Honors Go to Public Health Student With Big Ambitions
How far has Mofoluwake Adeniyi traveled in pursuit of her dreams?
7,856 miles.
That’s the distance between Nigeria and Claremont Graduate University in Southern California.
With her two children, Adeniyi left her homeland to start a new life as a doctoral student in CGU’s School of Community and Global Health. As a physician in Nigeria, she had worked with individual HIV patients; now, today, she has set her sights on helping the entire country.
“I feel I am one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming Nigeria’s future Minister of Health,” Adeniyi told an audience gathered for the 3rd Annual 2017 Women’s Leadership Conference.
To assist her in her academic work, she was awarded with an ASIST Scholarship from the Executive Women International Pomona Valley Chapter, which hosted the conference.
Adeniyi was among three scholarship recipients—like Adeniyi, the other two, Sara Sollars and Tamara Anderson, also plan to work in the health and medical field—honored during the conference. The scholarship will provide Adeniyi with much-needed support in the upcoming academic year.
The award presentation also included Claremont Mayor Larry Schroeder, Upland Mayor Debbie Stone, and a representative from US Rep. Judy Chu’s office.
“Despite their individual challenges, these amazing and resilient women want to not only help themselves … but seek careers to help others,” said Lorraine Kindred, president of the Pomona Valley chapter. “They are role models for anyone who has met with adversity and are examples to us all.”
Also attending the conference to support Adeniyi was Paula Palmer, an associate professor in the university’s School of Community and Global Health. Adeniyi said that Professor Palmer has been a supportive and inspiring mentor since she started her educational journey at CGU.
“I am so thankful for Professor Palmer and for everyone at CGU, and for Executive Women International,” Adeniyi said. She also expressed special appreciation to Professor Heather Campbell, chair of the university’s Department of Politics and Government and Public Policy field chair, for crucial support during the scholarship application process.
“Professor Campbell gave me a letter of recommendation with a few hours of my asking her,” she said. “I am so grateful to her and to everyone. Their support will help me to achieve my lifelong dream of being a leader who will bring change to my home country of Nigeria.”
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On the heels of this scholarship recognition, Adeniyi also learned that she has been chosen as a recipient of the 2017 Sophie Greenstadt Scholarship for Mid-Life Women.
The $1,000 award is given by the National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles-Community Mental Health and Supportive Services Scholarship Committee.
Adeniyi will be honored during a celebration in mid-July at the council’s Los Angeles center. (She also noted that Professor Heather Campbell was also instrumental in the process for this scholarship.)
“I feel grateful to God,” Adeniyi said. “I feel very privileged and touched to be recognized for my work.”