Christa Porter will receive recognition as an Emerging Scholar Designee from ACPA: College Educators International on March 27, 2017.
Porter—assistant professor of Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE) at Michigan State University and coordinator of the Student Affairs Administration master’s program—was one of five chosen for the 2017-19 distinction, honoring those who have made scholarly and leadership contributions to higher education and student affairs.
As part of the honor, Porter will receive a $3,000 grant from ACPA to fund upcoming research: “The story(ies) behind the statistic: An exploration of Black women’s development in college.”
“The study will examine the complex negotiation processes that Black college women experience as marginalized members with varying and intersectional identities in these educational spaces,” said Porter. She plans on collecting data from focus groups in multiple parts, including from Black undergraduate women at MSU, and other, similar groups in higher education institutions across the country. She hopes the research will be a comprehensive examination of socialization processes, intersections of identity and factors that hinder or facilitate success within a variety of institutional types.
In addition, Porter will serve as an invited manuscript reviewer for the Journal of College Student Development, participate in a ACPA-sponsored video presentation of her research and its relevance to student affairs professionals, and continue to serve as the Coalition for Women’s Identities (CWI) Emerging Scholar in Residence. She serves as a consultant and strategic thought partner to those connected to the CWI coalition; she began her term in 2016 and will hold the position through 2018.
Upon completing these commitments by March 2019, Porter will be named an ACPA Emerging Scholar.
“This national award is a much-needed affirmation of my scholarly activity, research and service to higher education and student affairs,” said Porter. “This serves as a launching pad for me and those connected to my work and other’s work on Black women.”