Three A&T Undergraduates Complete Research as 2026 Harvard Du Bois Scholars

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2026) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University undergraduates Derrick J. Bradley II, Madelyn McFall and Avery Patterson have completed research projects as 2026 Harvard Dubois Scholars.

They are three of 29 students representing eight Research 1, Research 2 and research-focused historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who earned a fully funded, nine- to 10-week summer research internship at Harvard College Summer Undergraduate Research Village.

Bradley, son of Latasha and Derrick Bradley of Dallas, is a third-year Honors College student, double majoring in landscape architecture and liberal studies with a pre-law concentration. He is the first Lewis and Elizabeth Dowdy Scholar and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences student to participate in the Du Bois Scholars program.

Over the summer, Bradley conducted research at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health under Gary Adamkiewicz, Ph.D. His research with the Beat Heat Study focused on extreme heat, older adults and environmental justice. He examined how indoor heat exposure and cooling strategies among older adults are connected to their surrounding outdoor environments as extreme heat events become more frequent and severe. The study considers the heightened risks older adults face due to age, chronic health conditions and environmental exposures.

Through surveys, interviews and geographic analysis, Bradley investigated the relationship between neighborhood green infrastructure, access to cooling resources and heat resilience. He also examined how disparities in tree canopy coverage, shaded public spaces, park access, and neighborhood investment may affect heat exposure and cooling behaviors.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue the work of those who came before me while hopefully inspiring students who will follow,” said Bradley. “As an HBCU student pursuing a path that combines design, research, law and environmental justice, it was especially important for me to fully engage in this experience and occupy spaces in higher education and research where students from HBCUs have historically been underrepresented.”

McFall, daughter of Jon McFall and Erica McFall of Sacramento, California, is a third-year Honors College political science student who is passionate about the intersection of law, public policy and public health, with a particular interest in public health law and its impact on communities.

This summer, McFall worked with Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic on a legal and policy research project examining the Food and Drug Administration’s proposed front-of-package nutrition labeling rule, analyzing stakeholder arguments, synthesizing complex legal and policy information, and translating research into findings that could support real-world advocacy and policy development.

As part of her research, McFall reviewed and analyzed 136 public comments submitted to the Federal Register, identifying major legal and policy themes including First Amendment and compelled commercial speech concerns, questions surrounding the FDA’s authority, evidence supporting the proposed labels, costs and differing stakeholder approaches to nutrition labeling.

At A&T, McFall serves as a re-elected Student Government Association (SGA) senator representing more than 2,000 College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science students and as the 2026-27 appointed SGA senate parliamentarian. She was also selected for the Duke University School of Law Pre-Law Fellowship, one of 24 students nationwide chosen for the highly selective program, and the Roosevelt Network Forge Fellowship, a competitive opportunity for emerging policy leaders. Through these experiences, she continues to strengthen her foundation in law, policy and civic leadership while advocating for students and civic engagement at A&T.

After graduating from A&T, McFall plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public health law and legal academia. She hopes to combine her interests in law, public policy and education to create meaningful change and inspire future generations.

Patterson, daughter of Brandon and Gerrelyn C. Patterson, Ph.D., is from Durham, North Carolina, and a junior Honors College student studying journalism and business marketing. A Cheatham-White Scholar, she is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Patterson’s research on historical housing practices examined how blockbusting, redlining and racial covenants continue to influence the racial and socioeconomic environments of North Carolina communities. Her work has strengthened her interest in the long-term civic implications of policy and how research can inform public understanding of complex issues.

Patterson has developed extensive experience in journalism and communications. As a political reporter, anchor and producer for Aggie News, a student-run news show at A&T, and former WUNC youth reporter, she has reported on elections and federal policy and produced a radio story on the lasting effects of historical housing practices in Durham that aired on NPR’s Morning Edition. As a communications intern with The Beautiful Project, she conducted interviews, developed narrative stories, created social media content and contributed to the organization’s summer newsletters.

Patterson is interested in the intersection of journalism, public policy and civic engagement, particularly how policy decisions shape communities and public understanding. She views journalism as a research-informed practice that advances governance, accountability and public access to information and hopes to explore these areas through graduate study.