Steve Jenks, Ph.D. – a COSSPP alumnus (B.S. African American Studies ‘10) – recently authored the chapter titled “A National Analysis of Post-Graduation Plan Development by Rurality and Race” in the book “Race and Rurality: Considerations for Advancing Higher Education Equity.”
In the chapter, Dr. Jenks utilizes a new conceptual model of rural post-graduation plan development. It combines his research on rural communities and concern for racial equity in higher education – a culmination of his educational journey.
The recent publication is Dr. Jenks’ first upon receiving a Ph.D. in Higher Education with a focus on Research Methods and Statistics from the University of Denver.
He chose Florida State University because of the variety of opportunities, diverse academic programs, and educators who graduated from FSU that inspired him.
“The diversity of courses and activities I participated in helped me to see how so many things are interconnected in society,” Dr. Jenks said. “Service learning, mentorship, and course requirements that spanned disciplines prepared me for a career that synthesizes information from many sources in order to improve society.”
When asked what his most impactful experience at FSU was, Dr. Jenks said, “Living and learning in Tallahassee I was able to take what I was learning in the classroom and apply it out in the real world immediately. Some of my favorite courses were those with service-learning components that connected me to organizations like afterschool programs in south Tallahassee where I could mentor and tutor local students.”
While at Florida State University, he was an orientation leader, a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, and a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), an honor society that recognizes and celebrates excellence in leadership, scholarship, and service.
When asked to share his insights with current students, Dr. Jenks offered the following advice, “Remember that nothing works in a silo. While you can be an expert in one area, it is people who can connect that experience to other areas that succeed. Being a researcher allows me to use my analytic skills combined with my theatre background and passion for equity and education to help make improvements to real-world products.”
Dr. Jenks currently resides in Denver, CO, working as an Associate UX Researcher by day and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Denver teaching research methods and statistics by night. His research focuses on rural, racial, and socioeconomic issues in higher education.
To read the full chapter, click here, and to learn more about FSU’s African American Studies Program, visit coss.fsu.edu/aas.