Then... Robin D. G. Kelley
Doctoral Student in History, UC Los Angeles, [reprinted from the 1987 Continue the Journey]

"My view of history was forged quite early in the streets of Harlem where street-wise historians spoke of the struggles and accomplishments of African-Americans. At the very moment Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was being carried away in a wooden box, I decided to dedicate my life to understanding my people's past. In addition to my work on community history, I have gained a tremendous amount of experience serving as an editor of an internationally renowned journal in African Studies. Graduate work has opened many doors for me as well as provided the opportunity to try my hand at teaching."

Now... Professor of History and Ethnic Studies, University of Southern California

By the age of 32, Dr. Kelley was one of the youngest full professors in the country, serving for several years as the Chair of New York University's Department of History. He is currently completing a general survey of African-American history and a biography of pianist/composer Thelonius Monk. Not content simply to be a world expert on African-American history, political movements and a jazz scholar, he is active outside academia: speaking to church groups and community organizations and mentoring children in youth detention centers. Dr. Kelley advises graduate students, "When choosing a dissertation topic, do not be persuaded by the latest trends or demands of the job market. Remember, you will have to live with this project for many years beyond graduate school, so it has to have a deep and personal meaning." In terms of future careers, he advises, "For those considering an academic track, also consider non-academic options... Independent writing, editing, working in think tanks, film and other media, etc. ought to be considered as viable options. This allows on to have deeper engagement with the world at large. but no matter what you do, make sure you love what you're doing."

Then... George Negrete
Doctoral Student in Chemistry, UC Santa Cruz, [reprinted from the 1989 Continue the Journey]

"I originally became interested in chemistry as a high school junior. However, it was not until 10 years later that I became actively involved in training for a career in this field. After completing my B.S. degree at Stanford, I began my graduate studies in the area of organic synthesis at UCSC. I have been very pleased with the level of sustained support (Patricia Robert Harris Fellowship, UC Research Mentorship Award, and Dissertation-Year Fellowship) throughout my graduate career. My plans are to accept a post-doctoral fellowship, and then to seek an academic position at the university level."

Now... Professor of Chemistry, University of Texas, San Antonio

After graduating from UCSC, Dr. Negrete went on to a postdoctoral appointment at UCSF, a faculty appointment at the University of Texas, San Antonio. He recently spent a sabbatical in the Hawthorne lab at UCLA. Dr. Negrete asserts, "It is not only possible for minorities to be successful in science, it is essential that we go on to be leaders in the sciences... Find something that you are thoroughly excited about, then find a professor who is a leader in that area to serve as a your advisor... someone whose graduate students say good things about him or her. If you are truly excited about your research area, then you too will want to be a leader. I had excellent preparation from the University of California to build my career. With support from the Welch Foundation and MBRS Score I am continuing to pursue my dream."