Dyer Fellowship Program
The Edgar Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy brings together a group of Coastal Carolina students from all colleges and degree programs to participate in the Dyer Fellowship Program.
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The Edgar Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy engages students in active learning opportunities where they gain knowledge in various areas of policy research. Students connect academic theory to practice, becoming engaged civic-minded citizens.
Dyer Fellows receive a monthly stipend and their expenses paid for a spring trip to Washington, D.C. They also meet regularly with a dedicated faculty adviser to guide their research throughout the semester.
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Meet the 2019 Dyer Fellows
Tiffany Dantzler is a Coastal Carolina University student from Beaufort, S.C. She is majoring in intelligence and national security with minors in 
criminology and African Diaspora studies. As a Dyer Fellow, Tiffany will research the school districts that comprise the "Corridor of Shame" in S.C. As someone who has attended schools in this area of the state, she understands first-hand the need for a more equitable approach to funding school districts state-wide. Tiffany hopes to use this research to compare and contrast U.S. educational policies with that of the policies in the South African education system. Through the U.S. Fulbright Student Program, Tiffany is seeking placement as an English teaching assistant position South Africa. Upon graduation, she will attend graduate school to pursue an advanced degree in international relations.
- Research Topic: Analysis of teacher retention in the underfunded school districts that make the “Corridor of Shame.”
Kai Legette-Gideon is a Coastal Carolina University student from Orangeburg, S.C., majoring in political
science and minoring in philosophy and business administration. He is interested in political organizing for progressive causes. As part of his research with the Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, Kai will provide a descriptive analysis for the distribution of funds for the Community Development Block Grant program in South Carolina. With this research, he hopes to convey effective methods to distribute grant funds. Upon graduation, Kai plans to attend George Washington University graduate school studying political management and public policy. As a career, he aspires to start a political firm emphasizing election strategies, fund raising, polling opinions, and policy research.
- Research Topic: Descriptive analysis of the distribution of funds in the Community Development Block Grant program within South Carolina
Krystina Millar is a Coastal Carolina University student from Murrells Inlet, S.C. She is majoring in sociology and minoring in women’s and gender
studies. Her interests include gender, sexuality, health and social justice. As part of her fellowship with the Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, Krystina will conduct a comprehensive analysis of federal and state prison policies related to transgender-specific health care in the U.S. She hopes this research will improve public awareness of the transgender population and how policies affect vulnerable populations in the criminal justice system. Upon graduating, Krystina plans on attending a Ph.D. program in sociology with a focus in gender and health.
- Research topic: Transgender health care policies in the United States prison system
Maddy Scholar is a Coastal Carolina University student from Marietta, G.A., and is majoring in 
intelligence and national security studies. She is interested in law enforcement, specifically narcotics prevention. As part of her fellowship with the Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, Maddy will research the implications of decriminalizing marijuana in the U.S. Her research will examine the costs and benefits of decriminalization as well as how it has created complications between federal and state laws. Upon graduation, she will attend graduate school in England, U.K., for a peace and conflict resolution master’s degree.
- Research Topic: Implications of Marijuana Decriminalization
Brittany Shaughnessy is a Coastal Carolina University student from Myrtle Beach, S.C., majoring in 
communication with a concentration in broadcast news, and a minor in political science. Her research interests include media effects and political communication, which will be expanded upon in the Dyer Fellowship. As part of her fellowship, she will be studying the bias that exists in the United States media, and how that bias is misinforming the public. From the bias, brings the “fake news” phenomenon. As former assistant editor for The Chanticleer newspaper on campus, Brittany has had first-hand experience in the journalism field. Upon graduating, Brittany plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in communication.
- Research Topic: United States’ media bias and ‘fake news’ phenomenon
Monica Twarog is a Coastal Carolina University student from Worcester, M.A. She is studying political science
with a concentration on domestic politics. As part of her fellowship with the Dyer Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, Monica will be conducting research on improving South Carolina's election security. With this research, she hopes to educate the public on the policy changes necessary to secure elections and protect the rights of South Carolina voters.
- Research Topic: South Carolina election security reform
Coleman Warner is a Coastal Carolina University student from Myrtle Beach, S.C., majoring in political 
science with a concentration in domestic politics along with a minor in English. Coleman’s interest revolves around campaigns and elections, the American judicial system, and fiction writing. His research for the fellowship will examine the issues within the three different methods that States use to select judges. The goal is to produce an improved method that will limit the existing issues and serve as an alternative for States. After graduating, Coleman hopes to earn a law degree and begin a career in criminal law and/or earn an M.F.A.
- Research Topic: State’s methods of selecting judges and creating a reform system to remove issues within the methods.