About Mathletics

Mathletics is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and designed to immerse middle grades youth (current 6th, 7th, & 8th graders) in the rapidly growing world of sports data analytics and build their knowledge of statistical concepts and the data science process. The program is particularly focused on engaging African American and Latinx youth, in an effort to deepen their STEM knowledge and introduce them to STEM fields. The 2024 Mathletics program will run only for the summer, July 8 through July 26.

The program is hosted by the Coppin State University Mathematics and Computer Science department.

Activities are led by Coppin faculty, local math teachers (high-school or college level) and Coppin undergraduate students majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field. Students not only learn practical skills, such as how to collect data and perform statistical analysis of the data but also engage in an end-of-camp, personal statistics project in a field of interest to them. The program exposes students to campus recreational activities, athletic coaches, and data collection and its use in decision making by sports teams.

Program Activities

• Mini sports combine and other informal sports activities for students where they engage in various sporting events, followed by performing statistical measurements on their times and measurements compared to other Mathletes
• Field trip to Washington Mystics basketball game where students collect statistical measurements of professional basketball players, followed by comparison of their measurements to those taken by the professional statisticians of the teams playing
• Recreation time at various local recreational facilities
• Trip to University of Maryland, College Park basketball arena Xfinity Center
• Interactions and presentations from athletic coaches on the importance and use of mathematics in athletics and coaching
• Gather and analyze survey data from Coppin students on campus

Apply to Mathletics

Applications now closed

Mathletics is open to students currently in grades 6, 7, or 8. The application is required and there is a $25 refundable registration cost to participate. The fee is due immediately after the student is accepted to the program.

Apply to Mathletics (Application Closed)

2024-2025 Cohort Dates

The Laboratory for Environmental Contaminants (LEC) conducts research to advance knowledge in Monitoring and characterizing contaminants to fully understand their health impacts. Our research involves occurrence, fate, and transport of contaminants of emerging concern. We use socio-environmental synthesis approach and advanced analytical methods to study complex dimensions of water quality, social health, and air quality issues. Through our research we enhance academic programs and foster citizen education in such areas as contaminant science, environmental sustainability, and urban ecology.

Lab activities focus on research and education related to environmental contaminants including, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Monitoring concentration of contaminants in the soil and water systems
• Conducting laboratory and field studies on the fate of toxic substances in the environment and develop innovative technologies for the remediation of contaminated environments
• Foster relationships and ensure the exchange of data and information with local government agencies, institutions and neighboring community
• Advocate for citizen education on environmental health issues

Researchers

Lead Investigator

Mintesinot Jiru, Ph.D.

Mintesinot Jiru holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences from Gent University and is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences at Coppin State University. He has over 20 years of teaching and research experience in areas of climate change and environmental systems. Dr. Jiru has done extensive work on land degradation, food security, and water management issues in Africa. Dr. Jiru’s research focuses on understanding the socio-environmental and biophysical issues encompassing water quality in Baltimore’s watersheds. Currently he is leading a research program on emerging environmental contaminants with a focus on microplastics, toxic heavy metals and pharmaceuticals (mainly estrogen in water). Dr. Jiru serves as the chief editor for the American Journal of Experimental Agriculture. He also serves as a member of the External Advisory Board for the National Socio-environmental Synthesis Center. Dr. Jiru served on various panels and task forces including Maryland governor’s task force to develop a proposal for graduate programs in alternative energy in historically black colleges and universities in Maryland.

Current Student Researchers

Annalyse Belton

Annalyse Belton is an undergraduate student at Coppin State University, majoring in Biology and Life Science with a Pre-Medical concentration and minoring in Chemistry. She aspires to become a medical physician specializing in oncology; however, her goal does not stop at patient care but extends to research into cancer health disparities. Her career journey has drawn her to the Lab for Environmental Contaminants as a student researcher. Annalyse’s research entails quantifying estrogen levels in Baltimore’s watersheds and correlating its effects on fish and the ecosystem as a whole. She has set her heart on making an impact in the world around her and always looks for new insight.

Muyang Chunga

Muyang Chunga is a Biology & Life Sciences Major with a Pre-Physician's Assistant concentration and a Chemistry Minor. Originally on a Bio-Medical track, she has fully immersed herself in her deep-founded love for Biosciences, since she began to work with Dr. Jiru as a student-researcher in the Laboratory of Environmental Contaminants. That is along with the opportunity to participate on an airborne and oceanographic research with NASA researchers as a member of the inaugural Student Airborne Science Activation cohort. Muyang is working towards pursuing a career as a researcher in Environmental and Chemical Science.

Tochi Iwuji

Hello! My name is Tochi Iwuji and I am a Biology and Life Sciences major with a concentration in Pre-Medicine and minor in Chemistry. My future aspirations in life involve becoming and obstetrician gynecologist, while gaining as much laboratory experience as I can and broadening my skills along the way. In the Laboratory for Environmental Contaminants, my research involves characterizing and analyzing phosphate and nitrate concentrations in various Baltimore watersheds. I also plan to conduct methods for the neutralization of these contaminants in water, and showcase their environmental impact.

• Nijah White (B.S. in Biology)
• Brenasia Lynn (Graduating senior - Biology)
• Ta’Shana Maddox (Graduating senior – Biology)

Recent Publications

• Vester M, Sobhi HF, Jiru M (2018) Disinfection Byproducts in Chlorinated Drinking Water. Int J Water Wastewater Treat 4(2): dx.doi. org/10.16966/2381-5299.156
• Richard Schulterbrandt Gragg, Aavudai Anandhi, Mintesinot Jiru and Kareem M. Usher. A Conceptualization of the Urban Food-Energy-Water Nexus Sustainability Paradigm: Modeling From Theory to Practice. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 6:133, 2018
• William Ghann, Tyler Harris, Daiyaan Kabir, Hyeonggon Kang, Mintesinot Jiru, Mohammed M Rahman, Meser M Ali and Jamal Uddin. Lipoic Acid Decorated Gold Nanoparticles and Their Application in the Detection of Lead Ions. Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology. Volume 10, Issue 6, 2019
• Aaliyah McCullough, Jasmynn George & Mintesinot Jiru. Detection and Quantitation of Estrogen in Watersheds. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2018
• Mintesinot Jiru. Coal-fired Power Plants and Their Impact on Ecosystems Health. Physical Science International Journal, ISSN: 2348-0130, Vol.: 16, Issue: 4, 2018
• Jiru, M. North-Kabore, J. Roth, T. Studying Water Quality Using Socio-Environmental Synthesis Approach: A Case Study in Baltimore’s Watershed. Hydrology. Vol 4, 32, 2017,
• Mintesinot Jiru. Understanding Causes of Reservoir Water Quality Deterioration Using Socio-environmental Synthesis Approach Teaching Issues and Experiments in Ecology, Vol. 12, 2017
• Herald T. Douglas, Raymond L. Petersen, Mintesinot Jiru and Tatiana Roth. The role of dipteran larvae in controlling Euglena concentrations in the pitchers of Sarracenia purpurea L. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications. Vol 6, 2016.
• Amadi, L., Jenny, S.S., Ahmed, A., Brown, N., Yadav, S., Brown, D., Ghann, W., Gayrama, A., Jiru, M. and Uddin, J. Creation of Natural Dye Sensitized Solar Cell by Using Nanostructured Titanium Oxide. Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, 3, 25-35, 2015
• Jiru, Mintesinot. and Van Ranst, E. Increasing water productivity on Vertisols: implications for environmental sustainability. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 90 (13) 2276–2281. 2010

The Freshman English Composition (FEC) Program is guided by a commitment to assisting learners of all levels and backgrounds advance their core competencies in three primary areas: Composition and Organizational Skills, Rhetorical Modes of Discourse, and foundations of Standard English Grammar.

Our program is dedicated to helping students understand writing as a process and focuses on the continual revision of written work. Students produce multiple drafts for each project and develop the ability to critique their own writing as they learn to critique the work of others.

We encourage students to explore various topics and perspectives to develop their writing skills and to communicate effectively in a wide variety of modes and environments. Students read and evaluate texts that are culturally diverse and relevant to contemporary problems facing urban and global populations in order to gain insights into the complex nature of ideas and issues. Our students learn to evaluate arguments and narratives, analyze claims and methods, scrutinize reasoning, and draw their own well-informed conclusions.

The Freshman English Composition Program requires a two-semester sequence for first-year students. The first semester (ENGL 101: Freshman Composition I) focuses on the principles and practices of effective reading and writing, with individualized attention to the fundamentals of Standard English Grammar, compositional and organizational skills, and the creation of a portfolio illustrating mastery of several rhetorical modes of discourse. The second semester (ENGL 102: Freshman Composition II) continues to build on these skills and emphasizes the use of research for effective arguments.

The Center for Nanotechnology is home to an array of impressive state-of-the-art equipment. Founded in 2007 by Dr. Jamal Uddin, the center is currently located on the third floor of the Science and Technology Center on the Coppin State University campus. A talented team of faculty, staff, and students conduct research at the center. Research efforts, funded by several organizations, encompass dye sensitized solar cells, terahertz technology, and biomedical application of gold nanoparticles. Funding organizations include Constellation—an Exelon company, Department of Education (Safra Title III Grant) TEDCO, Department of Defense, and the University System of Maryland. The center has received recognition and awards for research findings, which have also been published in several highly regarded peer-reviewed journals such as Nature Scientific Reports and Inorganic Chimica Acta. The research team periodically undertakes field trips, attends, and organizes conferences and workshops annually.

STEM Day 2024

https://www.coppin.edu/stemday

The Center for Nanotechnology at Coppin State University presents STEM DAY 2024 on October 3, 2024 at 9 am. Click on the link to register.

Admissions & Dance Placement Video

No audition is required to join the Coppin Dance Program. If accepted into Coppin State University, you must declare Dance as your major or minor.

However, to ensure proper placement in our technique classes, all incoming students must submit a Dance Placement Video before the start of their first semester.

Dance Placement Video Guidelines

All incoming dance majors and minors must submit a placement video before the semester begins to ensure appropriate placement in technique classes. An audition is not required for acceptance into the program.

1. Format Your Video
   • Submit a piece (or excerpts) that best showcases your movement ability and style, such as Improv, Modern/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, African, or Jazz.
   • Keep your video under 2 minutes.
   • Ensure your video is clear, well-lit, and shows your full body in motion.
   • If dancing in a group, clearly identify yourself (e.g., label or arrow).
2. Upload and Submit
   • Upload your video to an accessible platform (e.g., an Unlisted YouTube link, Google Drive, Vimeo).
   • Double-check that the video is viewable and that permissions are set to “anyone with the link.”
   • Then complete the Dance Admission Application Form and paste your video link in the designated field.

Mission

Our mission is to cultivate a dynamic and inclusive dance education that empowers students through rigorous training in dance performance, technology, and production. We center the cultural and historical significance of dance, especially within the African diaspora, to broaden perspectives through scholarship and creative inquiry.

We are committed to creating a vibrant, inclusive community where diversity is celebrated, and dance serves as a catalyst for civic engagement, social change, and economic growth.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Master Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate skill in traditional and contemporary dance forms.
• Understand Culture and History: Examine the cultural, historical, and political roots of dance with an emphasis on African diasporic forms.
• Think Critically and Research Deeply: Analyze performances, texts, and traditions through scholarly inquiry and embodied practice.
• Choreograph with Purpose: Create innovative work that reflects personal voice, cultural knowledge, and artistic expression.
• Prepare for Professional Careers: Navigate the professional world of dance through training in entrepreneurship, education, and leadership.
• Collaborate Across Disciplines: Integrate dance with technology and other art forms to produce collaborative, interdisciplinary projects.
• Lead with Integrity: Commit to ethical practice, equity, and lifelong learning as artists and advocates in the global dance community.

Why Choose Coppin Dance?

• Small class sizes with personalized mentorship
• Training in studio and site-specific performance
• Cultural immersion in African and African American dance traditions
• Opportunities to choreograph, produce, and perform in concerts and community events
• Access to masterclasses, internships, and interdisciplinary collaborations

Meet Our Faculty

At Coppin State University, our dance faculty are more than educators—they are practicing artists, scholars, choreographers, and community leaders who bring real-world experience and cultural depth into every classroom.

Our team is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of dancers through personalized instruction, creative collaboration, and a commitment to excellence rooted in Contemporary and Traditional forms.

Our Faculty Expertise Includes:

• Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and Ballet Techniques
• African and African American Dance Forms
• Dance Pedagogy and Curriculum Design
• Choreography and Creative Research
• Community Arts and Civic Engagement
• Dance Technology and Production
• Arts Administration and Leadership

Guest Artists & Mentors

We regularly invite guest choreographers, alums, and industry professionals to lead masterclasses, workshops, and projects, offering our students access to a wide range of voices and perspectives in the field.

Performances & Events

Coppin’s dance program centers performance as a core part of the learning experience. Through studio-based work, mainstage concerts, and off-campus opportunities, students engage in continuous practice that refines technique and expands artistic vision.

On-campus performances include:

• Fall Dance Concert - A showcase of course projects and original choreography
• Spring Dance Concert - A culminating performance featuring faculty, student, and guest choreographed works
• Studio Night Informal Showings - Informal, student-led performance labs
• Coppin Community Events and Performances

Off-campus opportunities may include:

• CELEBRATION: Black History Month Showcase at the Gordon Center
• American College Dance Festival Adjudication Concert
• Local school residencies, community festivals, and events

Apply to the Dance Program

Discover everything you need to complete your Coppin State University and Dance Program applications with ease.

Learn How to Apply