Lacresha L. Roberts

Lacresha L. Roberts of Lansing, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Africana Studies.Roberts, who finished her undergraduate degrees in Africana studies and psychology in December 2002, is pursuing her master's degree in social work at WMU.Her goal is to work for a non-profit organization where she can help disadvantaged families.As a Ronald McNair Scholar, Roberts wrote a research thesis titled "Coping During the Waiting Period after HIV Testing" and presented her findings at a conference in Puerto Rico.She also traveled to South Africa and Mozambique in the summer of 2002 to work for USAID.As a research assistant with that organization, she researched the expansion of national park boundaries for the first Mozambique atlas.A National Collegiate Minority Award winner, Roberts is a four-year member of You Beautiful Black Woman and served as chair of community service, organizing fund-raising events for the American Breast Cancer Society and Community AIDS Resource and Education Services.She also has volunteered as a mentor for Bethany Christian Services and as a tutor for the Kalamazoo Public Schools.