An Alcorn State University student and alumna have been selected to participate in the William A. Demmer Scholars Program at Michigan State University.
Aaliyah Porter, a junior majoring in agricultural business management from Woodville, Miss., and Saniyah Malone, an alumna who majored in agricultural sciences from Natchez, Miss., were chosen for the program.
The Demmer Scholars Program prepares students for careers in policy, sustainability and federal leadership.
Dr. Monica Burr, an assistant professor of environmental science in the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, encouraged both students to apply.
Porter said her coursework at Alcorn shaped her interest in policy.
“Classes in agricultural economics, finance and policy helped me understand how decisions are made and how they affect real people, especially in rural communities like the one I grew up in,” Porter said.
Porter serves as vice president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and holds leadership roles in the Girls Coalition, IMPACT and Braves Solutions.
“Being selected shows that Alcorn students belong in national policy spaces and that our voices matter,” she said.
Malone said the program’s focus on policy and public service drew her to apply.
“The interview process pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but I knew it could lead to valuable experience and exposure working in Washington, D.C.,” Malone said.
Malone served as president of the Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapter during the 2024-25 academic year and participated in Alcorn Impact and the Girls Coalition.
She earned her associate degree at 17 in spring 2023, began studying at Alcorn in fall 2023 and graduated Dec. 11 at 20.
Malone attended MANRRS conferences and participated in a two-week agricultural program in Puerto Rico through a collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.
Porter said she hopes to work in agricultural policy, sustainability or federal program development.
Malone plans to pursue graduate studies in environmental science or environmental policy and work as a sustainability specialist.
Malone and Porter are the second and third HBCU students selected for this highly competitive program in its 17th year. The 2026 Demmer Scholars Program course runs from Monday, May 18 – Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, and will be in person.
The William A. Demmer Scholars Program started in 2009, and each year about 25 students intern at number of high-profile agencies and groups. The goal of the program is to provide students with exposure to and experience in policy making on a national level related to natural resources and conservation.
