Walden University Honors Dr. Hershel K. Swinger, Founder of Project Fatherhood, with Presidential Award for Leadership in Social Change

Minneapolis—June 21, 2010—Walden University has awarded the Presidential Award for Leadership in Social Change to Hershel K. Swinger, PhD, founder of Project Fatherhood^SM. A program in the Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII) of Los Angeles, Project Fatherhood^SM was created to address the problem of absentee fathers. Dr. Swinger was honored by Walden in Los Angeles on June 19 for the significant contributions he has made to his field and his community to bring about positive social change.

Dr. Swinger, senior vice president of the Leadership Center at CII, is a nationally recognized expert in the cultural aspects of family and community violence and drug abuse. Since its inception in 1996, Project FatherhoodSM has helped more than 7,000 low-income, culturally diverse fathers across Los Angeles County to become effective parents. Today, the reach of Project Fatherhood^SM has now been extended through a community grants program that enables other organizations to replicate its service model in their own neighborhoods.

Dr. Swinger is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 35 years of experience treating individuals and families affected by violence and substance abuse. He is a retired professor of counselor education at California State University in Los Angeles. Dr. Swinger earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern California.

In recognition of its 40th anniversary, Walden University is honoring individuals who make a profound impact on effecting positive social change in their local communities, the nation or around the world with the Presidential Award for Leadership in Social Change.

For 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 42,500 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 50 online and campus-based universities in 21 countries.

Walden offers more than 45 degree programs with more than 195 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include: health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration, technology and engineering. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.