Atlanta, Georgia. The birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Home to Stacey Abrams, history-making politician, lawyer, and organizer who helped to register over 800,000 voters in Georgia for the 2020 election.1 And, Atlanta is also home to social change agent committed to supporting her local community—Dr. Elesia Glover.
A senior project and public policy manager for the City of Atlanta, Dr. Glover earned her PhD in Public Policy and Administration with a specialization in Policy Analysis from Walden University in 2018. We recently sat down with Dr. Glover to learn more about her experience at Walden and how she’s using her public policy and administration education to advance positive social change in Atlanta.
WALDEN: Why did you choose Walden over other universities?
DR. GLOVER: I was looking for a degree program that would allow me to excel in my career as well as my academics at the same time. I did not want to have to make a choice between the two, as they are equally important to my professional and personal growth. I was also attracted to Walden’s social change foundation as a basis for its coursework. Social change is at the core of what I do every day, and Walden aligned with that purpose.
WALDEN: How did your Walden education contribute to you reaching your goals?
DR. GLOVER: Receiving my doctorate from Walden certainly opened doors for me. It allowed me access into rooms I do not think I would have been privy to without my degree. Walden also further planted the core focus of social change into my professional goals.
WALDEN: Did Walden provide the right resources, support, and education to ensure your success?
DR. GLOVER: I believe Walden helped to ensure my success by giving me the confidence to be heard in any room. I believe having a PhD is one of the reasons that I was selected for the Women’s Campaign School at Yale Law School. It was a great program and I felt honored to participate. I do not think that would have been possible without Walden. Also, what I learned about government management in the public policy program is critical to my work now. I am more equipped to manage government at the local, state, and federal levels because of my education from Walden.
WALDEN: Tell us about your experiences living and working in Atlanta. What makes it unique and special?
DR. GLOVER: Atlanta is a very special place to live. The civil rights history and the call to fight for and protect the rights of others still runs strong throughout the fabric of the city today. It motivates me to keep serving my community through my nonprofit, Posh Pack, Inc. My passion for helping others in Atlanta not only runs throughout my nonprofit, but also in my nine-to-five career for the City of Atlanta. Much of my role there focuses on water equity issues and making sure people have access to safe and affordable drinking water. I love that I work in a city that believes in One Atlanta all working together toward a mission to help one another. I also really enjoy the nonprofit community here. Many of us work closely together for a common cause. We know together we are much more powerful when it comes to creating policy changes that benefit our communities!
WALDEN: Why does your community need your help?
DR. GLOVER: I believe every community needs everyone’s help. If we all step outside of ourselves to help others, all of our communities will be better for it. The metro Atlanta community needs my help because—like every community across the U.S.—there are young girls and women who do not have access to feminine hygiene products. These products are not covered by WIC or SNAP programs and this void is left to charitable organizations to help fill.
WALDEN: What types of community involvement do you participate in Atlanta? What’s next?
DR. GLOVER: My nonprofit Posh Pack, Inc., is based in Atlanta. We empower young women by providing access to feminine hygiene essentials. This is a critical necessity for women to ensure a certain quality of life. Our mission is to focus on middle and high school girls, as lack of feminine hygiene products is one of the reasons girls miss school or leave school early. Our goal is to keep girls in school by making sure they have access to these essential items. We have a goal of donating 10,000 pads by the end of 2020 and are 3,000 pads away from hitting that goal. Nevertheless, in these unprecedented times with COVID-19, we will continue to adjust our mission like most nonprofits to serve in any capacity we can. I’d encourage readers to learn more about the initiative by visiting the Posh Pack website at www.theposhpack.com or donating to www.gofundme/poshpack.
Grow Your Public Services Career With a Degree From Walden University
Walden has been dedicated to giving working professionals the support they need to advance their careers and inspire social change for 50 years. At Walden, an accredited online university, you can earn your PhD in Public Policy and Administration while you continue to work full time. That means you don’t have to put your career on hold while you enhance your skills and credentials. With online education, there’s no need to completely rearrange your schedule or commute to campus—you can take classes at whatever time of day works best for you as you work toward your doctorate and position yourself to impact and improve public services.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering a PhD in Public Policy and Administration degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree using a convenient, flexible learning platform that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.businessinsider.com/stacey-abrams-leadership-flipped-georgia-inspired-voters-2020-11
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.