The Clinton School will enroll 42 new students in its Master of Public Service program this fall.
The new students, along with returning second-year students and those completing concurrent degrees in business administration, law and public health, will elevate the overall Clinton School enrollment to more than 100 for the first time in the school’s history.
“It’s always an exciting time when we welcome a new group into the Clinton School family,” said Skip Rutherford, dean of the school. “Based on their diverse and impressive academic and career backgrounds, it’s clear that these new students have a passion and aptitude to be successful public servants. The quality of the class is a testament to the outstanding work of our faculty and staff to create a program and atmosphere that attracts the best and brightest from across the country and the world.”
The Clinton School has grown steadily from 16 students in its 2005 inaugural class and has attracted students from 37 states, 32 countries and 189 different colleges and universities.
The school’s curriculum differs from more traditional graduate programs in public administration, public affairs and public policy because a significant portion of the academic curriculum is direct field service work. Students perform team-based, international and individual public service projects during the two-year program.
The new class includes students from 15 states and from Benin, Bhutan, Botswana and Italy. Many are graduates of prestigious colleges and universities including the University of California-Berkeley, Hofstra University, the College of Holy Cross, Middlebury College, Morehouse College, Syracuse University, Stanford University, Texas Christian University, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis and the College of William and Mary.
This fall, the new Clinton School students will begin group public service projects in partnership with organizations in communities across Arkansas. In the classroom, the students complete core courses in the areas of social change, decision-making, conflict resolution, ethics and professionalism. Along with elective courses, the field service projects allow students to tailor their Clinton School experiences to fit their public service interests.
Orientation for the new class begins August 18 and classes start August 26.
The class of 2015 includes:
Read Admire (Little Rock, Ark.) – Admire graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He has worked as a music specialist at the Arkansas State Hospital and developed a music component for patient psychiatric treatment plans. He was part of an educational advocacy team that created and implemented the Kids’ Choir program at Children’s International. A trained yoga instructor, Admire is interested in the intersection of public health and holistic living, particularly in the areas of arts and food.
Anna Applebaum (Los Angeles, Calif.) – A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis where she majored in interdisciplinary projects in the humanities and in French, Applebaum was editor-in-chief of Political Review, a monthly non-partisan publication dedicated to fostering political awareness and discussion. She has mentored and tutored children at a homeless shelter and juvenile detention center.
Romerse Biddle (Magnolia, Ark.) – Biddle graduated from Southern Arkansas University where he majored in political science. He served two terms in AmeriCorps for the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Project Transformation of Dallas. He interned in the office of Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe and worked for former state Sen. Steve Harrelson. He is currently working on launching a youth sports league.
Quiana Brown (New Orleans, La.) – Brown earned a bachelor of arts degree from Clark Atlanta University and a master in social work from the University of Texas. She served as a KIPP school teacher and volunteered with the Houston READ Commission. She has a strong interest in advocacy for the rights of women and children.
Brad Cameron (Conway, Ark.) – A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in psychology, Cameron currently serves as communications director at Disruption Department, an education technology nonprofit. His public service interests include social entrepreneurism.
Paola Cavallari (Termoli, Italy) – Cavallari graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, majoring in Spanish and minoring in English. She had previously received a degree in political science and international relations from the LUMSA University in Rome. Her volunteer experience includes the Shakespeare Festival and Hispanic Heritage Month, and she was vice president of the International Club at UALR.
Ben Croner (Potomac, Md.) – A graduate of the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, Croner majored in geography and policy studies. He served as a camp counselor for minority youth in New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina and tutored students in the Syracuse inner city schools. Additionally, Croner has worked on political campaigns in Virginia, New York, Arkansas and New Hampshire.
Ruby De Santiago (Rogers, Ark.) – De Santiago graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a major in political science. She served as assistant program director for AmeriCorps in the Rogers and Springdale school districts. She is interested in working with educational access for single mothers, hunger relief and national immigration issues.
Matt Devlin (Silver Spring, Md.) – A graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park majoring in economics, Devlin served two years with AmeriCorps as a site coordinator with LIFT, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting low-income families. He cofounded the Economics Tutoring Association of Maryland and was a corporate social responsibility intern for CR Consulting in London.
Christian Eddings (Little Rock, Ark.) – Eddings graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta majoring in business administration with a concentration in management. While in Atlanta, he served as a mentor of Operation P.E.A.C.E., an after-school program and as a team leader for a mentor program at the B.E.S.T. Academy middle school.
Mattea Fleischner (Hot Springs, Ark.) – A cum laude with honors graduate from the University of Georgia, Fleischner also studied international relations at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella Curso in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She worked with the Otro Diseno Foundation, based in the Netherlands, promoting the work of Latin American designers.
Haylee Fletcher (Prescott Valley, Ariz.) – Fletcher received her bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from Birmingham Southern College. She also studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and completed her senior research project in Uganda. She’s worked with the Arizona Public Health Association and the International Rescue Committee.
Danielle Folks (Austin, Texas) – A graduate of Texas Christian University with degrees in anthropology and social work, Folks worked as a case manager at a night shelter in Fort Worth for a HUD rapid re-housing program. She served as a student diplomat in Swaziland and South Africa and was president of TCU’s Amnesty International.
David Ford (Cleveland, Ohio) – Ford graduated from Ohio University with a major in political science. He served with the United States Army Intelligence Corps and with the New York City Urban Fellows Program. His public service experience includes AmeriCorps VISTA with the Boston Mass Mentoring Partnership and with the Westtown Community Development Corporation in Cleveland.
Luke Frauenthal (Little Rock, Ark.) – Frauenthal graduated from Lyon College and studied French at the Université de Poitiers in France. He was an English language teaching assistant in the French Caribbean and his volunteer work includes service with Camp Aldersgate.
Elaine Frigon (Pine Bluff, Ark.) – A graduate of Hendrix College with a degree in English, Frigon worked in constituent services and legislative affairs for Congressman Mike Ross in Washington D.C. She has been active in the Girl Scouts and served as a peer mentor and orientation leader in college.
Katy Grennier (Burlington, Wis.) – Grennier graduated from the University of Wisconsin earning a bachelor’s degree in social work with a focus on youth. Having nine years of experience working with nonprofit youth programs, she most recently directed youth programs at Our House in Little Rock. She also served with AmeriCorps NCCC in Denver.
Caroline Head (Little Rock, Ark.) – A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with degrees in Spanish and international studies, she was a volunteer interpreter at the Shepherd Hope Neighborhood Health Center and also worked part time as an interpreter at the UAMS Women’s Clinic. She also worked two years as program coordinator for the Arkansas Council for International Visitors.
Brenda Hernandez (Pomona, Calif.) – Hernandez graduated from the University of California at Berkeley majoring in American studies with an emphasis on minorities and education. She was an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer and also served with the Peace Corps in Madagascar.
Lucas Hunt (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) – A graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in political science, Hunt worked with Seedco, a nonprofit promoting employment and economic development with an emphasis on asset building and children’s health insurance. He also worked with the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington.
Tiffany Jacob (Neenah, Wis) – Jacob graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in English and Scandinavian studies. She worked with KaBOOM as a client service coordinator and served with AmeriCorps in Sacramento, Calif., Prescott, Ariz., and Perry-Point, Md.
Traci Johnson (Beech Grove, Ind.) – A graduate of the University of Southern Indiana majoring in French, international studies and political science, Johnson studied abroad in Brussels, Belgium and Chambery, France. She served with AmeriCorps through AIDS United in Indianapolis.
Julian Kelly (West Memphis, Ark.) – Kelly graduated from Stanford University majoring in political science and minoring in comparative race and ethnic studies. He worked with the Memphis City Schools Administration Research, Evaluation and Assessment Department. His interests include education reform.
Bolton Kirchner (Little Rock, Ark.) – A graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., Kirchner majored in environmental studies. He was an AmeriCorps VISTA, serving as the project coordinator for environmental and wellness initiatives at Millsaps where his work focused on community building with marginalized neighborhoods near the college. He also plans to pursue a concurrent degree in public health.
Andy Lovley (Wrentham, Mass.) – Lovley graduated from the College of the Holy Cross majoring in history and secondary education. He worked as an ESL teacher in Japan, Taiwan, Chile and Costa Rica. He recently worked as a field coordinator for the Fund for the Public Interest, a nonprofit that aims to enact political and environmental change through grassroots fundraising.
Thato Masire (Gaborone, Botswana) – A graduate of Luther College with majors in communication studies and business management, Masire also studied at the University of Oslo. He worked as a project coordinator with the Diamond Technology Park in Botswana and has volunteered with the Carter Center.
Brandon Mathews (Fort Smith, Ark.) – Mathews graduated from the University of Arkansas with a major in human development and family sciences. While at the university, he participated in the Center for Community Engagement and the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry. His experience includes serving as a project leader for Race for the Cure and as a volunteer coordinator for the Vietnamese Student Association.
Allison Meyer (Strongsville, Ohio) – A graduate of Hofstra University with a major in political science and a minor in international affairs, Meyer also studied abroad in Vienna. She served as a fellow at Urban Prep Charter Academies for Young Men in Chicago. Her public service experience includes work with Rebuilding Together in New Orleans, American Jewish World Service in Nicaragua and refugee camps in Austria.
Hannah Minchow-Proffitt (Annapolis, Md.) – Minchow-Proffitt graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., where she headed the Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning. She served in Rwanda and Tanzania with Humanity for Children working with microfinance, health projects and school and faith-based partnerships.
Hunter Mullins (Russellville, Ark.) – Mullins graduated from Arkansas Tech University with degrees in journalism and speech with an emphasis on public relations and print journalism. His public service interests include hunger issues at the local, national and international levels.
Kristen Raney (Harrison, Ark.) – A graduate of the University of Arkansas with majors in marketing and economics, Raney worked with Amped for Education to build a high school in Nicaragua and also developed a voluntourism program for students to perform community service projects. She also worked on fundraising to benefit a girls’ home in Bangalore, India.
Jeremy Ratcliff (Raleigh, N.C.) – Ratcliff graduated from Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C. He interned with the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington D.C., and volunteered at Rowan Helping Ministry, which provides food, shelter, clothing and medical supplies to impoverished residents. His public service interests include voter rights access and justice issues.
Tatiana Riddle (Guy, Ark.) – A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in international relations, Riddle worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of International Conservation where she developed outreach and communication materials for Central Africa and Asia. She volunteers at her parents’ nonprofit, Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary in Quitman, Ark.
Antoinette Schicchi (Dania Beach, Fla.) – Schicchi is an honors college graduate in political science from the University of West Florida and is completing a master’s degree in library and information science from Florida State University. She served as advocacy coordinator for the University of West Florida’s Gay Straight Alliance. Her public service interests areas include lessening the digital divide.
Laetitia Tokplo (Benin-West Africa) – A graduate of Jacksonville State University in Alabama, Tokplo majored in political science and minored in psychology. She served as assistant to the director at the university’s International House. Her volunteer service includes the Jacksonville Health and Rehab Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Anniston, Ala.
Angela Toomer (Little Rock, Ark.) – Toomer graduated from Christian Brothers University in Memphis majoring in English for Corporate Communications and minoring in women’s studies. She served in AmeriCorps at an afterschool tutoring center with Lasallian Volunteers in Oakland, Calif. and in Providence, RI., as a caseworker counseling at-risk youth. Her public service interests include the interaction of women’s issues, poverty and food.
Sylvia Tran (Fort Smith, Ark.) – A graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in biology and sustainability, Tran worked with the Volunteer Action Center, a student-run board that coordinates and promotes service events and opportunities. She served as a social media strategist for Modthink and is interested in issues relating to women, children and international aid.
Rebekah Tucci (Lakeland, Fla.) – Tucci graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Florida Honors College and received her law degree from Stetson University. She has worked with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Tampa and with the Judiciary of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Her public service experience includes legal advocacy and activism to end violence against women and girls.
Emily Wheat (Charlottesville, Va.) – A graduate of the College of William and Mary, Wheat served as a second-grade teacher with Teach for America at Cross County Elementary School in Cherry Valley, Ark. She worked at Teach for America’s 2013 Delta Institute coaching incoming corps members and with Cross County Elementary’s after school
enrichment program. Her public service interests include empowering rural communities through school reform.
LaKaija Wood (Oklahoma City, Okla.) – Wood graduated from Philander Smith College with a degree in biology. She is pursuing a concurrent master’s degree in public health through the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health. Wood has served as an AmeriCorps Summer VISTA and was a weekend counselor at Camp Aldersgate. Her public service interests include health equity and health literacy.
Tshering Yudon (Thimphu, Bhutan) – A graduate of Middlebury College with a major in Anthropology and in Japanese, Yudon worked as a teacher’s assistant for the non-profit, Life Pieces to Masterpieces (LPTM) in Washington, D.C., focusing on empowering young African American men. She also taught English and math with the Human Development Foundation Center in Bangkok, Thailand. Her public service interests include public health and disaster management.
Rebecca Zimmermann (Little Rock, Ark.) – Zimmermann graduated from the University of Arkansas where she studied international relations and Latin American studies. She served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Our House as the community engagement coordinator. She then served as a VISTA at the Arkansas Coalition for Excellence as the membership and communications coordinator before being promoted to program assistant. Her public service interests include human rights, women’s rights and economic empowerment.