Walden University awards National Public Service Scholarships to students working at the national level who seek the doctorate in order to better serve the nation’s needs. This year the university named six recipients.
College of Education
Recipient: Aleesa M. Mobley
Program: PhD in Education (Adult Education Leadership)
Title: Nurse Practitioner, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Vineland N.J.
How a PhD Will Further My Public Service Work: “As an advanced practice registered nurse and an advocate for public health, I recognize that serious efforts are necessary to improve the health literacy of the nation’s population. It is necessary and beneficial to the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs to expand its efforts to design and implement health care interventions that support health promotion and illness prevention. Attaining the doctoral degree with a specialization in Adult Education Leadership, with research focused on health literacy, will provide me with the additional expertise required to promote, develop and implement changes to improve the health literacy of larger populations within the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
School of Health Sciences
Recipient: Tracy Ford
Program: PhD in Public Health (Community Health Promotion and Education)
Title: STD/HIV Coordinator and Liaison, Southern Nevada Health District and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Tracy Ford PhD in Public Health (Community Health Promotion and Education) STD/HIV Coordinator and Liaison, Southern Nevada Health District and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
How a PhD Will Further My Public Service Work: “I collaborate with local, state and regional STD/HIV programs and officials in implementing STD national program objectives. I am the CDC liaison for state and local reporting of STD/HIV intervention and prevention efforts and represent the CDC as the expert technical assistant for these efforts. In obtaining my doctoral degree, I would be able to enhance and further my activities in the prevention of infectious diseases and would have obtained the educational background necessary for complementing my working skills with public health delivery programs.”
Recipient: Lagina Griffiths
Program: PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology)
Title: Station Manager for the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services, National Sector Mobile Staff
How a PhD Will Further My Public Service Work: “I have been employed with the American National Red Cross for the past seven years. In those years, I have delivered Red Cross services in seven countries and four states. It is in the area of global health that my PhD will enhance my effectiveness as a Red Cross employee. As an international health delegate or project director, I would be responsible for directing Red Cross disaster and health programs in countries where limited or no services of the sort are available. I would be able to empower people across all cultures to have action plans in place in case disaster strikes and to learn and adopt habits necessary to prevent the spread of communicable disease and lessen the prevalence of chronic diseases. The Red Cross currently operates these programs in Indonesia, Haiti and Africa. Obtaining my PhD will further my epidemiological knowledge and provide me the tools necessary to solidify my commitment to the Red Cross to improve the health status of disparate populations.”
Lagina Griffiths PhD in Public Health (Epidemiology) Station Manager for the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services, National Sector Mobile Staff “I have been employed with the American National Red Cross for the past seven years. In those years, I have delivered Red Cross services in seven countries and four states. It is in the area of global health that my PhD will enhance my effectiveness as a Red Cross employee. As an international health delegate or project director, I would be responsible for directing Red Cross disaster and health programs in countries where limited or no services of the sort are available. I would be able to empower people across all cultures to have action plans in place in case disaster strikes and to learn and adopt habits necessary to prevent the spread of communicable disease and lessen the prevalence of chronic diseases. The Red Cross currently operates these programs in Indonesia, Haiti and Africa. Obtaining my PhD will further my epidemiological knowledge and provide me the tools necessary to solidify my commitment to the Red Cross to improve the health status of disparate populations.”
Recipient: Wendy Leonard
Program: PhD in Public Health (Community Health Promotion and Education)
Title: Freelance Medical Writer, Hawthorne, N.J.
Wendy Leonard PhD in Public Health (Community Health Promotion and Education) Freelance Medical Writer, Hawthorne, N.J.
How a PhD Will Further My Public Service Work: I have been amazed at how profoundly (and quickly) my newfound knowledge has enhanced my personal and professional ability to both promote and contribute to positive social change. I’m a medical writer who specializes in translating complicated, confusing medical information for lay populations. My work is published both nationally and internationally. The bulk of my work has focused upon helping people not only understand the nature of their or their loved one’s illness (e.g., symptoms, causes, risk factors, treatment options), but also on empowering my readers with actionable, efficacious lifestyle and behavioral changes. The synergistic combination of my professors, literature, assignments and collegiate online classroom experience has fostered a sea change in my understanding of public health. As a result, I don’t hesitate to take the opportunity to tell (and respectfully educate) my publishers and editors about the importance of my including public health elements in my work.”
School of Public Policy and Administration
Recipient: Christielove Harris
Program: PhD in Public Policy and Administration (Homeland Security Policy and Coordination)
Title: Contract Analyst, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Washington, D.C.
How a PhD Will Further My Public Service Work: “As a contract analyst for Customs and Border Protection, I help protect homeland security through the administration of contracts. I support our mission ‘to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States by eliminating potential threats before they arrive at our borders and ports.’ This degree will enhance me professionally. My goal is to develop procedures to assist people during emergencies. Earning a doctorate will allow me to progress more efficiently and effectively toward my career goals.”
Recipient: Teresa Jeter
Program: PhD in Public Policy (Nonprofit Management and Leadership)
Title: Senior Mortgage Credit Analyst and Faith-Based Liaison, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Indianapolis
How a PhD Will Further My Public Service Work: “Growing up in a poor family and in a low-income neighborhood surrounded by dilapidated housing made me aware early in life how poverty can have a negative impact on quality of life. As a result, I was determined to become involved in a way that would allow me to address the lack of decent, affordable housing for low-income individuals, and to address the lack of citizen participation when important decisions are being made regarding neighborhood revitalization opportunities. These are the reasons why most of my adult life has been committed to public service. In working toward my doctoral degree, my research objective is to continue examining how nontraditional access to funds—such as funds obtained through social ventures and enterprises—impact traditional nonprofit governance. A doctorate will aid me in promoting HUD’s mission by assisting nonprofits in developing a governance model that will increase their capacities to become less dependent on government funds while partnering with government in filling social service gaps.”
For more information, see Walden's scholarships Web page.