IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE: GORDON BYRD'S ACADEMIC JOURNEY

As a student, the challenges of applying for scholarships, maintaining a high GPA, and staying motivated can be overwhelming.

But Gordon Byrd, an alumni member of Alpha Chi, stands out with an unwavering commitment to education and personal development. "After my Army service, I wanted to go to China as a missionary, because that's where my wife is from," Gordon recalls. Byrd quickly realized, however, that he would need to earn his Ph.D. if he wanted to find high-quality work overseas and move himself and his wife back to China.

Now a Ph.D. student at East Carolina University studying writing, rhetoric, and professional communication, Byrd continues to share his research at a high level and has built a successful career in higher education, despite an initial lack of interest in academia. Through hard work and a steadfast desire to continuously learn, Gordon's journey serves as a testament to the importance of pursuing one's passions and striving for growth.

EARLY YEARS

After starting his master’s degree, Byrd began working at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he was eventually chosen president of the school's Alpha Chi chapter. In 2013, Byrd was recognized for his hard work and dedication to his academic pursuits. He presented a research project at Vanderbilt University and was named a runner-up for the Pryor Fellowship. “Applying for the scholarship initially felt overwhelming,” said Byrd, then noted that “I remember sitting down and thinking, ‘I have no idea what I'm going to write.’ And then, probably an hour later, the application was finished.” Byrd also discussed the process of nearly winning the Pryor Fellowship, saying “I never thought I would ever get a scholarship, so when I was the runner-up, I thought it was incredible.”

Byrd's passion for excellence was evident in his master's work at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. For a period during his time working for the Honors College, admissions essays were a required material for each and every applicant. Processing hundreds of admissions essays led Byrd to question the connection between admissions essays and student success.

Byrd conducted extensive research, reading hundreds of admissions essays and analyzing their correlation to student success. "There's a conceit in writing studies that 'If you think good but don't write good, no one thinks you can think good. But if you think good and write good, everyone thinks you think good.' The grammar on that is terrible, isn't it?" With the help of his mentor, Byrd developed a rubric to measure the reliability of admissions essays as a predictor of student success The results of his research concluded that while an admissions essay was not a reliable indicator of student success, a student's S.A.T. math score and high school GPA were much stronger predictors.

DOCTORAL STUDY

During his doctoral work, Byrd delved into the realm of rhetoric, writing, and professional communications at East Carolina University (ECU), where he currently researches the role of professional organizations in providing identification, a concept introduced by scholar Kenneth Burke According to the concept of identification, professional organizations play a vital role in creating a sense of unity and trust within society. By being a part of a professional organization, an individual gains credibility, and ethos, which translate into society trusting them.

Gordon became a part-time doctoral student in 2017 and has made significant contributions to the field of professional studies. One of the presentations he gave at a Computers and Writing conference held in early 2022 was about conspiracy theories, where he gave a talk on conspiracy theories and how they can work to persuade others.

ALPHA CHI

After being inducted in 2012, Byrd quickly became involved in his Alpha Chi chapter, becoming president in 2013 with a single goal in mind—getting Star Chapter. "We wanted to earn Star Chapter status. That's what we planned from the start. One thing we needed for that was students lined up to apply for the national scholarships, and I was able to coach them since I'd already done it."

Another project the chapter took on was to attend a talk by an archaeologist friend of Gordon's. "We started thinking, 'What's an academic event or a trip we can do?' Since I had access to more sources of funds due to my work for the university, I was able to charter a bus for us to go to Chapel Hill to hear an archeologist friend of mine give a presentation about his work in Britain. (It was a Chapel Hill/Duke joint archeological society that was hosting him from Texas.) The auditorium was large, and we probably filled a third of it."

As Gordon says, "I really am a huge believer in the two things that I see Alpha Chi doing a really great job at and that is promoting undergraduate research at the conventions and also scholarships—and not only for those who get them. Helping students finance their graduate work is really important, but so is just providing something that people can strive for." The promotion of undergraduate research has helped Gordon build confidence in his own research and presentation skills. He says, "While I didn’t get the scholarship I applied for, I felt like so many other scholarships were more accessible after I applied for that one. Now I feel more confident in the way that I do my research and present my research. And I feel more confident that the research I'm doing is interesting and important because when I shared it at the convention, that's the feedback I got."

In addition to promoting undergraduate research, Alpha Chi also helps students feel like they are part of a larger academic community. Gordon explains, "The more that you get people to feel like they're part of the group, the more that they become part of that group. The more that we give chances to students to be part of that research group, the more likely it is that they'll see themselves as researchers and do more research."

As a result of his involvement with Alpha Chi, Gordon has a unique standing among his peers in his doctoral program. He says, "Some of my classmates in my doctoral program have never published anything, and I didn't think that I would really stand out. But I had already been published in Alpha Chi's Recorder and had given a convention presentation. They look at me as the veteran."

While I didn’t get the scholarship I applied for, I felt like so many other scholarships were more accessible after I applied for that one.

The experience and skills that Gordon gained through his involvement with Alpha Chi have set him apart from his peers and made him a respected figure in his academic community. As he says, "They ask me so many questions that I feel like I'm in a different category because of the work I was able to do in my undergraduate years—work that was promoted by organizations like Alpha Chi."

AN ACTIVE ALUMNUS

As a University of North Carolina at Pembroke alumnus, Byrd immediately took interest in an upcoming project at UNCP’s Alpha Chi chapter—hosting a TEDx conference. Gordon's relationship with student organizers Hannah, Peace, and Jaelyn began as an advisor. When Gordon later applied to be a speaker, he wasn't allowed to help with the organizing, but he was impressed with the capabilities of Hannah, Peace, and Jaelyn. "I thought I set the standard high with getting a charter bus and going to an archeological talk,” Byrd notes, “But these young women blew that out of the water."

Byrd’s TEDx presentation will focus on the importance of public records requests. As he puts it, "Any time the government does business, the public can request the documents that have to do with the government's business." His presentation will discuss his research with public records requests, highlighting his project, the International Recruiting Agents Performance Evaluation Project (IRAPEP). IRAPEP is a platform that he hopes will be like a "YELP! for international recruiting agents." Byrd explains, "If you wanted to enter into a contract with a recruiter in Morocco, IRAPEP could tell you which recruiters were operating in Morocco and which ones were good."

Gordon emphasizes the importance of public records requests as a means of helping universities and recruiting agents make more informed decisions. Through the seldom-used power of public records, Byrd hopes to spur a new world of government transparency.

A FINAL REFLECTION

Gordon Byrd's journey and accomplishments in higher education are nothing short of impressive; throughout his decade of Alpha Chi membership, he’s demonstrated an honest passion for learning and expanding his understanding of the world.

As the 2023 Alpha Chi convention in Albuquerque approaches, Gordon looks forward to catching up with familiar faces and meeting new members of the organization. When it comes to advice for students looking to pursue higher education, Byrd emphasizes the importance of treating your education like a job, putting in the effort, and taking it seriously. In his words, "You get out what you put in. It's not about getting a degree. It's about understanding your world better... treat it like it's your job." He also encourages students to enjoy the process and appreciate the opportunities that come with education, noting "I would love to sit through another environmental science class. I would love to go back and do some more political science math. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat."

Byrd's story is a testament to the transformative power of education and the impact that organizations like Alpha Chi can have on people's lives. Through his experiences, he reminds us of the importance of investing in ourselves and our futures, and of the value of surrounding ourselves with a supportive community of high-achieving individuals.

Back Row: Joshua Busman, Teagan Decker, Peace Ajirotutu, Gordon Byrd; Front Row: Hannah Irving, Jaelyn Wilson