Two Ed.D. students win Louise McBee Scholarship

Brooklyn Herrera and Ashlee Pollard, both pursuing the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in higher education leadership and practice at the University of North Georgia (UNG), have each received a $1,000 Louise McBee Scholarship. They were the lone winners from 36 statewide applicants for the scholarship to support educational enrichment for women exhibiting leadership potential in a higher education field.

The scholarship also provided a registration waiver for the Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE) conference hosted virtually by UNG from Feb. 24-26.

Herrera and Pollard are first-generation college students who work in higher education to give back because of the many ways they received help.

"I hope to provide leadership and mentorship that demonstrates the benefits of female allyship and one's ability to reach academic success regardless of background," said Herrera, a Rocky Face, Georgia, resident who is assistant director for tutoring and supplemental instruction at Dalton State College.

Each also won a $500 scholarship for her UNG faculty mentor for professional development.

Herrera's mentor is Dr. Katherine Rose Adams, Ed.D. program coordinator. Pollard's mentor is Dr. Michael Lanford, assistant professor in the Ed.D. program.

Pollard, a Carrollton, Georgia, resident who works as Enrollment Services Center assistant director at the University of West Georgia, said the award was the culmination of encouragement from faculty to apply.