Seven Students, Alumnus Selected for Harvard’s 2025 Du Bois Scholars Program

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Dec. 16, 2025) – Seven undergraduate students and an alumnus have been selected from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in the second year of the Du Bois Scholars program at Harvard University.

Jyanne Guide, Misbahou Jalloh, Keon Jordan, Bryce Joseph, Zion Smith and Asia Thompson are among 36 Fellows in this year’s cohort, which includes returning Fellows Jacquelle Joseph-Lainez and Jayden Seay ‘25. N.C. A&T had the most participants in the program, as well as in its new partnership with the Center for Astrophysics (CfA).

The Du Bois Scholars program is a prestigious initiative aimed at recognizing and supporting exceptional students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), offering a fully funded, nine- to 10-week summer research internship at Harvard College Summer Undergraduate Research Village.

Guide is a second-year Honors College student and inaugural Power of Four Research Fellow studying mass communications with a minor in political science in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS). She serves as an Andrew Goodman Campus Ambassador, Honors Ambassador, University of North Carolina Association of Student Governments Campus Delegate, and a writer for the A&T Chapter of Her Campus. She has been a human resources culture and diversity intern with McClatchy, a programming intern with the Center for Racial Equity in Education, and supported worker justice efforts as an HBCU Southern Summer Institute for Worker Justice participant with Service Employees International. She was paired with Bianca Baldridge, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Jalloh, son of Abdul and Isata Jalloh from Woodbridge, Virginia, is a second-year Honors College student studying physics in the College of Science and Technology (CoST). He deepened his research skills in astrophysics while exploring real-world applications of Earth and space science at CfA, where he was paired with faculty mentor Jason Eastman, Department of Astronomy. “This opportunity brings me closer to my academic and professional goal of becoming a renewable energy scientist with a deep understanding of both terrestrial and cosmic systems,” said Jalloh. “It also fuels my personal mission to innovate solutions that harmonize science, sustainability and community impact.”

Jordan, son of Dziko Diggs and Kelvin Jordan from Baltimore, is a third-year Honors College student studying political science in CAHSS. As a Du Bois Scholar, was paired with faculty mentor Jerome Offord Jr., Harvard Library, where he discovered new approaches to help advance higher education. “I am very excited to watch my ideas for my dissertation continue to evolve into something that can truly encapsulate the picture I wish to paint for HBCUs,” said Jordan. “I hope that I can use my experience to influence scholars to spend more time thoroughly exploring libraries, because that level of inspiration I found is something I feel like can be really hard to find nowadays.”

Joseph, son of Keia Parker and Russell Joseph from Raleigh, North Carolina, is a second-year student studying physics in CoST. His Du Bois program project was evaluating and vetting period aliases for exoplanet candidates with TESS data at CfA, where he was paired with Eastman. “This program has allowed me to be immersed in the type of environment I could work at in the future,” said Joseph. “I will be sure to let my colleagues at my university know about the generosity of the Du Bois Scholars Program and and the facilities, opportunities and similar minds working and studying at Harvard.”

Smith, son of Valerie Chandler-Smith and Maceo Stanley Smith from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is a fourth-year student studying physics in CoST. He has leveraged his experience as a Fellow in CfA – where he was paired with faculty mentors Anya Nugent, Center for Astrophysics, and Ashley Villar, Department of Astronomy – to hone his skills for the future and expanding my knowledge and network in the world of STEM. “Like Build-A-Blocks, I plan to use this experience as a vital piece to build my career,” said Smith. “Spending the summer surrounded by so many talented, sharp-witted, intelligent people has transformed my mindset for the better.”

Thompson, daughter of Barbara Thompson and Carlos Thompson from Clayton, North Carolina, is a fourth-year student studying biology in CoST. She was paired with faculty mentor Meredith Rosenthal, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research alongside the second cohort of Du Bois Scholars,” Thompson  said. “This experience not only strengthened my academic foundation, but also brought me closer to becoming a community-conscious dentist and advocate for equitable care.”

Joseph-Lainez, daughter of Shayleen Joseph-Lainez and Hugo Lainez from Freeport, New York, is a fourth-year Honors College student studying biology in CoST. She was paired this year with faculty mentor Darren Higgins, Harvard Medical School. She also was nominated by the program’s peer participants to serve as one of six inaugural Campus Ambassadors for the program for the academic year. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue developing as a researcher, a person, and now a leader,” she said. “Pouring into myself and into this cohort further prepares me for the professional world of medicine.”

Seay, son of Stacey Duvall Seay and John Seay from Woodbridge, earned his B.S. in secondary education-history as an Honors College student and February One Scholar. He is pursuing his doctoral degree in policy studies in urban education at the University of Illinois Chicago. The only Fellow to return to the same site, Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, he was paired with faculty mentor Hannah Marcus, Faculty of Arts and Sciences and 2025 winner of the Dan David Award, and Evelynn Hammonds, former dean of Harvard College. “Through my work this summer, I was able to reinterpret an object on display and produce a new label, replacing the antiquated language of ‘Master and Slave,’” he said. “These two summers of intense research, impactful mentorship and incredible community have deeply influenced my personal and professional journey, and helped launch me directly from undergrad to Ph.D. studies.”

The Du Bois Scholars Program is open to rising junior and senior scholars from select Research 1, Research 2 and research-focused HBCUs that meet the selection criteria. Fellows receive dedicated hands-on mentorship and access to rigorous research and learning environment, fostering both intellectual growth and personal development. The program culminates with a final presentation of their research to fellow scholars, faculty mentors and teams.

The internship includes an on-site residential Summer School Proctor, an on-campus housing assignment with fellow researchers, reimbursement of their travel costs, three meals a day including weekends and a $5,000 stipend for additional expenses.