My name is Marvin Elder II. I am currently a junior majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation at Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU). I chose to attend MVSU because it has always been known to have one of the greatest departments in the field of Mathematics and Computer Science. Since attending, I have learned a lot about the field of Mathematics and I am constantly being motivated to further my studies in the major and enroll in a master’s program.

I am from Indianola, MS, which is about twenty-five minutes away from my institution.  In the future I plan to give back to the Mississippi Delta by becoming an instructor in the field of Data Processing.  As technology steadily increases, older adults everywhere in today’s society are constantly getting behind in software programs such as, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.  Knowing this motivates me to become an effective and patient instructor in our region. I also plan to stay active as an Assistant Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts of America, so I can help promote leadership in young men’s lives at an early age.

I got started in the field of Computer Science and Mathematics in the summer of 2009 when I was accepted into the National Science Foundation-HBCU Undergraduate Program Summer Science Program held at MVSU. The program introduced me to the Computer Science and Mathematics field. The advisors, mentors, and teachers there showed me how important these fields were in my life.

I attended the Alliance for Graduate Education in Mississippi Winter Scholar Symposium 2010, held in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The speaker for my group was Dr. Jerlando F. L. Jackson, Associate Professor of Higher and Postsecondary Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Through his speech, I learned that the status of one's future depends on the amount of work one puts in during the present time.

During the summer of 2010, I completed research at Elizabeth City State University in the Undergraduate Research Experience in Ocean, Marine, and Polar Science (URE OMPS) program. The primary focus of the research project was threefold. First, research was conducted on the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB). During the research of the IRB, mock IRB approval applications were submitted for review. These actions had to be taken before any research could begin. Second, the focus of the research project was to assess the hypothesized success of both the URE OMPS program and the virtual seminars through a comprehensive data analysis of questionnaire responses using experimental statistics. Third, the design of experimental questionnaires was explored. Demographic, Likert Scale, open- and closed-ended survey questions were all used for questionnaires that were administered after the virtual seminars. Calculations of the statistical measures were done using the two-sample test for observational data using the statistical software packages Excel-StatPlus and Minitab.

After completing this research experience, I was able to attend the Association of Computer and Information Science/Engineering Departments at Minority Institutions’ Annual Conference (ADMI) at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina during April 14-16, 2011.  I presented my summer 2010 research there.  It was a great experience and it only motivated me to participate in more undergraduate research experiences.  I was able to network with other undergraduates and graduate students who have a similar interest in computing issues relevant to minority students, education and institutions. The 2011 Symposium highlighted graduate research with a particular interest on Cloud Computing.

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, I plan to further my education by obtaining a master’s degree in Mathematics. I also plan to continue to find research opportunities in efforts to expand my knowledge and able myself to use the degree and research opportunities to build a strong career in a Mathematic oriented field.