Double Discovery
Center, Columbia University's program for low-income, college-bound students
in New York, has named Muriel A. S.
Grimmett as its new executive director. Over the last four
decades, Double Discovery's academic enrichment programs have served more than
30,000 students in the city and it has served as a model for programs
elsewhere.
A specialist in multicultural education and African-American
studies, Dr. Grimmett has worked at the national, regional and state levels on
issues related to enhancing access and outcomes for low-income, college-bound
students. She has held administrative and teaching posts at the University of Nevada
at Las Vegas, Rutgers
University, Carleton College
and Southern Illinois University.
"It is an honor to for me to take over as
executive director of Columbia's
oldest community outreach program," Dr. Grimmett said. "I am heartened by the
large number of volunteers and friends who continue to pledge their services
and resources toward the Double Discovery mission of providing academic
assistance to students from underrepresented communities. I look forward to
continuing the excellent work of those who came before me."
Columbia's Double Discovery
Center works with teenagers
who are at risk of not completing high school or entering college. It offers
academic, career, college, financial aid and personal development services
year-round with the goal of increasing the rate of high school graduation,
college entrance and college completion. Participants have a 96 percent high
school graduation rate and 66 percent go on to graduate from a four-year
college - 20 percent higher than the national rate of college graduation.
Double Discovery was founded in 1965 by a group of Columbia undergraduates
led by Roger Lehecka CC '67 and history professor James P. Shenton. Among the
first programs of its kind in the nation, it served as a model for the federal Upward
Bound college access program.
"In 1965, when we were writing the grant application for
Project Double Discovery, we never thought that we were building a framework
that would span four decades," Roger Lehecka said. "In the optimism of youth, I
don't think any of us felt that there would still be a need for this program in
the 21st century. However, since the need clearly still exists, I am thankful
that we have the program and I am proud of my continuing association with it."
As part of Columbia's Double Discovery, Upward Bound
currently serves more than 165 high school students with year-round academic,
career, college and counseling services, as well as a six-week summer
residential academic program on campus.
Another federal program, Talent Search, instituted in 1977, provides
academic services to more than 1,000 middle school, high school and young adult
students annually. Middle school students attend tutoring and workshops after
school and educational trips on the weekends. In the summer, there is a full
day program of classes, tutoring, special interest clubs and visits on campus.
Throughout the year, high school students attend test preparation courses, as
well as workshops and personal development forums and weekend academic classes.
Muriel A. S.
Grimmett earned her bachelor's degree and
master's degree from Southern Illinois University, and her PhD in higher
education administration from St.
Louis University.
She has received the Award of Excellence from the Association for
Excellence and Equality in Education, Inc., and has been recognized for her
work with the National Ronald E. McNair Undergraduate Research Conference and
Graduate School Fair held annually at Delavan,
Wisconsin.
In 1998, she was one of 11 recipients of the inaugural TRIO
Dissemination Partnership Program grants awarded by the U. S. Department of
Education. She is a member of the board of the United Way of Central Jersey and a former
member of the Council of Graduate School/Council for Opportunity
in Education Joint Committee.
To learn more about Double Discovery, visit: www.columbia.edu/cu/college/ddc.
