The University of North Carolina System has named five students as 2020 Marian Drane Graham Scholars. The scholars will participate in an eight-week immersive and experiential summer program, designed to help them develop leadership skills and gain a better understanding of key issues facing public higher education.
As a part of the program, the scholars will be placed in a state government agency, where they will gain valuable working experience in the fields of public service and higher education.
Each of these students is a future leader in education, and this program gives them a close look at how the state’s higher education systems function. We are excited to welcome all five scholars and are eager to provide them with learning opportunities that will lead them on a path to become our state’s future leaders.
Kimberly van Noort, UNC System senior vice president for academic affairs
Scholars will work alongside UNC System leaders over the summer, and connect with educational professionals and agencies in the state. Additionally, each scholar will work with UNC System Office staff to develop and present a capstone project outlining the role of higher education in North Carolina and its impact on the UNC System.
Our scholars represent some of the brightest talents within the UNC System, and they will bring that new energy and insight to the System Office and to the departments where they will ultimately be placed. This is a tremendous opportunity for them.
Kim Mitchell, director of student development and the program’s coordinator in the UNC System Office
This year’s scholars include Shevani Mehta ’22, from Holly Springs, who attends NC State University and will be placed at Go Global NC.
Open to rising juniors and seniors, the Marian Drane Graham Scholars Program began in 2013 and is named for Marian Drane Graham, the wife of Frank Porter Graham, the first president of the consolidated UNC System. The program’s namesake reflects its emphasis on pairing scholars who are passionate about education policy and public service with agencies in North Carolina. Learn more about the Marian Drane Graham Scholars Program.
This was originally published by the UNC System. Read the complete press release.