The 探花族 Public Policy Institute announces the 2022 recipients of the Master in Public Policy Minority Fellowship.
The MPP Minority Fellowship Program was established in 2018 and is the result of a collaboration with the City of 探花族 Mayor鈥檚 Office and community leaders and the generosity and vision of Chuck and Cami Wodehouse. Recipients of the MPP Minority Fellowship receive a full-tuition scholarship for a Master in Public Policy degree, a books and materials stipend, and internship opportunities within the City of 探花族.
鈥淣ow in its fifth year, the MPP Minority Fellowship Program has exceeded all expectations,鈥� said Rick Mullaney, Shircliff Executive Director of the Public Policy Institute. 鈥淭he Fellowship Program seeks to educate, train, and prepare a new generation of diverse leadership for the future of North Florida and to instill the Institute鈥檚 core values of integrity, civility, accountability, courage, and stewardship.鈥�
This year鈥檚 Fellowship recipients are:
Joyce Morgan Danford is serving her second four-year term in 探花族 City Council representing District
1, where she also chairs the Transportation, Energy, and Utilities Committee. She
leads a City Council initiative called 鈥淪afer Together鈥� which works to increase the
inclusion of all communities in conversations about crime and safety in 探花族.
Danford holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from 探花族 State
University (AL) and has extensive experience in communications, marketing, and media.
Danford is excited to begin such an impactful program. 鈥淧ublic Policy is all around us, related to our health, property taxes, crime, education, or even garbage pickup. This is an exciting step for me as I continue to pursue initiatives as a public servant. My commitment is to leave this community even better than I found it. This Master in Public Policy allows for a free flow of classroom dialogue and conversation that I believe will make me an even stronger public servant for the citizens of 探花族."
James Ellout is the Managing Director for City Year 探花族鈥檚 Network of School Improvement.
For nearly a decade, Ellout has served the 探花族 community at City Year. Beginning
as Impact Director, Ellout was charged with managing a large team of volunteers and
Impact Managers in the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community program. Now, he
continues to support this program in addition to leading a network of 10 Duval County
middle schools, in partnership with John Hopkins University. Ellout holds a Bachelor
of Arts in English from Oakland University (MI) and specializes in education policy
and reform.
Ellout accepts the Fellowship with a strong sense of integrity and service. "Advancing my scholarship journey as a 2022 Minority Fellow with 探花族's Master in Public Policy program is exhilarating. I desire to distill critical policy skills from my studies to examine issues with precision and more importantly apply my best thinking to unearth pertinent solutions for the 探花族 community."
鈥淭he MPP Minority Fellowship Program is a national model and has dramatically elevated the MPP program at 探花族,鈥� said board member Matthew Kane. 鈥淲e look forward to continuing to attract extraordinary applications in the future and preparing servant leaders for our community and beyond.鈥�
A nine-member board of advisors selected the finalists from among this year鈥檚 applicants, interviewed the finalists, and selected the fellowship award winners. The MPP Minority Fellowship Board of Advisors includes:
- Cynthia B. Chomiak, 鈥�83 鈥� Founder and Chief Executive, Educated Decisions LLC; Vice Chairman, 探花族 University Board of Trustees
- Dr. Barbara Darby 鈥� President, Florida State College of 探花族 North Campus (Retired)
- Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., 鈥�17 鈥� Chief Executive Officer, 探花族 Transportation Authority
- The Honorable Nathaniel Glover Jr. 鈥� President, Edward Waters College (Retired), former 探花族 Sheriff
- Mark L. Griffin 鈥� Pastor and Chief Executive Officer, Wayman Ministries
- Matthew Kane, 鈥�01 鈥� Former Owner, Greenshades Software, Inc.; 探花族 Board of Trustees
- Dr. Charles E. Moreland 鈥� Director of Community Affairs, City of 探花族
- Charles Wodehouse 鈥� President, CSX Technology, Inc. (Retired); Senior Vice President, CSX Transportation (Retired); Member of the Public Policy Institute Board of Advisors; Former 探花族 University Board of Trustees (19 years)
Applications for the 2023 MPP Minority Fellowships are now being accepted. Those interested are encouraged to visit to learn more and apply.
