Hello! My name is Grace, I’m a senior Political Science and History double-major from Warwick, NY, and will also be receiving American Sign Language (ASL) and Public and Professional Writing certificates. This is my second semester working with the multi-disciplinary Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative group at Pitt, after completing our research, our group of eight has split up and has set out to complete new goals under either the Fayette County Community Trust or a Pitt faculty member.

I’ll be working with Dr. Kristin Kanthak of the Political Science Department, focusing on starting LEADR, an Appalachian learning community to connect schools and institutions across the region. This will include building connections, starting locally, conducting focus groups with nearby high schools, and potentially a speaker series about embracing mistakes and using them as platforms to improve.

I am still figuring out my post-graduate goals, but know attending graduate school will inevitably be a part of them. I looking forward to the opportunity to further explore a topic that’s grown very important to me, and build connections that will help lead me in the right direction in my future. I have already learned so much from this group, and have improved communication, teamwork, and presentation skills. I have no doubt that working to improve academic opportunities and regional awareness in our part of Appalachia will be a meaningful and educational experience that I’ll look back on fondly!