By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — A Public Policy and Law student in Young Harris College’s Business and Public Policy Department presented at a conference in Rome recently, and it wasn’t the one 120 miles south of here in Georgia, but a little over 5,300 miles away in Italy.
Madison Dorris, a senior at YHC majoring in Public Policy and Law, presented at the International School Choice & Reform Conference held in Rome Jan. 8-11. Dorris presented research she had worked on, regarding the relationship between school choice, residential choice, and poverty for students in elementary and secondary schools.
“We refer to it as the K-12 poverty trap where families living in poverty don’t have a choice on where to live, and as a result, where to go to school,” Dorris said. “I was part of a panel discussing the topic at the conference.”
The International School Choice and Reform Conference, formed in 2012, has developed a community of scholars who study various forms of school choice and systemic reform. Based out of Florida, the ISCRC is an international group bringing together perspectives from across the globe on how school choice is enacted, the mechanisms that structure school choice programs, and both the individual and systemic outcomes of school choice and reform.
“School choice is a topic I have interest in, especially the impact today’s environment in the U.S. has on it,” said Dr. Nathan Gray, professor of Business & Public Policy. Gray was Dorris’ sponsor and also traveled to the conference in Italy. “I know the sponsor for this conference and thought Madison’s research would be perfect for it.”
The ISCRC committee agreed, after reviewing her proposal submission and adding her to a panel discussion. Dorris talked about her research to discover how school choice and income or poverty impact decisions for families. She looked at poverty vs. areas of wealth and how it related with choices for schools.
“It was an awesome experience,” Dorris said. “I have never done something like this, so it was definitely out of my comfort zone and I was nervous when I got up there. But I had practiced for it, so I was ready. It was great. I really enjoyed it.”
And the experience was not just academic, as Gray and Dorris were able to do a little sightseeing as well.
“We packed in what we could and explored everywhere and anywhere. We put in 28,000 steps one day!” Gray said of the experience, which included stops in Pompeii and other areas of Rome, as well as the Vatican.
Dorris will graduate this May and is thinking about graduate school to earn her master’s or doctoral degree.
“I’m not 100% sure of where I’m going, I just know I want to complete my education and possibly continue to work in this field.”
Gray was thankful for the College’s support for the conference trip.
“Between the College and contributions from our generous supporters, our students are able to enjoy opportunities like this, which they typically would never get to do,” Gray said. “We are very grateful for that. You can’t begin to measure the value of an experience like this.”
About Young Harris College
Young Harris College is a private baccalaureate and master’s degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, Young Harris College educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.
