit’s Biomedical
Research Role Model Initiative.
The initiative’s
goals include increasing the pool of minority biomedical researchers and providing
networking and learning opportunities for students, faculty and administrators
in the biomedical field. The citation is given to professors who have contributed
to increasing the pool of minority biomedical researchers by mentoring and
supporting minority students, or who have played a significant role in the
fight to eliminate health disparities by conducting research and elevating
the issues as a research priority at his or her institution.
Dr. Uphouse has been
director of TWU’s Multiethnic Biomedical Research Support (MBRS) program
since its creation in 1989. MBRS encourages both minority undergraduate and
graduate students to participate in biomedical research.
Two years ago, Dr. Uphouse instituted an additional aspect to the program
by offering 10 positions annually to incoming freshman with high scores on
math and science placement tests. She personally mentors the freshman students,
meeting with them twice weekly.
In its 14 years, 94
minority students have completed their degrees with assistance provided from
the MBRS program. Approximately, 63 percent of MBRS undergraduate students
have gone on to graduate studies. About 48 percent of the master’s students
have continued their graduate education, with the remainder taking technical
positions in biomedical research labs after receiving their master’s
degree. Approximately 75 percent of the doctoral students in MBRS have gone
on to positions in biomedical research.
Information about
Minority Access Inc. can be found at www.minorityaccess.org.
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For Further Information Contact:
Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu