Minority Leadership Program
The Minority Leadership Program develops the skills of talented students of traditionally marginalized communities, to help them become exemplary leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
HISTORY:
Founded in Fall 2017 by former Trachtenberg student, Christopher Stevenson, the Minority Leadership Program (MLP) is a cohort made up of talented minority students enrolled at the Trachtenberg school. MLP provides these student leaders with unique opportunities and experiences to build leadership skills through leadership activities and professional development with leaders in policy, private, public and non-profit sectors. The MLP cohort seeks to advance the career opportunities of its members and inspire their ambitions with practical training sessions, networking opportunities, and speaker sessions. From mentorship programs to social events, the network and lasting friendships found within the MLP stay with members long after graduation.
MISSION:
The Trachtenberg School's Minority Leadership Program develops the leadership skills of talented students of traditionally marginalized communities, identified here as persons of color, LGBTQI, undocumented, International students, and students with disabilities, to help them become exemplary leaders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
GOALS:
1. To connect the Trachtenberg School minority community and to enhance the professional development and leadership skills of its minority students.
2. To foster participants' leadership skills through their active participation in self-empowerment coaching by alumni, and participation in professional development activities.
3. To promote the success and inclusivity of minority professionals in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
4. To connect cohort members with mentors from successful GW minority and non-minority communities to advise them regarding issues, challenges and opportunities encountered in the workplace.
5. To create lasting relationships that will continue to empower minority students long beyond graduation.
Are you interested in joining the Minority Leadership Program? Are you a Minority student in the PhD, MPA, MPP, or ERPP program? Contact us at [email protected] to learn more about how MLP can work for you.
2021-2022 Board Members
Malka Berro
Malka is a first-year Master of Public Policy student, with a focus on health policy. She is passionate about advocating for those living with mental illness and addiction, as well as the providers who serve them, and is currently working as a policy associate with the National Council for Behavioral Health. Malka also has worked to advance population health with the National Academy for State Health Policy, interned in the U.S. House of Representatives, and conducted research on reproductive health policy in Madrid, Spain. She graduated summa cum laude from Antioch College with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Spanish language focus.
Gabriel M. Royal
Captain Gabe Royal is an Army officer and a current Ph.D. student at the Trachtenberg School. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in U.S. History and American Politics in 2012. Gabe spent the last 8 years serving as an Army Aviator on active duty, deploying to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His current field of study within the Ph.D. program in Public Budgeting and Finance and he is interested in researching the externalities associated with national defense spending. He serves on the board of trustees for the Connecticut Boys and Girls State Foundation, working to increase the diversity of future Boys and Girls State delegates and educate the next generation of public servants. Upon completion of his graduate studies, Gabe has been selected to teach American Politics as an instructor at West Point.
Shalene Miller-Whye
Shalene is a Master of Public Administration student at Trachtenberg. She graduated from Delaware State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. For the last 6 years, Shalene served the community of Wilmington through many organizations and programs such as Autism Delaware, where she organized events and volunteered with those on the spectrum. Urban Promise Ministries, where she served as a student community leader to assist inner-city children in leadership and educational activities. And the Center for Neighborhood Revitalization where she interned as a research assistant to better understand the Wilmington, Delaware community’s lack of trust for the criminal justice system. Shalene has a great passion for urban communities and is dedicated to serving them through her current and past works.
2021-2022 MLP COHORT
Maite Rubio
Maite is a second-year Masters of Public Administration candidate, with a concentration in Social Policy. She graduated from George Mason University, B.A. in Global Affairs with a concentration in International Development. Maite serves as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Audit Coordinator for the Field Operations Directorate in the Office of Response & Recovery, responsible for the tracking and preparation of regulatory and program audits, and implementation of audit recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of program objectives. Prior to joining the Field Operations Directorate, she deployed to five disasters, including Hurricane Maria operations, supporting recovery and mitigation assignments in the field. Maite’s emergency management work began with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) FEMA Corps Program.
Christina Prinvil
Christina is a current Masters of Public Policy student concentrating in social policy. She graduated from the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor of Arts dual degree in Political Science and Economics while minoring in Latin American Studies. One of her favorite forms of community work is with the Georgia Farm Worker Health Program. Through this organization, she helped Farmworkers receive care by translating physician instructions and recommendations to Haitian Creole for the Haitian farmworkers.
Bianca Onwukwe
Bianca is a Masters of Public Policy candidate with a concentration in Education Policy at Trachtenberg school. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is currently a Data Analyst on the School Mental Health team at the District of Columbia Public Schools. Before joining DCPS, Bianca was a Surrey fellow within the Office of Tax Analysis at the Department of the U.S. Treasury. Prior to the pandemic, Bianca served as a mentor for the U.S. Dream Academy at Turner Elementary School and for the YWCA National Capital Area.
Genevieve Afrifa
Genevieve is a first-year MPA student with particular interests in health. She received her Bachelor of Science from Temple University where she majored in Public Health. She also works full time as a Program Coordinator at GW's Academic Commons.
Jonathan Carter
Jonatha is a Masters of Public Policy candidate with a concentration in Regulatory Policy.
