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ROOTED IN RESEARCH:

LANGSTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BRING HOME 7 AWARDS

AT ASSOCIATION OF 1890 RESEARCH DIRECTORS SYMPOSIUM

BY ELLIE MELERO

Tremar Ivey focused on calming his nerves as he took his place at the podium in front of the judges. His presentation was loaded on the screen, and he knew his research like the back of his hand. After spending months cultivating vegetables with aquaponics, weeks practicing his presentation in front of his peers and professors, and 16 hours on a bus ride to New Orleans, he was ready for this.

He smiled as he introduced himself, and his voice filled with confidence as he began. Fifteen minutes later, he stepped down from the podium knowing he had given the best presentation he could. Despite that, he was still shocked when he heard his name called the next day at the Student Awards Luncheon.

“I was astonished when I heard my name for first place,” Ivey said. “I have an amazing research team to thank for their support: my mentor Dr. Kamal Gosh and above all the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences along with my colleagues at

Ivey placed first in the undergraduate oral presentations competition in the Bioenergy, Natural Resources and Environment category at the 22nd Association of 1890 Research Directors (ARD) Research Symposium. Of the 104 Langston University students, faculty and staff who attended the Symposium, seven students took home awards.

Faculty and students from the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences (SL-SAAS) participate in the Biennial ARD Research Symposium every other year, showcasing the high-level agricultural research conducted at Langston University. This year, the Symposium had record-breaking attendance with more than 1,800 participants from the 1890 land-grant institutions across the United States. There were 358 oral presentations and 510 poster presentations in the student research competitions.

the Horticulture Education and Research Center.”

Dr. Wesley Whittaker, the dean of SL-SAAS and chair of the ARD, believes participating in events like the ARD Research Symposium is important because it provides a meaningful forum for interaction, knowledge sharing, partnership development and an opportunity to showcase the talents, scholarship and accomplishments of the 1890 community.

“Langston University played a pivotal role in the historic conference,” Dr. Whittaker said. “It was a pleasure to witness the large and enthusiastic LU delegation, comprising of 104 students, faculty, President Jackson,Vice President Powell and Vice President Peterson. Our students and faculty presented over 60 research papers in oral and poster presentations, demonstrating excellence. Notably, students won several awards for outstanding oral and poster research presentations. We are exceedingly proud of all our participants in the conference.”

SL-SAAS faculty and staff spent weeks working with students to prepare for the Symposium. In addition to the time spent supervising the student research, they also met with students on a regular basis from February until spring break to help students practice their presentations.

The students rehearsed their oral and poster presentations in front of audiences made up of professors, classmates and their research supervisors and then answered questions from the crowd. The SL-SAAS faculty offered tips and critiques to help them improve their presentations, and the students slowly became more familiar and comfortable with the format as the Symposium approached.

Colnia Alexander, a second-year graduate student in the sustainable agriculture and food security master’s program, was grateful for the practice.

“The very first time I presented, it was very choppy and I did a lot of moving and tugging on my jacket or my sleeves,” Alexander said. “Then by my second or third time, I got a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more confident presenting.”

Although Alexander had participated in agricultural research as a student in LU’s biology bachelor’s degree program, this was her first time presenting at the Symposium.

The summer before she started her master’s program, Dr. Kanyand Matand helped her set up research rotations in several labs within SL-SAAS so she could choose a lab to join when the school year started.

“I did that, and I really enjoyed making cheese and how the dairy production system works,” Alexander said. “So I picked Dr. (Carlos) Alvarado.”

Dr. Alvarado oversees the Dairy Products Development Center within the E. Kika de la Garza American Institute for Goat Research. In his lab, Alexander designed and ran an experiment for her thesis: “Nutritional Supplementation Modulation on Milk Composition and Cheese Yield in Alpine Goats.”

Alexander gave a group of 40 alpine dairy goats different dietary supplements to see how it affected their milk yield and the quality of the cheeses produced with said milk. She analyzed the fats, proteins and solid contents of the milk, tested its pH, and helped curdle the milk to make cottage cheese, ice cream and other products.

She found the supplements had no effect on the quality of the cheese products produced with the goats’ milk, but it did affect the length of the lactation stage.

When she concluded her experiment, Alexander looked forward to presenting her research at the ARD Research Symposium. After she graduates in May, she plans to either pursue a doctoral degree or go to veterinary school, and she was excited for the networking opportunities the Symposium would offer that might help her decide her path.

Even though she was excited, she was also nervous to present. She focused on the feedback she’d been given by her professors during practice, and she explained her research with confidence. Although she didn’t place in the student research competition, she still thought it was a valuable experience.

“I learned how to present scientific research in a well-mannered and appropriate way,” Alexander said.

As a Carnegie designated Research College and University, Langston University invests more than $10 million each year on research across fields and disciplines, providing numerous opportunities for students of any level to participate in impactful research. Ivey, a junior majoring in plant systems and research sustainability, came to Langston University because of these research opportunities.

Ivey graduated from Dinthill Technical High School in Jamaica, and the school offered a program to expose students to

agricultural research. Through it, Ivey had the opportunity to work in value-added products, and that’s where he first realized he had a passion for research. He knew it was something he wanted to continue after high school.

The program also matched its students with high GPAs to universities with well-established agricultural research programs, and Ivey matched with Langston University. After an interview with Dr. Whittaker where they discussed the variety of opportunities available in SL-SAAS, Ivey applied and was accepted to LU with a scholarship.

He was able to get involved with research his freshman year, finding a spot in Dr. Leonard Kibet’s lab studying soil.

Shortly after, the Horticulture Education and Research Center (HERC) acquired an aquaponics lab. Aquaponics is a food production system that replaces soil with nutrient enriched water created from raising aquatic animals to grow plants, and the HERC was looking for student researchers to help in the new lab.

Ivey completed a month-long training through Dr. Lopez Hydroponic Farms and became certified in aquaponics in 2024. Then, he joined Dr. Kamal Gosh’s research team, where he continues to work as an undergraduate student researcher.

“I had a background in research in high school, but it wasn’t on as wide a scale as this,” Ivey said. “So starting (aquaponics research) was really fun, actually. Starting off with the

goldfish, you know, it was just a pet from my perspective. But seeing that it could actually lead to commercial green lettuce production, it actually opened my eyes.”

Ivey’s research project was “Comparative Analysis of Growth and Yield Performance of Lettuce Cultivars in Aquaponic and SoilBased Systems.” He grew two types of lettuce in the aquaponics lab with two species of fish, and then he compared the lettuce growth rates and crop yield to how they grew in normal soil.

He was delighted to see how well the plants grew in the lab, and he began to invite his friends to come look at the research he was conducting. His experiment concluded that black-seeded simpson lettuce paired with goldfish grew better in the lab than romaine lettuce paired with catfish.

The experiment findings excited Ivey. Although his project was a small-scale trial phase, he could see how this research and technology could lead to full-scale production.

He plans to continue working with Dr. Gosh as he completes his bachelor’s degree, and then he hopes to go to graduate school and continue working on aquaponics research.

Participating in events like the ARD Research Symposium will help him get there.

“I am just trying to do as much research as I can until grad school, so I have that foundation already,” Ivey said. “(My professors) have actually helped so much. Like it is really tremendous when you look back at it, knowing that I was once limited in regards to speaking in front of my peers, and now I›m doing a full-on oral presentation very comfortably.”

FROM GUTHRIE TO GLOBAL:

LU ALUMNA EARNS SPOT IN FULBRIGHT PROGRAM

BY JET TURNER

The kids scream in delight, sweat still dripping off their brows and smiles still on their faces as Danielle Jones unlocks her front door.

Her home’s cool AC hits them in a wave, saving them from the July sun. For Jones, summer break means days in the park and time outside with her children. Being a teacher, answering her emails – all thoughts in the back of her mind.

DING!

Until that email notification went off.

Usually, Jones would’ve ignored that email, especially after an exhausting day at the park. But she knew it was about time to see if she had received the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Award.

She pulled out her phone and clicked on the notification.

Jones always knew she wanted to be a teacher.

“I love ‘Matilda,’ and I always wanted to be like Miss Honey,” Jones said.

She was always around children. Even from a young age, she would volunteer with her church’s nursery or vacation bible school. In middle school, Jones took a career test that suggested she should pursue teaching. That all but confirmed what path she wanted to take.

Jones attended Oklahoma State University after graduating from Guthrie High School, and she earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She spent some time in different career fields before returning to education.

A friend of Jones’ had just finished her master’s degree in urban education at Langston University when Jones began teaching again. Her friend kept telling her how great the urban education program was at LU and encouraged her to apply.

“I had been teaching for a couple of years at that point, and I was like, ‘A master’s wouldn’t hurt,’ you know?” Jones said.

Jones was accepted into the urban education program on the Langston University – Oklahoma City campus and began attending classes during the Fall 2017 semester.

She loved her time in the program, in large part because of the HBCU culture Langston University offers across all its campuses.

“It was really important at that time in life,” Jones said. “I think people think that once you become an adult, you have it all figured out, and you just don’t. I’m still learning. For me, I was still trying to figure out my identity as a Black woman and where I’m supposed to be, and how do I pour into children, Black and brown children, who look like me, and address stereotypes and biases? Just because we’re Black don’t mean we know each other›s story. The program allowed me to lean on people and hear their perspectives.

“If you want that type of culture, you can’t destroy that type of culture.You have to continue to embrace it and pour into it. I tell other students, ‘If you want a family, if you want to be a name and not a number, if you want people who want to see you succeed and will push you and will hold you to a higher standard, Langston (University) is the place for you.’”

Jones graduated with her master’s degree in urban education in 2019, and soon afterward began working at Putnam City North High School. Before then, she had never heard of Fulbright.

A fellow teacher had applied to the Fulbright program many times before finally being accepted. They constantly tried to convince Jones to apply for the program, telling her, “When that application comes out, you need to apply.”

“But I’m a mom,” Jones said. “How’s this going to work?”

“You know what? I’m not going to stress about it. What God has for me is for me. I’m just putting myself out there, and I’ll pray that it works out.”

The Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program is a yearlong professional learning opportunity and short-term exchange for elementary, middle and high school educators from the United States to develop skills to prepare students for a competitive global economy. The program equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad and global collaboration, according to its website.

Participants in the program will travel abroad for two to three weeks to immerse themselves in another country’s culture and education system and create a global education guide that serves as a resource in their local community to share the skills,

experiences and resources they have developed throughout the program, among other activities.

Jones applied to the program in February 2025. Then, the long wait began.

“I remember going to church, and our pastor had us do these cards with your prayer list,” Jones said. “I had that on my prayer list. I just wanted to give it to God and not even worry about it because I was starting to get anxious about it, especially because it takes so long to find out.”

The white light of her email app brightened her smile as Jones read the email.

She was accepted into the Fulbright program for the 2025-2026 year.

“They picked me, this little girl from Guthrie, Oklahoma,” Jones said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

It wasn’t until several months later that Jones learned she was the only recipient from Oklahoma selected to participate in the program for this award cycle.

Jones knows she’s not only representing the state of Oklahoma, but representing Black educators, Langston University alumni and so many others who helped her along the way.

“I was raised by a single father, and I’ve reconnected with my mom,” Jones said. “I’ve had a lot of mentors and teachers who always poured into me. Everything I do is to try to honor their legacy and the sacrifices they made for me.

“I feel like I did this for all of us. We’re all in the Fulbright program now.”

PAVING THE WAY:

AYANA TALLEY RECOGNIZED FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN OKLAHOMA’S TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY AND BEYOND

BY ELLIE MELERO

When Ayana Spriggs Talley first entered the tech industry, everything was changing.

A teenager in the ‘90s, Talley was part of the first generation to grow up with consumer access to the internet. She experienced first-hand how it changed everyday life, and seeing its massive impact made her want to learn more.

She got her chance at Oklahoma State University’s College of Business Administration.

Talley enrolled at the College of Business Administration, now known as the Spears School of Business, with the intention of following in her mother’s footsteps to become a businesswoman. A conversation with an advisor opened her eyes to new possibilities.

“I wanted to work in business because that’s what I saw my mom doing,” Talley said. “She was a professional, and so she went to the office every day. She dressed in a suit. And I thought that’s the type of career that I wanted. So, I went to college wanting to have a business degree. I spoke with my academic advisor to explore what I was interested in, and she said, ‘Hey, we have this somewhat new degree: MIS.’”

Management Information Systems (MIS) combined business and computer science, and it was exactly the type of program Talley was looking for.

The program allowed her to pursue both of her interests, and she thought it was exciting to go to school at a time when the tech industry was experiencing so much growth. The program prepared her well to enter that rapidly growing workforce, and she accepted a position as a technology consultant at Accenture Consulting when she graduated in 2000.

“We had the, you know, the start of technology just really growing all over the United States, all over the world,” Talley said. “So, it was a really great time to be in that field. There were lots of job opportunities, lots of internship opportunities. So, it was thriving and booming and evolving, and I was excited to be a part of it.”

Accenture Consulting was one of the Big 5 consulting firms, and they sent Talley all over the country to implement technology projects for major corporations. The job offered her exposure to a variety of companies and business models

for six to nine months at a time, and it helped her cultivate her love for travel.

Talley’s time at Accenture helped her grow in her field and as a professional, but she eventually decided it was time to come back home.

“I fell in love,” Talley said. “My husband–boyfriend at the time–was in Oklahoma, and so was family. So, love and family brought me back to Oklahoma.”

Talley moved back and found a job in the oil and gas industry. She spent the next decade and a half working at companies like Devon Energy and OG&E. During that time, she honed her expertise and proved her abilities, rising through the ranks.

As a Black woman in a male-dominated industry, it was challenging at times. On several occasions, she couldn’t help but notice she was not only the sole woman but also the sole person of color in meetings or on teams. She never let that deter her. Her hard work earned her leadership positions, and she used those opportunities to support her fellow women in the workplace.

Breanna Hites, a customer success manager at Microsoft, worked with Talley at Devon Energy, and she remembers how important that support was to her. Talley not only made work fun, but she also made it a safe space for Hites to be herself. Talley was welcoming from the start when Hites started at Devon Energy, and she said Talley always had the mindset of “the more the merrier” when it came to women in leadership positions.

“She was always a big advocate with me,” Hites said. “She was always someone I could lean on and count on to be a supporter in a place where we were some of the few women on leadership in the IT department.”

Talley has always been driven to try to open the doors of opportunity for others because she knows she wouldn’t have experienced her own success without the help of her mentors. This desire to help others isn’t limited to the workplace.

As she and her husband, Henry, began to find success in their careers, they decided they wanted

to give back to their community. As graduates of Star Spencer High School in Spencer, Oklahoma, they were familiar with the needs of their hometown. Together, they founded the Talley Community Service Foundation.

The initiative started when Henry, a barber and salon owner, began receiving calls from mothers who couldn’t afford haircuts for their kids at the beginning of the school year. He offered to cut their hair for free, and it slowly turned into an annual backto-school event with free haircuts and school supplies.

They began to work with other organizations, and the event grew into a community resource fair. They decided to formalize their service initiative into the Talley Community Service Foundation, which allowed them to receive more donations and apply for grants to expand their work. Now, they host several events each year, such as coat drives and food giveaways, and offer scholarships to students from Spencer.

“Whatever we can do for our community, we try to do,” Talley said. “Especially to make sure those students are ready to go back to school, and that they have the tools that they need to succeed.”

In 2023, Talley decided she was ready for something new.

Growing up in Oklahoma, Talley has always been familiar with Langston University. Her friends and family who attended LU left the school with fond memories, so when the role of director of Information Technology Services (ITS) opened, Talley decided to apply. In October 2023, Talley officially joined the LU family as the Executive Director of ITS and Computer Technology Integration.

“I really enjoy working here,” Talley said. “I am on board and aligned with the mission of the university, and I just think about my role as bridging the gap so that, you know, students, faculty and staff won’t have any technology limitations to be able to do the really great work that they do. So, I want to be able to smooth that out so that technology is not something that limits or causes issues, but elevates and supports all of the wonderful work we›re doing here.”

In her role, Talley has the opportunity to work with departments across LU’s three campuses. Her teams provide critical support to the LU community, ensuring students have access to needed class materials, faculty have the tools needed for research, and much more.

She also has the opportunity to support and inspire the future of women in STEM, especially Black women interested in computer science and technology, by being an example of success for LU students. She doesn’t limit herself to just LU students, though.

Talley is an advisory board member for Oklahoma Women in Technology (OKWIT), which is an organization dedicated to supporting women in the tech field throughout Oklahoma. The goal is to encourage more girls to pursue STEM careers and to support women in the industry as they pursue leadership roles. It’s a mission Talley takes to heart.

“Through the years, I have always had mentors and people that supported and encouraged me, and I feel like I owe it to others to do the same,” Talley said. “People have opened doors for me that I could not have even imagined, and I’ve been able to do things in my career that I never expected to do. So, I want to be able to do the same for others.”

Hites is on the OKWIT advisory board with Talley, and she can see how passionate Talley is about the work they do. At Devon Energy, Talley was a champion of finding ways to make diversity work, and she continues that work at OKWIT.

In light of her professional accomplishments and tremendous community impact, the Spears School of Business honored Talley this spring by inducting her into its MSIS Cloud of Honor, an honor reserved for professional leaders who are longtime graduates of OSU’s information systems programs. She will also receive the Women of Color Expo Impact Woman of the Year Award in April.

These awards are well earned, and Talley said she feels grateful to receive them.

“I’m surprised and honored that others would consider what I have done to be worthy of such an honor,” Talley said. “I spent a lot of time at OSU, and it’s very dear and close to my heart. So, I’m excited and just honored that they would consider me and allow me to be a part of this. And the women that have received Women of Color Expo awards in the past have been amazing, and so, I’m just honored.”

INAUGURAL FOUNDERS WEEK CELEBRATION GALA

Langston University held the Inaugural Founders Week Celebration Gala in DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Downtown Tulsa on March 14, 2026. During the program, the Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Program commemorated its 25th anniversary, and Founding Chair Dr. Corey Moore was honored with a distinguished service award.

“Founders Week is a powerful reminder of Langston University’s enduring legacy and the transformative impact our institution has had for 129 years,” President Ruth Ray Jackson said.

“As Oklahoma’s historically Black college and university, we continue to honor the vision of our founders by expanding opportunities, strengthening our academic programs, and investing in the success of our students across all campuses. We are especially pleased to bring this inaugural celebration to the Tulsa community, a place where our history runs deep and our future continues to grow. This event is not only about reflecting on our past; it is about securing our future. I am grateful to our supporters whose generosity helps ensure that Langston University, including our urban campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, remain hubs of access, innovation and excellence.”

Meet staff

‘E ROAR IS PRODUCED BY THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

Theresa Powell Vice President for Operations

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