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Spelman Students Make Record Number in the Third Cohort of the Du Bois Scholars Program at Harvard University
Eight Distinguished Spelman Students Selected as 2026 Du Bois Scholars for an immersive experience deeply rooted in community and legacy.
Spelman College is proud to announce eight students were welcomed in June as participants in the third cohort of the Du Bois Scholars Program. Each scholar experienced hands-on mentorship from Harvard faculty through access to rigorous, cutting-edge research opportunities, workshops and lectures, and networking opportunities with leading academics and students from around the world.
Launched in 2024, the program seeks to honor and uplift academic excellence through research-based collaboration with Harvard University and HBCUs. It is a fully funded nine-week internship at the Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village (HSURV) for rising juniors and seniors.
These eight fellows have benefitted from that mission through their exposure to the program’s robust and relevant academic approach; fellows included Cambel Cadien, Chloe Fite, Kathya Lavado-Arrington, Kennedy Watson, Madeline Wright, Makyra Wilson, Micah Flemming, and Nola James. They were all paired with faculty mentors throughout the duration of the program.
Cambel Cadien, C’2028, a health sciences major, is on the pre-medical track and was paired with Daniel Palazuelos, a faculty mentor at Harvard Medical School. The Corrella and Bertram F. Bonner Scholar, has a wealth of experience in community service, from serving as sophomore class president as well as fulfilling the same role for the junior class to co-founding Kelsey and Cambels’ Kids Care, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to “Compassion in Action,” with internation impact spanning Haiti, Ghana, and Afghanistan. Cadien aspires to attend medical school following graduation and is committed to advancing health equity, research and global health education through service and clinical practice.
Chloe Fite, C’2028, an economics major, is committed to improvements in healthcare policy, with her family
experience stimulating her passion to advocate for more affordable and compassionate care. Fite’s extensive background in serving the community has spanned to volunteering with children and supporting vulnerable populations by creating inclusive spaces for all. After graduation, she plans to pursue a graduate degree in public policy and social work and establish a career in healthcare policy. Fite was paired with Ankur Pandya, a faculty mentor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Kathya Lavado-Arrington, C’2028, a sociology major, is dedicated to child development and securing better futures for the next generation through behavioral research. The Bonner Foundation scholar and Ethel Waddell Githii scholar has translated her passion into action by devoting hours of community service to Atlanta Public Schools and serving as a student ambassador, Writing Center consultant, and GRL-PWR mentor. Following graduation, she will pursue a doctoral degree in psychology and conduct extensive clinical research with the goal of helping underrepresented children achieve mental wellness. Lavado-Arrington was paired with Ashley J. Thomas, a faculty mentor at Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology.
Kennedy Watson, C’2028, a health science major, became inspired to pursue medicine after witnessing her community struggle to access quality healthcare, fueling her steadfastness to advancing Black maternal health and reducing disparities in reproductive care. In 2025, Watson’s commitment to maternal health research deepened after studying and conducting research in Barbados, and her work continues as she currently conducts qualitative maternal health research under Dr. Shantesica Gilliam in the SUPERNOVA Research Lab, examining social and educational factors that influence health outcomes. Watson will pursue a master’s in public health and a MD and aspires to become an OB/GYN, further advancing her reach and passion to achieving her mission. Watson was paired with Elysia Larson, a faculty mentor at Harvard Medical School.
Madeline Wright, C’2028, a literature, media and writing major, is a proponent of social justice as substantiated by her ample experience in sustained community engagement, leadership and advocacy work. As the founder of a metro Atlanta chapter of Blessings in a Backpack, she has spent over seven years expanding access to food security for children and building long-term community partnerships.Wright continues her work at Spelman through merging policy analysis with lived experiences through the College’s Social Justice program. She also has written for The Blueprint, the College’s student newspaper. Wright plans to attend law school as well as journalism classes, pursuing a career focused on justice, policy reform and community impact. Wright was paired Martha Minow, a faculty mentor at Harvard Law School.
Makyra Wilson, C’2027, a biology major, aspires to become a physician-scientist committed to advancing biomedical innovation and improving quality of life, particularly for historically underrepresented communities. Like many, Wilson has witnessed the gaps and disparities in healthcare within her family, but is led by her experiences to pursue medicine, research, and policy advocacy. The Morehouse School of Medicine fellow currently works in the HEAL Clinic, supporting the delivery of quality care to house and unhoused populations. Wilson remains committed and unchanged in her mission to ensure equity for all and will be pursuing an MD or PhD to develop innovation, equitable approaches to patient care and medical practice. Wilson was paired with Sarah Fortune, a faculty mentor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Micah Flemming, C’2028, a political science major, has been honored with many titles: a Dewitt Dean’s Scholar, co-community service chair of the Honors Program Student Association executive board, and a 2026 recipient of the U.S. Congressional Award for her dedication to voluntary public service, leadership and civic engagement. An aspiring public interest attorney, Fleming is passionate about health and education equity in underserved communities. Last summer, she gained experience as a legal intern at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office in the Youth Services Division. After graduation, the California native will pursue a Juris Doctor and a Master of Public Policy degree to further her knowledge of the legislative process and support effective policy solutions addressing systemic inequalities.
Nola James, C’2027, another political science major, wears many hats across campus; she serves as a leadership team member for the Spelman Ambassadors, the vice president of Utopia Atlanta, feature editor on The Spelman Blueprint, a WELS Scholar, and a member of the “Sweet” Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Beyond her campus commitments, James has served as a research fellow at Fair Fight Action, an outreach intern for the Office of U.S. Sen. Kirsten E. Gillilbrand, and a legal intern at Tolbert LLC. Following graduation, James plans to pursue a law degree, working at the intersection of legal advocacy and public policy to dismantle systemic structures that perpetuate the marginalization and disenfranchisement of Black communities. James was paired with Cornell Williams Brooks, a faculty mentor at Harvard Kennedy School.