Our Founder

Dr. Jeanetta D. Sims earned a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma under the direction of the late Dr. Michael Pfau. She is currently a tenured professor in the Marketing Department of the College of Business where she teaches classes in communication and marketing. She is accredited in public relations (APR) and is a 2023 Inductee into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame.

Her program of research includes strategic communication, workforce diversity, marketing, and persuasion and social influence. She has received university and national awards for her teaching and scholarship. She has also won top paper and merit awards from university, national, and international conferences. Her collaborative philosophy and approach to teaching is featured in a TeTalk.

She has completed five books in transformative learning, communication theory, and workforce diversity. Her research appears in multiple book chapters as well as in the Journal of Communication, Journal of Public Relations Research, Human Communication Research, and more.

Dr. Sims has served nationally in elected or appointed positions for the Council on Undergraduate Research, National Communication Association, Marketing Management Association, North American Management Society, and the Higher Learning Commission.

“I was asked, ‘What will be your contribution to the Academy?’ and through founding Diverse Student Scholars, I have answered. My personal contribution is to replace myself; that means to provide a platform for other women and people of color to persist and thrive in academia through research engagement.

Diverse Students Scholars has been my answer to a very important question.”

— Diverse Student Scholars Founder, Dr. Jeanetta D. Sims

Our History

Diverse Student Scholars started in the fall of 2007 when in her first semester of teaching at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) Dr. Jeanetta D. Sims began making announcements in her undergraduate classes that she enjoyed working with students on research projects; she encouraged interested students to contact her after class for being a part of her research team. From that in-class announcement, one student enrolled in an independent study course to work on research during the fall semester.


Since 2007, the DSS program has grown, become more formalized, and expanded to be more nimble in accommodating research interests and schedules of more than 86 DSS students.


The growth has come from numerous UCO students working as research assistants through independent research studies, funded RCSA student grants, funded STLR student grants, funded faculty grants, and funded support from Dr. Sims’ university appointments.


Today, DSS is still the primary contribution of Dr. Sims as a single faculty member with additional faculty joining her in mentoring and working with DSS students when she collaborates with these faculty on research projects.

Our Impact

Our Overall Impact:

  • 40 funded student grants

  • 8 funded faculty grants

  • 105+ co-authored conference presentations

  • 4 national top paper awards

  • 25+ proceedings and journal publications

  • 100% of student grant submissions funded

Our Quantitative Impact:

  • 22 (27.84%) worked on research through an independent study

  • 19 (24.05%) received funded on-campus student grants

  • 71 (91.03%) attended a state, national, or international conference to present their co-authored research

  • 20 (25.32%) wrote co-authored publications (via a journal article, case, or conference proceeding)

  • 79 DSS students received faculty mentorship

  • 105+ co-authored conference presentations 

Our Qualitative Impact:

The qualitative impact of Diverse Student Scholars has been explored through a number of publications.* The findings showed that DSS has helped its students improve and increase their:

  • Professionalism

  • Contacts and networks

  • Time management skills

  • Responsiveness to deadlines

  • Self-efficacy

  • Self-confidence

  • Organizational skills

  • Teamwork

  • Persistence

  • Appreciation of faculty

In addition, students shared they were better able to integrate their knowledge across business and communication courses. They also learned to be greater role models during their time as a Diverse Student Scholar.

*References

Sims, J. D., Anderson, P., & Murray, A. (2012). First-generation student research engagement: What are they learning and why does it matter. Marketing Management Association Fall Conference Proceedings, 234-235.

 Sims, J. D., Anderson, P., Neese, S., & Sims, A. (2013). Enhancing student cognitive, affective, and behavioral development through undergraduate research. Marketing Management Association Fall Conference Proceedings, 134-135.

Sims, J. D., Le, J., Emery, B., Smith, J. (2012). Beyond the quantitative headcount: Considering the un-captured qualitative impact of engaging undergraduate students in research. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly, 32(3), 23-27.

Sims, J. D., Le, J., & Smith, J. (2011). Advancing the research pipeline: Enlisting undergraduate students in faculty co-authored research. Marketing Management Association Fall Conference Proceedings, 238-239.

Our Thanks

Diverse Student Scholars exists only through the generous support of people and programs offered at the University of Central Oklahoma. Diverse Student Scholars at UCO has benefited greatly from the university’s mission-emphasis on transformative learning.

​Through the years, our work has received continuous and one-time financial, research assistantship, or other forms of support from the following: