Dr. Judy A. Perkins' overview of the 2023 MATC Scholars program.

1. Mid-American Transportation Center
(MATC) Scholars Program Overview
Dr. Judy A. Perkins, PE
Professor & TAMU Regents Professor
MATC Scholars Program
March 15 – 18, 2023
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

2. OUTLINE
• History
• Original Theme and Purpose
• Mission and Goal of MATC Scholars Program
• Goal of MATC Scholars Conference
• Executing MATC Scholars Conferences
• Inaugural Conference in 2010
• 2012 Conference

3. OUTLINE
• 2015 Conference
• 2017 Conference
• 2021 Conference
• 2023 Conference Expectations
• Conclusions

4. History
• Dr. Stephanie Adams introduced the idea of “an
encouragement and transition conference for
underrepresented groups considering graduate school in
STEM” to Dr. Laurence Rilett as an important theme
for the Mid-American Transportation Center
(MATC).
• Dr. Rillet then met with Dr. Jones (at UNL in 2010)
and Dr. Perkins to propose on how this program
could become a reality and benefit students the
most.
• The team formed a planning conference in Spring
2010 and brought together an exciting team of
committed faculty.
• The first MATC Scholars Conference took place on
September 24-26th, 2010.

5. Original Theme and Purpose
• In the past, there has not been adequate
consideration of the difficulties that minorities,
and often first generation students encounter in
their pursuit of higher education. But with this
undertaking, we hope to work toward addressing
that issue.
• We have taken great care to select faculty
participants who have experienced the challenges
of pursuing graduate studies at doctoral/research
universities that engaged in extensive research
activities and have the desire to work with
diverse, underrepresented minority students who
are interested in pursuing graduate school.

6. MISSION AND GOAL OF MATC SCHOLARS PROGRAM
• The mission of the MATC Scholars Program
is to recruit and retain students in
transportation.
• The goal of the MATC Scholars Program is to
promote graduate study among under-
represented minorities and women in the
STEM fields with a special focus on doctoral-
granting and research intensive institutions.

7. GOAL OF MATCH SCHOLARS CONFERENCE
• Encouraging and preparing undergraduate
students to select and enter graduate
programs in STEM fields
• Supporting diversity in transportation by
providing guidance in this process to
students in underrepresented groups
The MATC Scholars Program Graduate
Conference seeks to prepare the next
generation of the transportation workforce
by…

8. EXECUTING MATC SCHOLARS CONFERENCES
• A cadre of 8 faculty & 1 consultant representing 8
universities were chosen for their own experiences in
underrepresented groups and at research-intensive
institutions to design a conference to meet the unique
needs of underrepresented students as well as
encourage diversity in the transportation field.
• Provide specific, targeted seminars to improve the
performance, recruitment, and retention of under-
represented students into STEM-related fields.
• Select students to attend based on their expressed
interest in pursuing an advanced degree as well as
coursework in STEM fields.

9. INAUGURAL CONFERENCE IN 2010
• 14 Student
Participants
• 8 Faculty
Participants
• 4 HBCUs

10. 2012 CONFERENCE
• 33 Student Participants
• 11 Faculty Participants
• 5 Universities (HBCUs & HSIs)

11. 2015 CONFERENCE
• 32 Student Participants
• 10 Faculty Participants
• 6 Universities (HBCUs & HSIs)

12. 2017 CONFERENCE
• 33 Student Participants
• 7 Faculty Participants
• 7 Universities

13. • First virtual conference covering a 3-week period
• 93 total registered
2021 Scholars Conference

14. • First time participants from Nebraska Indian
Community College, South Carolina State University,
and Tuskegee University
• Students - 35 Undergraduate & 19 Graduate
• HBCUs, HSIs, MSIs, & Region 7 Institutions
2021 Scholars Conference

15. • 2023 is your year
• Your part
• Pay attention
• Ask questions
• Network
• Provide
feedback
• Stay in touch
• Have Fun –
• Not too much
Expectations for 2023 Scholars Conference
2010
2021

16. CONCLUSIONS
• Thank you for accepting the invitation to
participate in this worthy venture.
• I believe we can make a difference.
• Take advantage of the opportunity afforded
you.
• Here’s my text message to you - “What U get
out of this conference = 2 what U put n 2 it”

17. Slide design © 2009, Mid-America Transportation Center. All rights reserved.
CREDITS
Dr. Judy A. Perkins, PE
Professor & TAMU Regents Professor
Prairie View A&M University
Civil & Environmental Engineering Department
P.O. Box 519, Mail Stop #2510
Prairie View, TX 77446
juperkins@pvamu.edu