February 10, 2022

The Nina Henderson Provost Scholars Program, launched in the fall of 2021, is an annual scholarship program that provides 12 motivated Drexel students with the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills and play a hands-on role in shaping the Drexel experience. Drawing on their diverse backgrounds, disciplines and perspectives, Nina Henderson Provost Scholars work alongside the Provost and senior Provost’s Office leadership to advance key priorities of the Drexel 2030 Strategic Plan and collaborate on strategic projects. The program is made possible by support from Nina Henderson, Chair of the Academic Affair Committee of the Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees and Drexel alumna. Led by members of the Provost’s Office leadership team, the Scholars have been assigned to the following inaugural cohort projects:

• Enrolled Students Survey Feedback
• Graduate College Diversity Exploration
• Lifelong Learning and the Future of Higher Education
• Nonprofit Endeavors at Drexel
• Reimagining Dual Undergraduate Degrees

The Graduate College has launched the Diversity Exploration project. This project will examine campus climate within the various graduate units across Drexel University, exploring graduate students’ knowledge around diversity, their college experiences and how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts could impact their future career trajectory. It will bring graduate students into a meaningful dialogue that could be used to further develop strategic priorities, programming and recommendations for diversity and inclusion spearheaded by the Graduate College.

Project Supervisors:

• Alonzo M. Flowers, III, PhD, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Graduate College
• Elisabeth J. Van Bockstaele, PhD, Senior Vice President for Graduate and Online Education

Nina Henderson Provost Scholars:

MARÍA JOSÉ GARCIA RIVAS '24
BS/MS in Biomedical Engineering
From Tegucigalpa, Honduras

A Drexel Global Scholar and former Aspire Scholar, María José leads the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion subcommittee of the Undergraduate Student Government Association. She has performed data analysis on neuroscience research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and been named a Dornsife Global Development Scholar.

"My ultimate goal not only as a Nina Henderson Scholar, but also as a Drexel student, is to make positive changes that last long after I graduate. As an international student who has grown, adapted and learned from many spaces and experiences at Drexel, I’m passionate about the Graduate College Diversity Exploration project and a firm believer that we can create an equitable environment and remove the obstacles that are preventing students from achieving their full potential."

SASHA C. MENDEZ ‘23
MS in Urban Strategy
From Philadelphia, PA

Sasha is passionate about community-centered, grassroots activism and social justice causes such as confronting health disparities. With over 10 years of nonprofit public service experience, she actively applies her studies on equitable approaches in community, health and wellness in the nonprofit sector.

"My role as a Nina Henderson Provost Scholar is rooted in an immense passion for partnership building. There is an ardent desire among the student body to build a bridge between the University and the West Philly community, as well as to expand the curriculum to include a more diverse offering of voices and texts by BIPOC academics."

We would also like to congratulate all of the graduate student scholars, including:

MONIQUE BOSKETT '23
MBA, Concentration: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Berlin, NJ
Project: Nonprofit Endeavors at Drexel

SARAH MALIK '24
PhD in Mechanical Engineering & Computational Engineering
Philadelphia, PA
Project: Lifelong Learning and the Future of Higher Education