June 2013—The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to graduates of a Walden University master’s program who demonstrate a personal, continued commitment to public service as they work toward a doctorate to improve their professional effectiveness. In May, Walden named three 2013 recipients:
Recipient: Lotes Nelson ’11
Program: MS in Mental Health Counseling to PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
Title: Psychotherapist in a private practice in Charlotte, N.C.
Public Service Goal: To continue to provide mental health services to underprivileged adolescents and youth who have had significant traumatic histories, such as sexual, physical and/or emotional abuse.
How the Doctorate Will Improve My Professional Effectiveness: “My degree will enhance my clinical skills and ultimately allow me to transition to a teaching role.”
Cathleen LeeRecipient: Cathleen Lee ’09
Program: MS in Education to Doctor of Education (EdD)
Title: English language learner (ELL) teacher at Morrison Academy, Taiwan
Public Service Goal: To empower local teachers in Taiwan to make English more practical, meaningful, and relevant to their students.
How the Doctorate Will Improve My Professional Effectiveness: “Teaching is my passion. The needs of my students are paramount. My doctorate will enable me to understand the spectrum of adult development and equip me with the skills to work effectively with adult learners.”
Recipient: Brett Rankin ’04
Program: MS in Education to Doctor of Education (EdD)
Title: Music teacher at Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md.
Public Service Goal: To implement a pilot program at Wilde Lake High School to improve student learning while simultaneously educating and involving teachers and parents. The new program will be based on the successes of his mentorship program, Believe-Achieve-Succeed, and his doctoral work.
How the Doctorate Will Improve My Professional Effectiveness: “My degree will add to my credibility as an educator and allow me to offer direction to improve student learning, teaching, and parental involvement.”