Meg Walsh had everywhere to go. Graduated from Hopkins in 1984 with a B.A., she was Treasurer and Vice President of Lucent Technologies before she was 40. She was a dedicated alumna, generously giving time and money to Hopkins. She was also a leader of the Second Decade Society (SDS), our school's leadership development organization. Then, in the fall of 1998, Meg Walsh died tragically due to complications resulting from child birth.
The SDS moved quickly to establish a memorial to their peer. Through their support and direction, the Florence "Meg" Long Walsh Leadership Award was created the following year. The award provides a graduating senior from the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences with a stipend of $20,000 for a post graduate year of travel and independent study abroad. The student must create a proposal for a 12 month international project, yet may not include extended study at a foreign university.
"It's important to realize that it is an award and not a scholarship," comments Suzie Bacon, Coordinator of Academic Programs for the Krieger School. "It allows the development of an independent program the student creates on their own. Come September after graduation, they're out of the country working on the project."
The fellowship affords the opportunity for a promising Hopkins graduate to focus on an independent project that explores their interests and abilities, tests their knowledge and assumptions in a broader international context and develops their leadership skills. The award provides a fellow with the opportunity to develop the qualities of intellectual inquiry, global perspective and leadership that Meg herself exemplified.
The criteria involved in selection of a candidate revolve around both the proposal and the candidates' college career. The student must demonstrate leadership that has had a lasting impact on Hopkins and the community.
Strength of the proposed project and the applicant's ability to carry out that project also plays a large role. Finally, the applicant's record of academic achievement is also considered.
In its first year, the award went to Thach-Giao Troung. Thach-Giao spent her year in Vietnam, studying how post-war market socialism is affecting children, particularly in poor rural populations. Troung, who is fluent in Vietnamese, took a volunteer teaching job at a Ho Chi Ming City elementary school. The job allowed her to conduct fieldwork for her project and to study the effects of Vietnam's market socialist policies. Troung graduated with an Anthropology major and Global Studies minor, and aspires for a career in international health.
This year's winner, announced at commencement, is Jodie Misiak. An International Studies major who plans to research urban housing issues in China, Misiak studied there during her junior year, and speaks Mandarin Chinese. Originally intent on a career in the Foreign Service, Jodie became involved with Habitat for Humanity while at Hopkins, and served as president of the campus chapter. She quickly developed an interest in housing and Urban Planning issues and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Urban Planning after her year in China.
The award has now returned for its third year. Applications may be picked up from the Dean's office: Merganthaler 237. Questions and requests for information should be directed to Bacon, at (410) 516-6056 or bacon@jhu.edu.
Applications for next year's fellowship must be received in the Dean's office no later than 5 p.m., Friday Nov. 30, 2001.
The programs established by these two individuals serve to commemorate Walsh's memory as well as her commitment to change. Though Walsh's passing may have been tragic, her life was a testament to the qualities of leadership and intellectual inquiry. Her example serves to inspire, and so to reward students year after year.
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