Petal student with big public service dreams named 91传媒鈥檚 newest Truman Scholar
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥91传媒 is celebrating the exciting news announced today [April 11] of its 19th student receiving the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
Alicia D. Brown of Petal, a student in 91传媒鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, is receiving $30,000 in graduate-study expenses as part of the highly coveted national award honoring the nation鈥檚 33rd president. As one of approximately 65 students selected from the 50 states this year, Brown is Mississippi鈥檚 only awardee and is committing to a career in public service following graduation.
Brown is a senior chemical engineering major in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering鈥檚 Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering. She also currently is receiving a John and Georgia Ann McPherson Presidential Endowed Scholarship through the university鈥檚 Presidential Endowed Scholarship program.
鈥淎licia is an excellent example of how personal drive and hard work, teamed with the exceptional educational foundation she鈥檚 received at Mississippi State, can help students make their mark on the world,鈥 said 91传媒 President Mark E. Keenum. 鈥淚 commend Alicia鈥檚 achievement as this university continues to educate and empower students as they compete for and win prestigious national and international scholarships.鈥
Tommy Anderson, honors college associate dean for undergraduate academic affairs and director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships, said Brown has developed a deep understanding of the relationship between science鈥攂oth applied and theoretical鈥攁nd sound policy that addresses the nation鈥檚 increasing demand for energy during a time of climate change. Her success, Anderson said, is 鈥渁 celebration for her mentors across colleges and departments who make undergraduate education the cornerstone of meaningful leadership and service.鈥 聽
鈥淎licia is whip-smart and thinks deeply and critically about the issues that motivate her,鈥 said Anderson, who also serves as an English professor and the College of Arts and Sciences鈥 interim assistant dean for undergraduate academic affairs. 鈥淎licia鈥檚 ability to connect the complexities of the science of chemical engineering to coherent policy that serves the public is unique among undergraduates anywhere in the nation.鈥
Brown said she is anticipating her upcoming economics internship this summer with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), where she will explore her passion for evidence-based energy policy.
鈥淓conomics is the tool that guides our energy policy, and I鈥檓 looking forward to doing analysis on the electric and gas markets that can help in developing creative energy solutions,鈥 she said. 鈥淎fter I graduate with my bachelor鈥檚 degree, I want to pursue a juris doctorate to learn how laws interplay with engineering and to help me better foresee policy barriers.鈥
Brown appreciates the 鈥渇antastic鈥 support of the honors college in encouraging students to talk through their differences with open minds and work on solutions to important issues. She is especially grateful to Anderson for his guidance throughout her college years.
鈥淎s a freshman, I didn鈥檛 come in thinking that I could apply for Truman or any other competitive national scholarships, but Dr. Anderson helped me turn those doubts into a vision,鈥 she said. 鈥淔rom reading my application to setting up mock interviews, he鈥檚 been my cheerleader. He wanted to make this the best possible experience and cares about me as an individual.鈥
Along with her engineering studies, involvement with 91传媒鈥檚 Speech and Debate Council has contributed to Brown鈥檚 objectivity and inspired her to help others find common ground on issues.
鈥淪peech and Debate is my primary extracurricular activity, and I absolutely love it. I鈥檝e done it since ninth grade, so this will be my eighth year,鈥 said Brown, the organization's current vice president who recently was elected president for the upcoming academic year. 鈥淏eing a part of Speech and Debate helped me in the Truman process because the interviewers asked questions that really tested me. They wanted to make sure my motivations were pure and that I truly believed in what I said I stood for. It was grueling, but fun.鈥
Brown said she also enjoyed interacting with the other finalists who were equally passionate about their respective causes.
鈥淭ruman gives you the tools and encouragement you need to look at the possibilities ahead of you, and having really good conversations with the other finalists was just the beginning for me,鈥 she said.
Don Shaffer, associate professor of English, African American Studies program interim director and Presidential Endowed Scholarship program mentor, said Brown epitomizes core values of the prestigious scholarship program that is part of 91传媒鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College.
鈥淎licia鈥檚 intellectual commitment to important public policy聽issues, which makes her so deserving of the Truman Scholarship, is equaled by her dedication to improve the lives of others,鈥 he said.
This year, the Washington, D.C.-based Truman Scholarship Foundation reviewed 840 student applications from 346 institutions and selected 199 finalists from 143 institutions based on records of leadership, public service and academic achievement. For more, visit .
Learn more about 91传媒鈥檚 Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College at ; the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering and its Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering, at and .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .