August 2013—Walden University awarded six incoming graduate students the Commitment to Social Change Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes the social change contributions the recipients have already made in their respective fields and ensures they will continue to do more of the same as they work toward their Walden degree.
The next application deadline is Oct. 1, 2013. Read the application criteria.
This doctoral student received $25,000:
Recipient: Malinda Mansfield
Hometown: Bristol, Ind.
Title: Instructor at Ivy Tech Community College’s Gary and South Bend campuses
Program: Doctor of Education (EdD)
Social Change Achievement: Malinda Mansfield founded the Collaborative Learning Committee and led a conference at Ivy Tech Community College to enlist fellow faculty members to identify collaborative learning techniques, make partnerships with the community, improve student services, and create service learning organizations—all in an effort to engender student success.
Social Change Goal: To work with faculty members through the collaborative learning initiative to continually increase student success.
These doctoral students received $5,000 each:
Recipient: Todd Dennis
Hometown: Rockwell, N.C.
Title: Coordinator of Keys to Success and the College Readiness Academy at Pfeiffer University’s Misenheimer campus
Program: PhD in Education
Social Change Achievement: Todd Dennis launched the College Readiness Academy in conjunction with Pfeiffer University to offer high school students who would be first-generation college students the opportunity to attend a summer program that included SAT preparatory materials, financial aid information, and workshops about note taking, test taking, and study skills. Once the program is complete, he estimates that 75% of students who participated went on to apply to a four-year institution. As a result of the program’s immediate successes, he helped Pfeiffer develop the Keys to Success program for its first-generation college students in their freshman year.
Social Change Goal: To improve students’ success rates by running Keys to Success and College Readiness Academy.
Recipient: Martin Kokou Logo
Hometown: Moline, Ill.
Title: Cultural community HIV/STD risks reduction specialist at the Project of the Quad Cities
Program: PhD in Public Health
Social Change Achievement: Martin Kokou Logo conducted research on HIV/AIDS awareness and risks among refugees and immigrants in Rock Island County, Ill. The findings showed that ignorance about HIV/AIDS, shame, language barriers, cultural differences, fear of stigma or discrimination, and lack of motivation cause this group to avoid testing and discussing health issues. To encourage transparency, Logo developed a health education curriculum for peer advocates to help prevent HIV/AIDS in minority communities.
Social Change Goal: To educate the worldwide community about HIV/AIDS and conduct research on these issues among African immigrants and refugees in the United States.
These master’s degree students received $2,500 each:
Recipient: Audrey Bergin
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Title: Founder and manager of the Domestic Violence (DOVE) Program at Northwest Hospital in Randallstown
Program: Master of Public Health (MPH)
Social Change Achievement: Audrey Bergin founded the Domestic Violence (DOVE) program at Northwest Hospital in 2004. In its first year, DOVE managed the cases of 24 women. In 2012, DOVE served more than 800 individuals. Every woman who comes to Northwest Hospital is now screened for domestic violence, and all staff members receive regular training in how to recognize and respond to these cases. Beyond individual case management, DOVE has built connections between the Baltimore County Police Department and State’s Attorney’s office to make it easier for women to acquire restraining orders or prosecute their abusers.
Social Change Goal: To reduce domestic violence in Maryland.
Recipient: Matia Joi Mausi
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Title: Student recruiter and outreach director at Ombudsman Educational Services in Dearborn
Program: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Social Change Achievement: Matia Joi Mausi is a board member and volunteer for Manpower Mentoring, where she focuses on developing programs for at-risk youth, and a board member for the LILLY Foundation, a mentoring program for girls. She also designed a program for the Detroit Parent Network that helps parents learn how to use Microsoft Office and the Internet so they can help their children with homework.
Social Change Goal: To continue to share the value of education with local students through her full-time work and volunteer efforts.
Recipient: Tamara McDonald
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
Title: Case manager at LifeBridge Health in Baltimore
Program: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Social Change Achievement: Tamara McDonald coordinates legal workshops for victims of domestic violence that educate, challenge, and empower women. She also helped Restoration Continuum Inc. develop a campaign called “Simply You,” where survivors tell their stories and participate in a charitable fashion show.
Social Change Goal: To create additional programs that address the needs of domestic violence survivors.