It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural issue of the Edward Waters University Undergraduate Research Journal. We are excited to present six student articles addressing diverse topics across disciplines. We would like to acknowledge the continued support from Edward Waters University, especially our CEO and President, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Genyne Henry Boston, and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, Dr. Stephanie Campbell. Through their constant and dedicated support, we have been able to embark on this ambitious endeavor. Special thanks also goes to our editorial board, Dr. Seong No Yoon, Professor Christian Bowers, Professor Aileen Miller-Jenkins, and Dean Megan Crowley-Watson, who also served as our undergraduate reviewers for this inaugural issue. We also thank mentors who continuously encourage and help students to develop their ideas into scholarship.
The Edward Waters University Undergraduate Research Journal began with a critical mission to give a voice to underrepresented students in academia. As the state of Florida’s first historically Black college or university (HBCU), we are proud of our legacy and role to serve promising students of color and beyond. Since its evolution from Edward Waters College to Edward Waters University in 2021, we have been committed to continuing our “Emerging Eminence” where intellectually stimulating student research plays a pivotal role.
This year, Edward Waters University adds a new dimension to our research environment along with the launching of the Edward Waters University Undergraduate Research Journal. It aims to succeed in the legacy of our previous journal, Edward Waters College’s Undergraduate Journal on Research across the Disciplines, which unfortunately ceased publication during the Covid-19 global pandemic. Meanwhile, we want to send a warm and strong message to our community, who experienced tragedy after the recent racially motivated events intended to target our campus and the Black community in Jacksonville. Our message is simple– Young scholars will continue to strive for excellence despite experiencing hate and violence in their everyday lives.
We hope you enjoy this first issue of the Edward Waters University Undergraduate Research Journal.
Dr. Hyo Kyung Woo
Editor-in-Chief & Director of the Center for Undergraduate Research
Edward Waters University