Walden Commitment to Social Change Award
The purpose of the Walden Commitment to Social Change Award is to recognize exemplary social change activities employees are engaged in, both within and outside of the university, that exemplify Walden University’s mission of positive social change.
2022 Commitment to Social Change Winners
Dr. Sandra Bever
Dr. Bever has volunteered her time in numerous leadership roles in her community. She volunteers as an internship coordinator and Spanish-language media lead for San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention. She is also a school foundation executive and board member for Community of Impact. In addition, she is an evaluator for Miracle Babies in Southern California.
Dr. Bever serves as Associate Dean, Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Bruce George
Bruce George knows the importance of giving back to his community. His efforts included assembling a team to make a living space better suited for a widow caring for her granddaughter with special needs. He also helped raise nearly $15,000 to secure an adoption for a special needs child from Serbia.
Bruce George serves as Senior Director of Enrollment.
Social Change Award
Eligibility and Criteria
The purpose of this award is to recognize exemplary social change activities employees are engaged in, both within and outside of the university, that exemplify Walden University’s mission of positive social change.
Nominees for the Commitment to Social Change Award will have:
- Demonstrated significant social change impact at the local, national and/or international level.
- Demonstrated social change efforts that may be internal or external to work at Walden University.
- Demonstrated social change efforts that extend beyond the critical functions of the employee’s day-to-day work responsibilities.
Internal social change examples may include, but are not limited to, identifying and promoting change in the workplace, classroom, or in student, faculty or support service functions. As well, this may include research or scholarly activities that support the development of scholar-practitioners to effect social change.
External social change examples may include, but are not limited to the creation of, or participation with, local, state, national and/or international organizations that promote social change for the well-being of individuals or contribute to change in professional disciplines.
2021 Commitment to Social Change Winners
Sasha Butler
Sasha is an advocatefor quality education, human rights, social justice, and economic development opportunities for women and youth.She has two nonprofits, one focused on leaders who work with youth and another that focuses on theyouth themselves.Sheis a member of the Harvard University Think Tank on Global Educationandhas beena presenter attheUNGeneral Assembly and Commission on the Status of Women conferences.Sasha was nominated by a Waldengradwho ispresident-elect of the National Employment Counseling Associationandworked with her on ayouth empowerment round table.
Sasha has been a Student Success Advisorfor 10 years and will soon be a Walden graduate when she completes theDoctor of Educationprogram
Dr. RenataHedrington-Jones
Dr. Hedrington-Joneshasbeen making a difference in the profession for more than 40 years,most recently asvice president of the National Association of Black Social Workers.She is also aWalden graduate with aPhD in Human Services.She was nominated by the president of the Richmond Association of Black Social Workers, who describes her asa historian, educator, warrior, and healer.Her decades of social change includeassisting two Virginia governors, public school superintendents,and community leadersin areasfromK-12 educationtohousing, mass incarceration, and restoration of rights.
Dr. Hedrington-Jones iscorefaculty member in the Barbara Solomon School of Social Work.
2020 Commitment to Social Change Winner
Dr. Christy Jenkins
The Center for Social Change is proud to announce thatDr. Christie Jenkins, a core faculty member in the School of Counseling, is our recipient of the 2020 Faculty Commitment to Social Change Award.
One of the colleagues that nominated Dr. Jenkins noted that:
“In addition to modeling what it takes to be an empathic and effective counselor in connecting with students and clients, Dr. Jenkins excels in living a social change scholar-practitioner model, fully engaged with the profession at the national, state, and local levels.
“The Ohio Governor, the Ohio House of Representatives, and Lucas County have formally recognized Dr. Jenkins for her work with abused populations this past year, as they have done in previous years as well …
“Her work in serving the needs of those impacted by domestic and interpersonal violence demonstrates how her passion, energy, and efforts have had significant impacts in her home community and as a professional mentor for the future counselors that she works with here at Walden.”
A fellow board member of the nonprofit Family and Child Abuse Prevention Center in Toledo, Ohio, where Dr. Jenkins serves as CEO, notes:
“Besides improving FCAPC overall, it is [Dr. Jenkins’ leadership] in creating and implementing the long-term counseling [program] that demonstrates Christie’s impact for social change here in Toledo …
“The board’s and Christie’s focus are delivering the FCAPC mission and best serving the community.”
Dr. Jenkins has served as a public relations expert on behalf of Walden and has been featured in the Huffington Post, Today’s Parent, and Care.com. She has most recently taken on the role of co-advisor for the newly formed LGBTQ+ PRIDE organization at Walden.
Congratulations, Dr. Jenkins! We appreciate you and all the efforts, skills, and passions you bring to Walden and your community as a social change leader.
2018 Commitment to Social Change Winner
Dr. Jonas Nguh
Dr. Jonas Nguh has been a leader in global maternal and infant health for more than 20 years, and his work in improving the lives of vulnerable populations and empowerment of disenfranchised communities spans the globe.Dr.Nguh is a Walden University School of Nursing faculty member, and active Alumni Ambassador.
2017 Commitment to Social Change Winner
Mahaman Moussa
During Walden's July 2017 National Faculty Meeting and Commencement, doctor Mahaman Moussa, a member of Walden’s School of Nursing faculty was recognized for his dedication and time in providing free-clinic services for the medically underserved in North Carolina and for his leadership and actions in building theRaouda Medical Centerin Tahoua, Niger, where he currently serves as President and CEO.
2016 Commitment to Social Change Winner
Molly Raymond
Molly Raymond, Walden Field Education Coordinator, Founder of EDIT (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Together), 2016 Co-Chair of Walden’s Minneapolis Community-Building Committee.
2015 Commitment to Social Change Winners
Dr.Iris Yob
Dr.Iris Yob, Walden Director of Social Change initiatives and Faculty Emerita, in recognition of Dr. Yob’s important research in better understanding how higher education can support social change through the development of relevant curricula.
Chue T. Vang
Chue T. Vang, Walden Student Success Advisor and President and Founder of theHmong American Education Fund(HAEF), St. Paul, Minnesota.
