Morgan State Students Elevate Academic Excellence Through Achievement and Service

STEM Scholars Distinguish Themselves in Community Outreach, International Study, and Advanced Training

BALTIMORE — The campus at Morgan State University beams with students who excel in and beyond the classroom—scholars whose drive, discipline, and vision reflect the very best of what it means to be a Bear. The handful highlighted—Charlton Dottin, Ana Pineda, Takiya Eastmond, and Olisa Kenneth Menakaya—represent only a sample of the caliber of next-generation leaders who are proud to represent the National Treasure with distinction. Through academic achievement, global engagement, research innovation, and community impact, these students bring to life Morgan’s core values in vivid display. Individual achievements help to collectively elevate Morgan’s reputation for academic excellence, innovation, and leadership. Their success reflects the University’s commitment to preparing tomorrow’s problem-solvers, creators, and change-makers. 

Excelling in Actuarial Sciences

Charlton Dottin recently passed his fifth actuarial exam, the Advanced Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics (ALTAM) exam, a three-hour, 60-point SOA exam focused on complex, long-term contingent cash flows.  The exam covers mortality and morbidity models, profit testing for life insurance and annuities, pension plans, and embedded options. It is a written‑answer exam that often requires the use of Excel for calculations. The national general pass rate for the ALTAM exam fluctuates between roughly 45.5% and 56.5%. 

This was Charlton’s most challenging exam thus far and marks another notable accomplishment in his journey toward achieving professional competency in the field of actuarial science. 

“Passing my fifth actuarial exam, especially the ALTAM, is a major milestone for me. It challenged me to apply complex concepts in a real-world way,” said Charlton. “The written-answer format and heavy use of calculations pushed me to think critically and stay disciplined throughout the process. I’m proud of this accomplishment, and I’m excited to keep moving forward toward my goal of becoming a credentialed actuary.”

Offered through the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Morgan State is the only HBCU with an Actuarial Science program—a field that applies mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to analyze the economic costs of risk and uncertainty. In addition to rigorous university coursework, actuarial science is considered highly challenging because of its demanding, multi-year professional exam process, which is essential for career advancement.  To become an actuary in the U.S. or Canada, you need to pass seven or 10 exams, depending on the designation you pursue.

According to data from the Society of Actuaries (SOA), Black professionals represent only 2% of the field.

Dottin, a senior, will join Milliman in Chicago as an actuarial analyst upon graduation. Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities worldwide.

Architecture & Planning

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) named Ana Pineda, a senior Architecture major, to the Spring 2026 cohort of its Leading Change in Latin America Student Fellowship program. Ana is one of 74 students selected from 38 colleges to receive a full scholarship. She will spend the entire spring term in Puerto Rico completing a paid architecture internship.

The Leading Change Fellows initiative offers up to 100 full-semester scholarships and a $2,000 living stipend to U.S. college students during the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, representing a total investment of more than $2 million.

This fellowship supports Ana’s strong commitment and passion for community-centered design and cultural storytelling.

“Being selected as a CIEE Leading Change Fellow is truly an honor. To represent Morgan as one of just 74 students chosen nationwide—and to receive a full scholarship to study and intern in Puerto Rico—means so much to me,” said Pineda. “I’m especially excited to immerse myself in a community where architecture, culture, and history are deeply connected. This experience will allow me to grow not only as a designer but as a storyteller committed to creating spaces that reflect and uplift the communities they serve. I look forward to bringing everything I learn back to Morgan as I complete my degree in Spring 2026.”

Ana plans to return from Puerto Rico and graduate in Spring 2026. She intends to pursue a career living and working abroad, using architecture to create meaningful, culturally grounded spaces.

The Baltimore Banner Honors Takiya Eastmond as a 2026 Emerging Leader 

Takiya Eastmond, a senior pursuing a double major in Engineering and Computer Science with a minor in Information Systems, launched the first-ever TEDx event at Morgan. She was recently selected, along with 14 other community leaders, as one of the Baltimore Banner’s “2026 Emerging Leaders.” Recognized as one of Baltimore’s up-and-coming leaders under 40 for her meaningful impact on the community, Takiya was selected by a committee composed of representatives from The Banner and distinguished community leaders. Takiya, the current licensee, founder, and organizer of the inaugural TEDx at Morgan, hosted the event as part of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, making this a truly historic and meaningful occasion for our campus and community. This year’s theme, “Untold Stories,” featured an inspiring lineup of speakers who shared powerful ideas, lived experiences, and transformative perspectives.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, and a proud student mother, Takiya’s time at Morgan has been defined by service, leadership, and a commitment to outreach efforts focused on empowerment, education, and wellness.

“I am honored to be recognized as an emerging leader in Baltimore. My work is rooted in creating access, building community, and empowering others to see possibilities beyond their circumstances,” said Eastmond. “This recognition is not just a personal milestone; it reflects the collective strength, resilience, and brilliance of the communities that continue to shape and inspire my journey.” 

As the Founder and President of Between the Lines—Morgan’s first book-based organization centered on the Black diaspora—and Co-Founder of the Morgan Adult Learners Association (MALA), Takiya has created spaces that amplify overlooked voices and deepen campus engagement. After graduation, she plans to advance in technology and engineering while building initiatives that merge innovation with social impact.

ESA 2026 Graduate Student Policy Award Recipient

The Ecological Society of America has selected Olisa Kenneth Menakaya for the 2026 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA). Kenneth is one of a 20-student cohort selected to receive the 2026 Graduate Student Policy Award. Being a selectee includes travel to Washington, D.C., for policy, communication, and career training, along with opportunities to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss advocacy and science policy.

As a Ph.D. student in bioenvironmental science at Morgan State, Menakaya develops accessible, interactive tools that use wastewater-based epidemiology and local environmental data to help communities understand ecosystem and public health changes. He is also a graduate fellow with the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity, where his focus is on AI-assisted learning and community-engaged, design-based methods to support evidence-based decision-making in schools and community settings. This selection expands Menakaya’s research portfolio, advancing in the field of ecology and increasing the number of underrepresented Black scientists.

“Being selected for the Ecological Society of America’s Graduate Student Policy Award is an incredible honor, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent Morgan State University as part of the 2026 cohort,” said Menakaya. “I’m excited to travel to Washington, D.C., to strengthen my skills and to engage directly with lawmakers on issues that impact environmental and public health. I look forward to using what I learn to help amplify community-centered solutions through policy.”

Menakaya is committed to inclusive STEM mentorship, science communication, and cross-sector collaboration that broadens participation in ecological problem-solving. In 2024, the National Science Teaching Association bestowed him with its 2024 Maitland P. Simmons Memorial Award.

Congratulations to all of our Morgan students on their notable accomplishments during the Spring 2026 semester.