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This year Vanessa Youngs ’08 (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) is exploring her longstanding interest in the United States justice system through honors thesis research. She is examining how it affects African American men.
The anthropology and sociology major plans to use the knowledge gained from her work to establish her own non-profit organization tentatively called the Bring Our Men Back Coalition. The group’s goal, she says, will be to help minority men develop the skills necessary to avoid a life of crime.
“Being an African American woman in this country, the future of my race and culture is very important to me,” explains Youngs. “The imprisonment of black men in the country has become a sort of epidemic, and I would like to make attempts to prevent it.”
Young’s thesis adviser Rebecca Kissane, assistant professor of anthropology and sociology, believes the student’s research is exciting because it integrates sociological thinking with practical applications. She also notes that Youngs, who is a sprinter on the varsity track team, is a well-balanced student capable of committing to such extensive research.
“Vanessa has impressed me with her ability to manage her academic pursuits with her athletic commitments,” says Kissane. “She is a bright, intellectually curious student who is genuinely passionate about her research topic.”
It didn’t take Youngs long to realize that the anthropology and sociology department would become her academic home at Lafayette. She “fell in love with sociology” after taking an introductory class and hasn’t looked back. She also finds Kissane to be a knowledgeable and supportive resource in her academic pursuits.
“I am happy to be working with her because I have had the privilege of taking her Class, Status, and Power course, which was very enlightening and useful in bringing the nation’s injustices to the forefront of conversation,” says Youngs. “She will be able to provide many insightful ways [socioeconomic] status affects one’s life plans.”
Kissane emphasizes that Lafayette provides an ideal atmosphere that allows undergraduates to pursue their interests and apply them academically.
“What’s great about Lafayette is students like Vanessa can research in-depth a topic that truly inspires them,” she says.
“Lafayette is a great environment to do research because of the many resources you have available,” adds Youngs. “The libraries are great but also the faculty and even other students have been really helpful.”
Youngs is vice president of Nia, a multicultural women’s support group, and a member of Association of Black Collegians, Students for Social Justice, and Squash Club. Last January, she explored the field of human resources through an externship hosted by Gioia Pisano ’90 at Ernst & Young. She is a graduate of Mercersburg Academy.
Honors theses are among several major programs that have made Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. The College sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year; 40 students were accepted to present their research at this year’s conference.