14 Selected as 2011 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars
NEWS RELEASE
May 26, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has selected 14 individuals as the 2011 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars. These Scholars will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about health policy and the policymaking process during an eleven-week placement in a congressional office, where they will participate in seminars and site visits organized by the Foundation, and complete a health policy analysis project.
The Foundation established the Barbara Jordan Scholars Program in memory of former U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan — the first African American woman elected to Congress from Texas and a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees when the modern day Kaiser Family Foundation was established in the early 1990s.
“These talented Scholars will have the opportunity to critically examine a variety of health policy issues, at a time of great debate about health care,” Foundation President and CEO Drew Altman said. “This group of students honors the legacy of Barbara Jordan with its passion and commitment excellence and to public service.”
The program introduces rising college seniors and recent graduates with an interest in issues affecting racial and ethnic minority and underserved communities to the federal legislative process and current issues in health policy. In addition to working on Capitol Hill, Scholars will have the opportunity to participate in seminars and site visits organized by the Foundation to broaden their knowledge of health care issues. Under the guidance of the Foundation’s staff, the Scholars will also write and present a policy memo that provides an in-depth analysis of a health care issue.
This year’s Scholars were chosen from more than 200 applicants. Cara James, Ph.D., is the director of the Barbara Jordan Scholars Program at the Foundation. The program operates in partnership with Howard University, which provides administrative support and houses the scholars in D.C.
More information about the Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program is available online.
The 14 Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars for 2011 are:
Jennica AllenHometown: Boston, MASchool: Tufts UniversityMajor: Child Development and Community Health
Cara BuchananHometown: Las Vegas, NVSchool: Columbia UniversityMajor: Hispanic Studies
Ashley CrawfordHometown: St. Louis, MOSchool: Davidson CollegeMajor: Biology
Alyzza DillHometown: Chicago, ILSchool: University of North Carolina, Chapel HillMajor: Health Policy and Management
Hannah GrowHometown: State College, PASchool: The Pennsylvania State UniversityMajor: Spanish and Health Policy & Administration
Jelani HarveyHometown: Miramar, FLSchool: Columbia UniversityMajor: History
Gary KerseyHometown: Charlotte, NCSchool: Morehouse CollegeMajor: Spanish
Deon PeoplesHometown: Spencer, OKSchool: University of Central OklahomaMajor: Community Health
Yvonne PerezHometown: Bronx, NYSchool: Brandeis UniversityMajor: Health: Science, Society & Policy
Jason ShererHometown: Lansing, MISchool: Hampton UniversityMajor: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Christina SwoopeHometown: Alpharetta, GASchool: The University of GeorgiaMajor: Genetics
Cheeduoa ThaoxaochayHometown: Fresno, CASchool: Stanford UniversityMajor: Anthropology
Denise VasquezHometown: El Paso, TXSchool: University of Texas, AustinMajor: Biology
Emanuel ZamoraHometown: Ontario, CASchool: Whittier CollegeMajor: Biology