The goal of the SUNY Empire PRODiG Scholars Program is to support undergraduate and graduate student-scholars from historically underrepresented groups, including women in STEM disciplines, to progress into doctoral programs and faculty positions at institutions of higher learning. The 2021-22 Scholars cohort is comprised of 10 undergraduate and 10 graduate participants across various fields of study and at different stages of their journey toward a career in academia. This series will feature the students who are currently involved in the program, along with their goals and areas of academic interest. To learn more about this program, click here.

Ronald Freeman is a SUNY Empire 2021-22 PRODiG Scholar pursuing a Master of Arts in social and public policy at the college. He recently graduated from SUNY Empire earning a Bachelor of Science in educational studies.    
 
During his time at SUNY Empire, Ronald has received many awards and honors. He was selected to receive the 2020 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence and the Inaugural Award for Student Excellence from SUNY Empire in the same year.  
 
Ronald is a member of S.A.L.U.T.E. Veterans National Honor Society and Bravo Tier, which is the organization devoted to honoring veterans' academic achievements.  

After 20-plus years in the financial services arena, Ronald shifted his passion to education policy and equity.  As a member of the second cohort of SUNY Empire's PRODiG Scholars Program, Ronald has committed himself to advance and hone his skills to pursue his goals to enter a doctoral program and become a professor.  

Ronald resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. and enjoys working on his podcast The Cream Cheese Chronicles. 

Doris Colson is a SUNY Empire 2021-22 PRODiG Scholar pursuing a Master of Arts in Adult Learning at the College. She graduated from SUNY Empire in 
2011, earning a Bachelor of Science in public policy.   
 
Doris is an English language instructor for three Long Island Libraries: Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Middle Country Public Library, and Sachem Public Library. She is a volunteer tutor with Literacy Suffolk where she has recently become a board member and will help lead the organization towards its mission to improve and provide adult literacy, especially to those of low to moderate incomes who are underserved, as well as to expand community awareness.  She also teaches online classes twice a week with The Sarasota Literacy Inc. Organization in Florida.  In addition, Doris has recently started a small tutoring business, Easy English DJC, where she hopes to extend her reach beyond the libraries to assist those with English language goals. 

In fall 2021, Doris was a SUNYEmpire PRODiG teaching assistant for an online Introduction to College Writing course with Professor Suzanne Salemi. This was important to Doris because her goal, interest, and passion is helping adults to improve their English.  Doris states, “As an English Instructor, I help students from all over the world with their English language learning.  To encounter an opportunity to assist at the college level was a dream come true and I hope to further the experience.”  

Doris resides in Suffolk County, N.Y. She is very active in her local congregation and is a part of the children’s ministry.  Doris also assists the finance committee of the congregation with accounting and bookkeeping. 

Angela Leavy is a SUNY Empire 2021-22 PRODiG Scholar who recently graduated from the college, earning a Bachelor of Science in business, management, and economics. She is interested in pursuing a Master of Arts in Adult Learning at SUNY Empire. 
 
As a research assistant for Dr. Joseph Angiello, Angela is supporting the development of databases on the quality of life in America.  She has specifically researched  income, education, health, and housing for middle-class Americans. Angela has created a database with over 150 related resources including books, peer-reviewed journals, videos, and articles. 

She has ample experience as an adult instructor having delivered countless workshops and training sessions to adult learners through her work in 1199SEIU. In 2021, Angela presented best practices for apprenticeships in health care workgroups to her colleagues in upstate New York. She has also been an active speaker and trainer on diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2020, Angela conducted a virtual presentation titled, Understanding Structural Racism in America, to her colleagues in upstate New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland/DC of 1199SEIU (United Health Care Workers East) on Training and Employment Funds. In this presentation, Angela focused on housing and transportation; the history of redlining and the effect of government regulations and restrictive covenants on housing; and the impact of racially motivated freeway construction on communities of color; transportation-related pollution;, and lack of accessible and affordable options.  

Angela resides in Buffalo, N.Y. and enjoys spending time with her family.