African American Studies Graduate Goes to Yale to Prepare for Ph.D. Program

Kevin Rigby, Jr., who graduated in May 2016 with a 3.44 GPA and a major in African American Studies, is entering the Emerging Scholars Initiative Post-Baccalaureate Research Experience Program (ESI PREP) at Yale University. An exclusive program that only admits five students from across the U.S., the program will prepare him with the skills necessary to be successful as Ph.D. student. He will be expected to conduct independent research and engage seminars the other program participants. After completing the program, Kevin hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in African American Studies at Yale or Northwestern University. Grateful for the keen historical perspective, and the ability to form important relationships with faculty, Kevin credits the WSU Department of African American Studies, in part, for his decision to pursue graduate in the discipline.