Meet Ivy Staten-Minor: Walden Alumna and Catalyst for Change in Philadelphia

Many people call for change; some, like Ivy Staten-Minor, dedicate themselves to making it happen.

This Walden grad brings the sum of her experiences to her job as a police sergeant for the Philadelphia Police Department, while always striving for continuous growth. She earned her MS in Communication from Walden in 2019 and is now studying American Sign Language so she can more effectively communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Her goal is to earn National Interpreter Certification.

“At Walden, I learned that communication is so important in every profession,” the police officer said in an interview with Walden magazine. “The program taught me to effectively communicate, which has supported my efforts in the workplace and with the programs I work with in the community.”

Effecting Positive Social Change

Staten-Minor is using her Walden education to serve the greater good, on and off duty.

For the Philadelphia Police Department, she serves as a Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) instructor in elementary and middle schools. She also works with the Community Health Enrichment Empowerment Resources Services program to provide educational workshops and other services to youth.

On her own time, she is a tireless volunteer, tutoring, mentoring, and coaching young people in her community. Every year, she hosts a conference to help educate, empower, and support girls age 12–17.

“I joined the police force because I wanted to be the change I complained was so desperately needed. I was willing to use my skills and experience in any way necessary to enhance my community,” she told Walden. “The No. 1 category of complaints against police officers is verbal complaints, or how officers choose to communicate with the public. Changing that and communicating with empathy and understanding is something I’m focused on.”

Improve Your Communication Skills

You can bring excellence to communications in the workplace by earning Walden’s online BS in Communication degree.

A communications degree may help prepare you for jobs in social media communications, business communications, global communications, or organizational communications, to name just a few possible career fields.

As a communications major, you’ll enjoy the flexibility and support Walden offers working professionals who want to pursue a college education without leaving their jobs. With Walden’s online learning platform, you can log in to your coursework when and where it’s most convenient for you.

Earning a communications degree online can prepare you to switch career lanes, or to gain skills and techniques you can use to excel in your current role. Become a more effective communicator and use your talents to effect positive social change in all you do.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online BS in Communication degree program. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.