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  6. Malia Henry

I Am A Researcher

Malia Henry

Year at UC San Diego: 4th year; Senior 

College: Thurgood Marshall College

Major: International Studies - Economics / Minor - African American Studies 

URH Programs: Undergraduate Research Scholarship- Summer URS Chancellor’s Research Scholarship for Social Sciences

What are you researching (or did you do in the past)?

Promoting Cultural Awareness within Higher Education 

Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

Currently, there are no school-wide, virtual orientations that spotlight diverse communities at our university. As a result, many students and faculty are unaware of the various identities and backgrounds their counterparts hold. I decided to get involved in undergraduate research to analyze the impacts of a “cultural awareness” orientation module on higher education. The main goals of my research project were to:

1. Positively spotlight minority communities 

2. Create a platform for minority alumni voices 

3. Provide guidance for incoming students 

4. Promote cultural awareness and encourage students to gain greater consciousness of the cultural issues that affect higher education.

What has been the most exciting/interesting thing you've discovered through your research?

Through my research, I learned the best research techniques for my project and ways to make my orientation module more engaging. During the summer, I was able to conduct various interviews with some of UC San Diego’s Black alum and analyzed various documents on cultural awareness programs implemented throughout the United States. I believe the most interesting thing I was able to undertake was the creation of an artificial intelligence agent for my module. I also utilized various forms of video and audio to create an interactive program. 

What are your future plans/goals?

In the future, I plan to conduct research on issues that influence policy, specifically regarding disadvantaged communities. There are various racial inequities found in American public policy, and I would like to develop solutions to housing disparities,  education gaps and poverty within the Black community. 

What advice would you give to students starting into research work?

To anyone planning to start research work, I have two tips. First, choose a research topic you are truly passionate about. Research can be tedious and difficult, but if you are genuinely enthusiastic about effecting change in a particular area you will be up for the challenge. Second, use Notion! Being organized is essential when conducting research, and I found Notion to be extremely helpful. (It is also aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly!) You can share your Notion page with your faculty mentor, separate tasks by status of completion and switch to calendar view to see when work is scheduled to be completed.