Albany State University Students Shine at Prestigious Business & Economics Conference in Florida
Three undergraduate students from Albany State University (ASU)—Yazmine Latimore,
Chelsea Zeon, and Adeceia Richardson—made a standout appearance at the annual Society
of Business, Industry, and Economics (SOBIE) Conference in Destin, Florida, where
they presented groundbreaking research on equity and representation in STEM fields. 
Currently serving as research interns through a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, the ASU students delivered a powerful presentation titled “A Case Study: Understanding Interruptions of a Black Woman in STEM.” Developed under the mentorship of faculty from the Center for Educational Opportunity, their research sheds light on the complex challenges that Black women face while pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
“The SOBIE Conference was the best one I have ever attended—the energy, the networking, and the opportunity to present our project made it an unforgettable experience,” said Richardson.
Their participation was part of a larger research initiative funded by an NSF Grant. The project, officially titled Racial Equity: Collaborative Research: Understanding Persistence through the Lens of Interruption: A Framework for Transformation (UPLIFT), seeks to explore the social dynamics that affect retention and success among marginalized groups in higher education.
“This isn’t just a paper—it’s a call to reexamine how we support underrepresented voices in STEM,” said Dr. Kathaleena Monds, faculty advisor and mentor on the project.
The SOBIE Conference, known for attracting academic leaders and innovators from across the Southeast, provided a valuable platform for the ASU team to share their insights and engage with fellow scholars.
By sharing their work on a national stage, these emerging researchers from Albany State University are not just contributing to a vital conversation, they are actively helping to redefine the future of STEM to be more inclusive, equitable, and reflective of all voices.