Walden University Alumni Association Blog

Walden Community News

Walden’s students, faculty and staff are contributing to their disciplines through publications, presentations and other professional activities.

Dr. Lorraine Cleeton and Dr. Gil Cleeton, faculty members in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, published Controlling the Levees of the Mind (Adaptability, 2009).
 
Erikson Daniel Conkling, a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration student, has begun a faculty professor of social and behavioral sciences position at the Logansport, Ind., campus of Ivy Tech Community College.
 
Todd Daniel, a Ph.D. in Psychology student, was awarded the 2009 Best Student Poster Presentation for his poster, "On Thin Ice: Listening to Methamphetamine Users in the Ozarks," at the Walden University summer residency held at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
 
Jacqueline Derby, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, presented “Second Life: What Type of Professional Development Is Available?” at the 30th Annual National Educational Computing Conference in Washington, DC, on June 30, 2009.

Dr. Nicholas Johns, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, co-published “Building Reflective Practitioners on Business Programmes: An Action Research Study” in the April 2009 issue of the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Education.
 
Dr. Bernice Kennedy, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, published “Psychosocial Model: Racism as a Predictor of Adherence and Compliance to Treatment and Health Outcomes Among African Americans” (Journal of Theory Construction & Testing, Vol. 13, No. 1, 2009).
 
Dr. Anthony Leisner, a faculty member in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, co-published “Alleviating Poverty: A Macro/Micro Marketing Perspective” in Macromarketing (Sage Publications, 2009).

Dr. Jason Seacat, a faculty member in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, co-published two articles: “Dental Students Treating Patients Living With HIV/AIDS: The Influence of Attitudes and HIV Knowledge” (Journal of Dental Education, Vol. 73, Issue 4, 2009) and “Stereotype Threat and the Exercise/Dietary Health Intentions of Overweight Women” (Journal of Health Psychology, May 2009).
 
Dr. Carl Sheperis, a faculty member in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, co-published Counseling Research: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methods (Pearson, 2010).
 
Dr. Jeff Snodgrass, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, co-published “Faculty Perceptions of Occupational Therapy Program Directors' Leadership Styles and Outcomes of Leadership” in the Journal of Allied Health (Vol. 37, 2008).
 
Dr. Janice Spangenburg, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, co-published “Leadership and the Future: Gen Y Workers and Two-Factor Theory” in the September 2009 issue of The Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge.

Walden Community News

Walden’s students, faculty and staff are contributing to their disciplines through publications, presentations and other professional activities.

Jason Bing-Schetelick, a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) student, was selected to serve as superintendent of schools in Barnegat Township, N.J. For the past four years, he has served as superintendent of Great Meadows Regional School District, Great Meadows, N.J.
 
Dr. James Bowman, a faculty member in the School of Management, co-published the third edition of Human Resource Management (Sage, 2009).

Dr. Abbie Brown, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-published “The Virtual Worlds in Education Conference: Lessons Learned From Conducting an International, Peer-Reviewed Conference Within Second Life” (Educational Technology, Vol. 49, Issue 3, 2009) and “The Impact of Informatics on Nursing Education: A Review of the Literature” (Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, Vol. 40, Issue 5, 2009).

Dr. Ashraf Esmail, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-published the following: “Men’s Exploration of Multiple Sexual Partners: Economic vs. Psychosocial Explanation” (Bangladesh e-Journal of Sociology, Vol. 6, Issue 1, 2009); “The Apple Program, a Student, Home, and School Prevention Partnership: To Impact the Academic, Social, and Personal Development of At-Risk Students,” “Children Exposed to War and Violence: How Does One Prepare Authoritative Figures and Aid in the Elimination of Violence in the Classroom?” “Peace Education: Classroom Management in the Urban Center” and “The Rationale for Using Critical Literacy in Peace Education” (Youth Violence in American Schools: How It Can Be Alleviated, Edwin Mellen Press, 2009); and “Voting the Issues or Voting the Demographics? The Media’s Construction of Political Candidates’ Credibility” (Race, Gender, & Class, Vol. 15, Issue 3/4, 2009).
 
Dr. Lydia Forsythe, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, published two articles: “Action Research, Simulation, Team Communication and Bringing the Tacit Into Voice” in the fall 2009 issue of Simulation in Healthcare: The Journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and “Simulation Fosters OR Team Communication” in the May 2009 issue of OR Nurse.
 
Dr. Jalal Ghaemghami, a faculty member in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, co-published “Mouse Allergens in Urban Elementary Schools and Homes of Children With Asthma” in the February 2009 issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 

Dr. Marcia Moody, Dr. Nina Nabors, and Dr. Miguel Ybarra, faculty members in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, published “Social Justice: Diversity in Action” in Diversity in Mind and in Action (Vol. 3, Praeger, 2009).
 
Dr. Terry O’Banion, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, published the following: The Rogue Trustee: The Elephant in the Room (League for Innovation in the Community College, 2009); “Let the Conversation Begin: How Do We Deal With a Rogue Trustee?” (Leadership Abstracts, Vol. 22, No. 4, 2009); “What Motivates the Community College Rogue Trustee?” (Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Vol. 33, Issue 6, 2009); “Damage Caused by the Rogue Trustee” (Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Vol. 33, No. 7, 2009); “Strategies for Dealing With Rogue Trustees” (Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Vol. 33, No. 8, 2009); and “Foreword” in Imagine Success: Engaging Entering Students (Center for Community College Student Engagement, 2009).
 
Jennifer M. Padron, a Ph.D. in Public Health student, was recently selected to the State of Texas via HOPE Steering Committee and charged with developing the Texas-Certified Peer Specialist certification and training program for mental health for the 2009–2010 term. She is concurrently serving as co-chair of the U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association of Texas board of directors and is co-chair of the 2010 Windows to Wellness Conference to be held in Austin, Texas, on January 7–9.
 
 

Walden Alert: Public Administration Theory Network Call for Proposals

This is an open call for proposals for the Public Administration Theory Network’s 23rd Annual Conference to be held May 20–23, 2010, at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
 
Association: The Public Administration Theory Network
 
Theme: Alternative ways of thinking about democratic public administration and policy
 
Proposal Types: Panels should include three participants, including the convener, as well as a moderator/discussant. Panel discussion may be in the form of presentations from papers, or other research or creative work underway, or presented as a roundtable. Proposals should include:

• Panel/roundtable title
• Names, organizational affiliations and email addresses for the convener, participants and moderator/discussant
• An abstract of each participant’s proposed paper/discussion, not to exceed 300 words in length. Each abstract should include the participant’s name, organizational affiliation and a title or topic for the discussion.
• Description of the mode of discussion, as well as linkage of the panel topic to the conference theme and the linkage of each participant’s presentation to the panel topic.

Deadline: Nov. 15, 2009
 
Submission information: Submit proposals to Mohamad G. Alkadry at malkadry@odu.edu.

Walden's School Public Policy and Administration offers degree programs designed to provide public sector and nonprofit professionals with the practical knowledge and proven skills to navigate successfully among government, private, and nonprofit organizations to create more effective, innovative community solutions.

Walden awarding $5,000 grants during American Education Week

On Nov. 19, 2009, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University will  honor schools and educators across the nation with its campaign in support of the National Education Association’s (NEA) Educator for a Day program. Walden will award $5,000 grants to three P–12 schools that host Educator for a Day events as part of the nationwide celebration of NEA’s American Education Week, to be observed Nov. 15–21, 2009.

 “Over the three years of the program, we have been inspired by the hundreds of creative and thoughtful nominations we have received, and by the commitment and vision of the educators who apply for these grants. Walden University, with our rich teacher-education legacy, celebrates and supports the valuable difference educators make in young lives every day,” said Victoria Reid, vice president of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.

Teachers who want to nominate their schools must complete a nomination form that consists of short essay questions about their profession, the importance of teachers’ duties, why their school should receive a Walden Educator for a Day grant and what their school would do with the grant. Three schools will be selected by a panel familiar with the issues currently facing P–12 teachers and administrators. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 28, 2009.
      
 Winning schools will officially receive their grants on Nov. 19, 2009. Grants must be used for educational purposes, such as school supplies or educational activities. In addition, recipient schools will be required to arrange for at least one aspiring educator to shadow a teacher during Educator for a Day events. 

Walden created the Educator for a Day grant initiative in 2007, and because of its impact on the honored schools and teachers and its success around the country, it was repeated in 2008. Last year’s winning schools—Eastlawn Elementary School in Pascagoula, Miss.; East Auburn Community School in Auburn, Maine; and West View Elementary School, Burlington, Wash.—were selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by faculty and administrators nationwide.

2010 National Conference on Blacks in Higher Education Call for Proposals

2010 National Conference on Blacks in Higher Education
March 25-27, 2010

"Educational Collaborations and Networks: Bridges to Learning and Leading"

Conference Goals
The major goals of the 2010 AABHE National Conference are:

1. To provide a forum to discuss key issues that enhance access and success for Black students and professions.
2. To showcase educational initiatives that facilitate effective collaborations and networks.
3. To provide a forum to discuss contemporary issues in K-12, 2 year and 4 year institutions.
4. To provide a forum to discuss graduate student success.
5. To provide a forum to discuss professional development and career advancement for faculty and administrators.
6. To provide a forum to discuss the impact of race on the educational achievement of Blacks.

Strand Areas
1. Leadership Development and Career Enhancement for Blacks in the Academy
This strand will explore collaboration and networks that support the survival and growth of faculty, staff, and administrators in the academy. This may also include intergenerational, global, cross cultural and interdisciplinary practices, models and research that enhance learning and leadership among Blacks.

2. Pipelines and Pathways
Collaborations and networking between educational and community stakeholders are vital to promoting access and success for Black students. This strand will explore an array of critical policy developments,programs, partnerships, and linkages. These linkages include and are not limited to partnerships among K-12, 2 and 4 year institutions, governmental agencies, profit and not-for-profit organizations. Initiatives and interventions that promote access, retention and success among Black males in K-12, 2 year and 4 year institutions are also welcomed.

3. Using technology for Collaboration and Networking
This strand will highlight the advances, trends, and applications to enhance the educational experiences of Black students and professional development in the academy.

4. Fostering Opportunities and Success Among African Americans in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Disciplines and other underrepresented fields of study
Based on the dire statistics reported in the National Academy of Science’s publication Rising Above the Gathering Storm, this strand seeks to not only underscore the crisis that the nation is experiencing related to the paucity of African Americans in STEM related disciplines but seeks also to offer viable solutions to academe in an effort to circumvent this crisis.

A focus of this strand will be a discussion on areas that need to be addressed such as academic preparation, graduation, mentoring programs, professional development, partnerships, pipeline projects, careers and graduation education.

Proposals will be considered late and will not be accepted after 11:59 p.m. on October 15, 2009.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES
ALL PROPOSALS must clearly focus on one of the FOUR identified strands. Proposal submissions MUST include:

• The title of the presentation (paper to be presented)
• The strand (I, II, III, or IV) selected for presentation
• An abstract of the presentation (not to exceed 200 words)
• • An overview of the presentation (not to exceed four single-spaced pages)
  • Conceptually or theoretically strong foundation
  • Purpose of the presentation/core issue(s) addressed in the presentation
  • What the audience will learn/take-away from the presentation
  • How the presentation reflects the selected conference strand
  • What major outcomes or issues will be addressed in the presentation and how audience will participate in an interactive component during the presentation
• Follow APA guidelines for style and quality
• The name(s) of the presenter(s)
• The presenter(s) institutional or organizational affiliation
• The presenter(s) title and a brief biography (not to exceed two paragraphs)
• The presenter(s) – Include information for ALL presenters
• • Mailing address
  • Telephone and facsimile numbers
  • Electronic mail address
• Equipment Needed
• • Overhead projector & screen
  • LCD Projector

Please e-mail proposal to:
Dr. Barbara A. Lofton, Director
Office of Diversity Programs
Sam M.Walton College of Business
University of Arkansas
blofton@uark.edu.

Voting is OPEN for the Walden Scholars of Change Video Contest

Public voting for the winning entries in Walden University’s Scholars of Change video contest began last week. Walden students and graduates created and submitted videos on how a Walden University degree will change their lives and empower them to personally effect positive social change. Grand prize winners will receive $5,000 plus an additional $2,500 from Walden to donate to their favorite charities.

The video contest kicked off this summer when Walden invited students and graduates to submit a short video on how Walden has helped them to make a positive change in their career, their life, or the lives of others. In response, more than 90 current students and graduates created videos, sharing compelling stories about how their learning experience at Walden has impacted their lives and the lives of those around them.

Public viewing and voting on the 40 selected video finalists is OPEN. You may vote once per day for multiple videos. Voting ends this Friday, October 9th at 3 p.m.

Grand prize winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 18, 2009.

Walden Ph.D. Survival Tips: How to Successfully Complete Your Dissertation

Beginning a Walden Ph.D. program is just as exciting as it is daunting, especially when you don’t know what to expect. From the start, Walden University helps you manage and thrive during your dissertation process. Milestone 1 of the academic residency program introduces you to faculty, staff and fellow students and gives you the information and encouragement that you need to successfully start your first year in Walden’s Ph.D. program.
 
When Dr. Susann Getsch (Ph.D. Psychology) addressed Ph.D. students in the Graduate Panel session at the summer 2009 residency in Minneapolis, she placed an attention-getting prop on the podium: her published dissertation, Educating Students With Pervasive Developmental Disorders: An Exploration of Government Mandates and Teacher Perspectives.
 
In her presentation,Getsch offered these tips for dissertation success.
 
Choose a Manageable Topic
My chair helped me focus on the crux of what I really wanted to explore. She gently pointed out to me that I couldn’t change the whole world with my dissertation, but I could add to the body of knowledge—that’s what you can do, too, if you pick a topic and follow it through in an intelligent manner.
 
Write One Chapter at a Time
Break this big project into little pieces. Many of us think, “I can’t write a book!” But you can write a chapter, you can write about how your study is designed. In the end, it all goes together.
 
Make Time for Yourself and Your Family  
Life sidelines us. Crises at work and at home are going to take you away from your dissertation. You need to plan some time to clear your head, but don’t take so long that you need to completely reacquaint yourself with your project. Go with the flow, but make sure that the flow keeps going.
 
Cultivate a Respectful Relationship with Your Committee
I trusted my committee’s judgment. I heard their concerns, and it made the process easier on all of us because I was open to what they were saying, and they treated me respectfully. Don’t take anything personally. Change, explain or adjust your method, hypotheses or research questions to get on the same page as your committee. Remember: No one wants you to complete your dissertation more than your committee.
 
Strive for Knowledge, Not Perfection
When my bound dissertation arrived in the mail, I sat down and read the book from cover to cover. I was really disappointed because I found some ... things that I could have worded better. But the lesson is nothing is perfect; don’t get stuck on perfect. My dissertation served its purpose. It shows that I understand how to envision and implement a research project and that I know how to write in a scholarly manner.

Walden's Social Entrepreneurship conference features activist panel

Walden’s fifth annual Social Change Conference, Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change, includes a panel discussion with social entrepreneurial activists and researchers:

Panel Discussion: Perspectives from the Front Lines of Social Entrepreneurship
This will be an interactive panel discussion featuring social entrepreneurs and experts sharing stories, ways to identify social needs and tips about what works when starting an organization.

Moderated by Peter Kannam—Executive Director, New Leaders for New Schools Maryland

Peter Kannam is the executive director of New Leaders for New Schools Maryland, the state-level initiative of a national social enterprise with program sites in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. Kannam has been leading New Leaders in Maryland since it was launched in 2005. He directs the work of securing the best talent from around the country and providing cutting-edge, competency-based training to instructional leaders who are transforming urban education in Maryland’s most challenged districts. Under his leadership, the program has grown to 80 leaders across the state and more than 15 percent of Baltimore school principals.

His professional career began as an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Lombard Middle School in East Baltimore where he gained practical expertise on how to move students and systems. He then was the executive director of Teach for America, Baltimore. During his tenure, he cultivated a successful partnership with the Baltimore City Public School System to place and support close to 300 teachers in Baltimore’s schools. Kannam also has experience in the corporate sector. He was the New England regional director for Catapult Learning where he managed all aspects of regional operations that served students in Boston, Providence, Hartford, Conn., and Springfield, Mass.

Panelists include:

David Bornstein specializes in writing about social innovation. He is the author of How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas (Oxford University Press), described by the New York Times as “must reading” for “anyone who cares about building a more equitable and stable world” and a “bible” in its field. The book, which is in the process of being published in 20 languages, chronicles and analyzes the work of social innovators who are successfully addressing social problems at scale in several countries.

Bornstein’s first book, The Price of a Dream: The Story of the Grameen Bank, traces the history of the Nobel Peace Prize–winning Grameen Bank during its first 20 years and describes the global emergence of the now-famous anti-poverty strategy known as microfinance. Bornstein grew up in Montreal, Canada and now lives in New York City with his wife and son. He is currently developing a  Web site to share the stories and insights of innovative social changemakers. Bornstein’s newest book, Social Entrepreneurship: What Everyone Needs to Know, co-authored with Susan Davis, will be published in January.

Anthony Jewett is the president of Bardoli Global, which has provided study abroad and leadership development opportunities to more than 130 minority scholars to date. After serving as a bilingual elementary school teacher in New York City with Teach for America from 2003–2005, he founded Bardoli Global to provide opportunities for outstanding African-American, Latino, and Native American youth through study abroad and service-learning.

Jewett has studied and worked abroad in South America, West Africa, China, and the Middle East. He is a 2006 recipient of the Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship. He earned a B.A. in international studies from Morehouse College in 2003 where his passion for study abroad and community service earned him both the Freeman-ASIA and Benjamin A. Gilman awards from the Institute of International Education. He is currently a fellow in community and family philanthropy at The Zeist Foundation in Atlanta. Jewett is currently enrolled in the M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership program at Walden University.

Dr. Kathia Castro Laszlo is a Walden University faculty member, and co-founder and executive director of Syntony Quest, an educational, research, and consulting organization that empowers businesses and communities to work and learn in ways that embody social

and environmental integrity, with offices in San Francisco, Calif. and Monterrey, Mexico. Under her leadership, Syntony Quest has launched the social enterprise Syntony Creations, a fair-trade initiative that markets crafts made from recycled materials by interns of the Centers for Social Readaptation of the state of Veracruz, Mexico.

In addition to her classes at Walden, Laszlo has taught in the M.B.A. program for sustainable business at Bainbridge Graduate Institute and the program for sustainable management at the Presidio School of Management since each program’s first year of operation. Currently, she is a mentor for M.B.A. students studying green sustainable enterprise at the Dominican University of California and a faculty member for the “Green Your M.B.A.” executive certificate. She is an advisor and professor of organizational development, systems thinking, evolutionary consciousness, and sustainability at Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center. She is author of more than 40 publications, including academic journal articles, book chapters, and a forthcoming book.

Dr. John Nirenberg is a Walden University faculty member and the author of numerous books, including Global Leadership (Capstone, 2002), Power Tools: A Leader’s Guide to the Latest Management Thinking (Prentice Hall, 1997), and The Living Organization: Transforming Teams Into Workplace Communities

Nirenberg has worked abroad (including Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Thailand) as an educator and consultant. While in Malaysia, he edited Aspects of Management in Malaysia. It was the first management textbook in Malaysia that integrated Malaysian cultural influences with conventional management principles. Nirenberg has visited more than 120 countries. In Australia, he developed the PROBE methodology (Practical Organizational Behavior Education)—a student-centered and experiential technique for teaching organizational behavior to full-time students. While in Singapore he organized that country’s first Organization Development Network. He has been active in the American Society for Training and Development, the Organization Development Network, ILA, ALE, AMA, and other professional bodies. He served as an elected member of the board of AccountAbility, a U.K.-based organization that is a leader in the creation of international corporate social responsibility standards. Nirenberg currently mentors doctoral students at Walden University.

Walden Community News

Walden’s students and faculty are contributing to their disciplines through publications, presentations and other professional activities.

Jarrod Simmons, a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration student, has been selected to speak at the 2009 Southeastern Conference on Public Administration from Sept. 30–Oct. 3 in Louisville, Ky., on the topic “The Role of State Government in Fostering Economic Policies for Minority Businesses in Distressed Communities in Florida.” In addition, Simmons will be a guest speaker at Georgia College & State University on the topic “Pursuing a Career in Public Service” on Oct. 19.
 
Dr. Marilyn Simon, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, published “Helping Women Improve Statistics Learning Online Through Authentic Learning and Emotional Intelligence” in the book, Most College Students Are Women: Implications for Teaching, Learning and Policy (Stylus Publishing, 2008).
 
Toni Smirniw, an M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership student, has been named head librarian at the Tuckerton branch of the Ocean County Library in New Jersey.
 
Dr. Kathleen Taylor and Dr. Catherine Marienau, faculty members in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-published “Effective Practices in Fostering Developmental Growth in Women Learners: A View From Neurophysiology,” in the book Most College Students Are Women: Implications for Teaching, Learning and Policy (Stylus Publishing, 2008).
 
Dr. Connie Vogel, a faculty member in the School of Nursing, was recently appointed to a peer review panel for Nursing Education Perspectives and has published the following: Understanding Delirium [CEU Module] (Gannett Healthcare Group, 2009), Crisis Intervention Strategies for Nurses [CEU Module] (Gannett Healthcare Group), and a review of the book Effectively Managing Patient Education.
 
Dr. Daniel Weigand, a faculty member in the Center for Research Support, will be the next editor of the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology. He will continue his role as editor of the Journal of Social, Behavioral and Health Sciences.
 
Dr. Jörg Westermann, a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences, co-published the chapter “Germany” in Comparative Health Systems: Global Perspectives (Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2009).
 
Gloria Wilson, a Ph.D. in Public Health student, was selected as a scholarship recipient to attend the Association of Black Cardiologists’ Community Health Advocates Training: With Every Heartbeat is Life, held on July 23–25, 2009, in Washington, D.C.
 

Walden's Social Entrepreneurship conference featuring Cheryl Dorsey and Michele Jolin

Walden’s fifth annual Social Change Conference, Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change, has two phenomenal featured speakers this year:

Cheryl Dorsey—President, Echoing Green presents “Be a Social Change Agent through Cross-Sector Collaboration"

An accomplished social entrepreneur with expertise in health care, labor issues, and public policy, Cheryl Dorsey was named President of Echoing Green in May 2002. She is the first Echoing Green Fellow to lead this global nonprofit, which has awarded more than $28 million in start-up capital to over 450 social entrepreneurs worldwide since 1987.

Dorsey received her education at Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges where she earned a degree in history and science in 1985. In 1992, while training to be a pediatrician at Harvard Medical School, she received an Echoing Green Fellowship. With it, she launched the Family Van, a community-based mobile health unit that provides basic health care and outreach services to at-risk residents of inner-city Boston neighborhoods.

As a public policy innovator, Cheryl served as a White House Fellow from 1997-1998, serving as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Labor, advising the Clinton Administration on health care and other issues. She was later named Special Assistant to the Director of the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Labor Department, where she helped develop family-friendly workplace policies and spearheaded the labor secretary’s pay equity initiative.

Cheryl was most recently appointed Vice-Chair of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, after serving as a team member of the Innovation and Civil Society subgroup of the Obama Presidential Transition's Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform Policy Working Group. Cheryl serves on the board of City Year (national), DonorsChoose.org, and Freelancers Insurance Company, Inc., a for-profit insurance company and subsidiary of Working Today. She also serves as an advisory board member of the Action Tank for Social Entrepreneurs, America Forward, and the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation. Dorsey is a 2006 Henry Crown Fellow through the Aspen Institute, a 2007 Prime Movers Fellow through the Hunt Alternatives Fund, and a member of the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Visiting Committee.

Cheryl has received numerous awards and honors for her commitment to public service, including the John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award, Pfizer Roerig History of Medicine Award, the Robert Kennedy Distinguished Public Service Award and the Manuel C. Carballo Memorial Prize. She holds a B.A. in History and Science from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges, an M.D. from the Harvard Medical School and an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She writes and speaks widely on minority affairs, social justice, social entrepreneurship, and maternal and child health issues.

Michele Jolin—White House Senior Advisor for Social Innovation for the Domestic Policy Council presents “Government’s Role in Partnering with Social Entrepreneurs”

Michele Jolin is a senior advisor for social innovation for the Domestic Policy Council at The White House. Before joining the White House, Ms. Jolin was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where she led the Center's presidential transition effort and co-edited the book Change for America: A Progressive Blueprint for the 44th President. While at CAP, she also developed proposals for ways that the federal government can create a better policy climate for social entrepreneurship, including a proposal to create a White House Office of Social Innovation.

Ms. Jolin also was a senior vice president at Ashoka, launching and managing several global initiatives to build the global network of Ashoka Fellows. In addition, Ms. Jolin served for four years as chief of staff for former President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers. She also worked as a legislative counsel for Senator Boxer on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. 

Walden is honored to have such women of distinction, action and change joining us this year. Click here to attend the event in person or click here to attend virtually.

An accomplished social entrepreneur with expertise in health care, labor issues, and public policy, Cheryl Dorsey was named President of Echoing Green in May 2002. She is the first Echoing Green Fellow to lead this global nonprofit, which has awarded more than $28 million in start-up capital to over 450 social entrepreneurs worldwide since 1987.

Dorsey received her education at Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges where she earned a degree in history and science in 1985. In 1992, while training to be a pediatrician at Harvard Medical School, she received an Echoing Green Fellowship. With it, she launched the Family Van, a community-based mobile health unit that provides basic health care and outreach services to at-risk residents of inner-city Boston neighborhoods.

As a public policy innovator, Cheryl served as a White House Fellow from 1997-1998, serving as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Labor, advising the Clinton Administration on health care and other issues. She was later named Special Assistant to the Director of the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Labor Department, where she helped develop family-friendly workplace policies and spearheaded the labor secretary’s pay equity initiative.

Cheryl was most recently appointed Vice-Chair of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, after serving as a team member of the Innovation and Civil Society subgroup of the Obama Presidential Transition's Technology, Innovation, and Government Reform Policy Working Group. Cheryl serves on the board of City Year (national), DonorsChoose.org, and Freelancers Insurance Company, Inc., a for-profit insurance company and subsidiary of Working Today. She also serves as an advisory board member of the Action Tank for Social Entrepreneurs, America Forward, and the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation. Dorsey is a 2006 Henry Crown Fellow through the Aspen Institute, a 2007 Prime Movers Fellow through the Hunt Alternatives Fund, and a member of the John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Visiting Committee.

Cheryl has received numerous awards and honors for her commitment to public service, including the John C. Whitehead Social Enterprise Award, Pfizer Roerig History of Medicine Award, the Robert Kennedy Distinguished Public Service Award and the Manuel C. Carballo Memorial Prize. She holds a B.A. in History and Science from Harvard-Radcliffe Colleges, an M.D. from the Harvard Medical School and an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government. She writes and speaks widely on minority affairs, social justice, social entrepreneurship, and maternal and child health issues.

Michele Jolin—White House Senior Advisor for Social Innovation for the Domestic Policy Council presents “Government’s Role in Partnering with Social Entrepreneurs”

Michele Jolin is a senior advisor for social innovation for the Domestic Policy Council at The White House. Before joining the White House, Ms. Jolin was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where she led the Center's presidential transition effort and co-edited the book Change for America: A Progressive Blueprint for the 44th President. While at CAP, she also developed proposals for ways that the federal government can create a better policy climate for social entrepreneurship, including a proposal to create a White House Office of Social Innovation.

Ms. Jolin also was a senior vice president at Ashoka, launching and managing several global initiatives to build the global network of Ashoka Fellows. In addition, Ms. Jolin served for four years as chief of staff for former President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers. She also worked as a legislative counsel for Senator Boxer on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. 

Walden is honored to have such women of distinction, action and change joining us this year. Click here to attend the event in person or click here to attend virtually.

Walden University presents, "Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change"

As part of Walden’s ongoing commitment to education, service and social change, Walden’s fifth annual Social Change Conference, “Social Entrepreneurship: Taking Action, Leading Change,” will focus on ways that we as global citizens can become active and engaged entrepreneurs of social change.
 
On Sept. 30, 2009, visionaries, advocates and policymakers will share their success stories and offer tools and solutions to make a positive social impact.
 
Featured Speakers

• Cheryl Dorsey—President, Echoing Green presents “Be a Social Change Agent through Cross-Sector Collaboration”
• Michele Jolin—White House Senior Advisor for Social Innovation for the Domestic Policy Council presents “Government’s Role in Partnering with Social Entrepreneurs”

Panel Discussion: Perspectives from the Front Lines of Social Entrepreneurship
This will be an interactive panel discussion featuring social entrepreneurs and experts sharing stories, ways to identify social needs and tips about what works when starting an organization.
 
Moderated by Peter Kannam—Executive Director, New Leaders for New Schools Maryland
 
Panelists:

• David Bornstein—Author, How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
• Anthony Jewett—Founder, Bardoli Global, a nonprofit organization that promotes study abroad programs for minority students
• Dr. Kathia Laszlo—Walden faculty member; specialist in social entrepreneurship in developing countries
• Dr. John Nirenberg—Walden faculty member; writer and lecturer on corporate social responsibility

Click here to attend the event in person or click here to attend virtually.

Walden Global Day of Service: New Orleans

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

We're continuing to provide help in the Big Easy:

Rebuilding Together New Orleans
The Louisiana Peace Corps Association is again sponsoring a team to assist with the volunteer efforts of Rebuilding Together New Orleans. The group has restored the homes of 100 low-income homeowners since Katrina, thanks to the support of dozens of business partners from around the country. More than 4,700 volunteers have contributed over $2.5 million worth of labor to help rebuild New Orleans. Our home will be for a person in the flood damaged area from Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers are needed for painting and scraping projects. Building supplies are provided as well as most tools. Refreshments and lunch provided. Participants may volunteer for half or all day, if so desired.
Minimum Age: 18 years old
What to bring: Volunteers need to wear protective clothing and sunglasses, work gloves, sun screen. Impact Areas: Elderly, Homeless, Disaster Victims Interests: Elderly, Homelessness
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: TBA or contact the team leader for additional details.
Website: http://www.rtno.org

Register to participate today!

Walden Global Day of Service: Minneapolis, Minn.

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

The Minneapolis group is working with future doctors, lawyers, teachers, elected officials:

Brian Coyle Community Center
The Brian Coyle Community Center offers its residents, in the Cedar-Rivierside neighborhood, programs and resources in adult education and employment, legal and financial assistance, wellness, and food. Youth programs include athletic teams, after-school tutoring, summer camps, and much more. Volunteers are needed for cleaning and painting activities.
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: 420 15th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55454

Walden Global Day of Service: Miami Beach

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

Miami Beach volunteers are giving HOPE to some homeless peoples: 

HOPE in Miami Beach
HOPE in Miami Beach is a non-profit faith based organization with a vision to reduce the number of  homeless people in Miami Beach by providing housing, psychological treatment, emotional therapy, medical treatment, substance abuse programs, job training and job placement, financial administration, spiritual support and hope. Our H.O.P.E. Homeless Events are held on South Beach. We provide the following to the homeless: breakfast, lunch, clothing, shoes, prescription eye glasses, hygiene products, nutritional products, hair cuts, first aid, HIV testing, and much more. Volunteers are needed to serve meals breakfast and lunch to homeless people.
Impact Areas: Homelessness/Hunger: Meal Service, Health & Wellness
Interests: Homelessness/Hunger: Meal Service, Health & Wellness
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Time: 7:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Miami Beach Community Church, 1620 Drexel Avenue (Lincoln Road and Drexel Avenue), Miami Beach, FL 33139 (Entrance on the alley on Pennsylvania Avenue between 16 Street and Lincoln Road)
Website: http://www.hopeinmiamibeach.org

Register to participate today!

Walden Global Day of Service: New York City

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

In New York City, volunteers are feeding the hungry:

St. John’s Bread and Life
St. John's Bread and Life runs several programs including a soup kitchen, mobile soup kitchen, mom's food pantry, More-Than-a-Meal personal products pantry, HIV/AIDS support group, men's and women's support groups, legal and medical clinics etc. Volunteers are needed to serve meals to homeless people and to work in the pantry sorting and stacking goods.
Impact Areas: Homelessness/Hunger: Meal Service, Health & Wellness
Interests: Homelessness/Hunger: Meal Service, Health & Wellness
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location Address: 795 Lexington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221
Website: http://www.breadandlife.org

Walden Global Day of Service: Los Angeles, Ca.

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

In Los Angeles, volunteers are beautifying an elementary school:

Westport Heights Elementary School
Volunteers are needed for beautification projects at the school including painting the school building and a mural, as well as gardening on the school's grounds.
Minimum Age: 8 years old
What to Bring: You should wear clothes that can get dirty and stained and closed-toed shoes. Otherwise, dress for the weather.
Impact Areas: Schools, Children & Youth: Elementary School
Interests: Schools, Children & Youth, Education
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: 6011 West 79th St. Los Angeles CA
Website: http://westportheights.org 

Walden Global Day of Service: Phoenix

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

We are helping one of Phoenix's school:

Children First Academy of Phoenix











This is a charter school specifically for homeless children. The school offers its children new clothes throughout the school year along with school supplies and 3 meals a day. Volunteers are needed to sort and hang new clothes, work in the food room, and clean classrooms. A light lunch will be provided.
Minimum age: 10 years old
Impact Areas: Education, Homelessness/Hunger: Meal Service, Health & Wellness: Donations Sorting
Interests: Education, Homelessness/Hunger,  Health & Wellness: Donations Sorting
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Location: 374 N 6th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Website: http://www.cfaphoenix.org

Walden Global Day of Service: Washington, DC

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

In Washington, DC, volunteers are making PB&J sandwiches:



D.C. Central Kitchen
Since its inception, D.C. Central Kitchen has used the kitchen as a central location to recover unused food, prepare and deliver meals to partner social service agencies, train and employ homeless men and women for the food service industry, and intellectually engage volunteers. D.C. Central Kitchen is not a ‘soup kitchen’. Their cohesive approach to solving the interconnected problems of poverty, hunger, and homelessness has led them to become a recognized national leader in their field. As a community kitchen, they recycle over one ton of surplus food each day that would otherwise go to waste and turn it into 4,500 daily, nutritious meals for the greater Washington, DC region. Volunteers will make sandwich lunches at the Metropolitan AME Church and donate them to D.C. Central Kitchen.
Minimum Age: 12 years old
What to Bring: Please wear long pants and close-toed shoes.
Impact Areas: Homelessness/Hunger, Meal Service, Health & Wellness
Interests: Homelessness/Hunger, Health & Wellness
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20005 (around the corner from The Washington Post building)

Register to participate today!

Walden Global Day of Service: Philadelphia, Penn.

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

We are walking for better health in the City of Brotherly Love:

Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes
Nearly 24 million children and adults living with diabetes in the U.S. need you to volunteer for the American Diabetes Association's Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes presented by Independence Blue Cross. Walkers will participate in a 3-mile walk. More than 250 volunteers are needed to make sure that the walkers get the hydration they want, the rest they need, and the inspiration to reach the finish line. Volunteers would check in at the volunteer registration booth, then be transported to the pit stop located at LOVE Park, set up the pit stop and then manage it as walkers pass through. Breakdown would occur between 10:30/11 a.m., and volunteers would be transported back to the finish line.








Minimum Age: 14 years old
Impact Areas: People Living with Diabetes, Health and Medicine
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Art Museum Plaza, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Register to participate today!

Walden Global Day of Service: San Diego, Ca

The Walden University community will support several good causes during the 4th annual Global Day of Service, sponsored by the Walden University Alumni Association, on Saturday, Oct. 3. This year, volunteers will work on more than 30 projects around the world.

We are helping to feed school children in San Diego:

Feeding America San Diego
Feeding America San Diego was the only food bank in America that distributed more  than 1 million pounds of food per employee last year – 12 employees distributed 13 million pounds of food and grocery products to approximately 267,000 people living in economically disadvantaged households in San Diego Co. The BackPack Program provides food every Friday to approximately 1,400 children as they leave school so that they have something to eat over the weekends during the school year. Volunteers will decorate brown bags, which will be furnished, with stamps, cut-outs and glitter, appropriately decorated for grade-school children in non-holiday and non-denominational ways. The bags are filled with food and handed out to the students in the BackPack Program. The project will also include food sorting and may include light painting.
Minimum age: 7 with an adult; 15 without an adult
What to Bring: Volunteers may bring any craft items they might need for decorating
Impact Areas: Children & Youth, Homelessness/Hunger
Interests: Children & Youth, Homelessness/Hunger
Skills: There are no skills specified for this project.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: 9151 Rehco Road #B, San Diego, CA 92121
Website: http://www.feedingamericasd.org

Register to participate today!