The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University is proud to announce the selection of the 2018 Focus Forward Fellowship program to be held July 25-28 at the West Lafayette campus.
MFRI received 250 overwhelmingly qualified applicants for this year’s Fellowship. After a very competitive selection process, 20 women in total were accepted to participate from 18 different colleges and universities, representing all five branches of service, and countless areas of academic study.
To be selected, Fellows must hold an honorable discharge from the U.S. military; are sophomores, juniors, seniors, or pursing a master’s degree; and maintain a 2.75 GPA or better. The Fellowship covers the cost of travel, food, lodging, activities and materials. After completing the residency, Fellows will engage with their cohort in an online community during the 2018–2019 academic year.
The Focus Forward Fellowship has been a highlight for women student veterans across the nation. The 2018 cohort will build leadership skills, connect with corporate mentors, develop skills that foster their academic and career goals, understand and maximize their individual strengths, and build a supportive community of peers.
Betty Moseley Brown, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will serve as the Fellowship’s opening keynote speaker on Wednesday evening and Tracy Crow, author of “It’s My Country Too: Women’s Military Stories from the American Revolution to Afghanistan” will lead sessions on the Saturday of the program.
For more information about the program visit bit.ly/fwdfellows. Contact Runco at lrunco@purdue.edu or call 765-496-3403. Connect with MFRI on Twitter at @MFRIPurdue and use #FWDFellows to join the conversation.
2018 Focus Forward Fellowship Cohort
- Gabrielle Bernard, Columbia University, Computer Science, Army
- Jennifer Brett, University of Texas-San Antonio, Multidisciplinary Studies, Navy
- Chelsea Clarkson, Washington State University, Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Army
- Katharine Cobean, Adler University, Counseling, Air Force
- Chesney Fix, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Applied Health Science, Navy
- Megan Gordon, Arizona State University, Mathematics, Navy
- Myra Hallman, Humboldt State University, Business Marketing, Air Force
- Anjuli Holmes, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Psychology, Goast Guard
- Sharice Lewis, Arizona State University, Engineering Management, Air Force
- Sandra Manning, Regent University, Leadership Studies, Navy
- Christina Ramirez, University of Arizona, Public Health, Army
- Tracy Ruegsegger, Ferris State University, Allied Health and Dental Hygiene, Army
- Marie Russell, Colorado State University, Psychology, Army
- Frances Salazar, Anne Arundel Community College, International Affairs, Navy
- Elizabeth Sampson, Clemson University, Psychology, Air Force
- Janiah Sandles, Eastfield Community College, Music, Army
- Keishla Santiago Ortiz, Florida International University, Psychology & Women and Gender Studies, Marine Corps
- Jordan Smith, University of Washington, Social Work, Marine Corps
- Juana Thomas, El Paso Community College, Engineering, Navy
- Skylar Winter, Purdue University, Mass Communication, Marine Corps