The scholarship is for students pursuing a MS in Health Informatics, enabling them to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to their studies, overcome financial barriers to graduation, and enhance their research and career readiness.
“The impact of George Mason’s initiatives is truly awe-inspiring, and we feel humbled to be able to contribute to an institution so devoted to its students,” Nall remarked. “They only serve to enhance the already remarkable work George Mason is doing, and we take immense pride in being part of that.”
George Mason’s Health Informatics program has an international reputation for its faculty excellence and commitment to student success, which attracted support from Nall and Ezeanii. The nationally ranked program and rigorous accreditation process ensures that graduates are prepared for future challenges.
At the intersection of health care, technology, and data science, graduates of the Health Informatics MS program are employed by healthcare and public health agencies and technology firms to support specialized data collection and analysis that is mission critical to providing essential health services.
“Health informatics is a rapidly growing and dynamic field,” said Janusz Wotjusiak, director of the Health Informatics program, “Highly qualified graduates are urgently needed by today’s health and public health systems and this scholarship creates opportunities for students from all pathways to pursue this exciting career.”
The inaugural recipient of the award is master’s degree student Fahim Durani.
“It means a lot to me,” said Durani, “and it’s really had a positive impact on my academic journey. As a full-time student, I have had to work while giving enough time to my studies and academics. But with this relief, I was able to focus more time on my classes.” Durani also notes that the scholarship has given him the flexibility to take part in professional opportunities such as the 2024 Health Information Management Systems Society conference, where he represented George Mason Health Informatics to a gathering of health professionals from around the world.
Nall, a distinguished member of the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees, holds multiple roles as the founder, president, and CEO of The Leading Niche. She leads this internationally renowned company, known for its exceptional use of data and cutting-edge consulting, to provide actionable intelligence to customers in the commercial, defense, and civilian sectors both in the United States and internationally. Nall’s achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including esteemed honors such as The Network Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, Black Enterprise 40 Under 40 Award, and the Global Outstanding Business Award presented by the National Minority Business Council, among many others.
“I know our moms would approve of this,” said Ezeanii. “They were givers, and they always loved to see people have opportunities to be able to succeed in life. My mom, early on, knew that education was something that could transform lives.”
Nall, too, recalled her mother’s work to support students in local schools. “She would go, during the winter, and buy jackets, buy coats, and organize winter clothing drives for children,” she said. “She would partner with a local church to provide breakfast and to provide food during the summer” for students who relied on receiving meals at school. “If you grow up in that environment of giving,” she added, “it just becomes part of you.”
Students interested in learning more about the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship may do so via the College of Public Health website. Applications for fall 2024 are due May 31, 2024.
About Dr. Tamara Nall and Clement Ezeanii: Dr. Tamara Nall, a renowned business leader and philanthropist, alongside her husband, Clement Ezeanii, has made significant contributions to various industries, while also actively supporting initiatives that foster education and student success.
CONTACT: Please contact us if you would like to learn more about Dr. Tamara Nall and Clement Ezeanii, the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship Endowment, or to schedule an interview for an article.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaranall/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/clement-ezeanii-4363b41b/
https://twitter.com/TheLeadingNiche
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https://www.facebook.com/TheLeadingNiche
www.linkedin.com/company/the-leading-niche
Story by Anne Reynolds.
This article appeared in slightly different form in George Mason News on May 2, 2024:
https://www.gmu.edu/news/2024-04/philanthropy-action-new-scholarship-supports-students-studying-health-informatics
