2021-2023 Muhammad Ali Scholars
Inspired by the Greatest of All Time, the Muhammad Ali Scholar Program was created in 2004 with the goal of continuing Muhammad Ali's legacy and commitment to social justice. The Muhammad Ali Scholars Program is designed to expose students to the scholarship and best practices as it pertains to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. This unique two-year experience for undergraduate students cultivates social justice leadership development, academic research, community engagement, service. With a focus on violence prevention, this program aims to engage youth through mentoring, service, and programming. As participants in the program, scholars host on-campus and community events, further the collaborative work of the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice and the Muhammad Ali Center, and work alongside campus, local, national, and international practitioners learning about community action to promote positive change.
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Ashley Aguilera-Rico
Area of Interest: Education "[Education] is the foundation for a lot of opportunities and if we don't fix the injustice there first, then it creates a lot more walls in our paths to overcome and to excel." |
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Kaylee 'Kay' Boyd Major: Psychology Minor: Chinese Area of Interest: Equity in medical practice & medicinal access "Addressing equities in education-both medical and academic- is a vital step towards enabling POC youth to achieve whatever goals they have set for themselves." |
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Taylor Griffith Major: Pan-African Studies Minor: Social Change and Physics Area of Interest: Racial Justice within the U.S. justice system "Instead of desperately trying to fix a broken justice system, we need to realize that it isn't broken. it was never meant to serve marginalized communities. The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can dismantle a system that issues verdicts based on skin color rather than compassion, logic, and reason." |
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Kyelia 'Birdie' Maxwell Major: Nursing Area of Interest: Healthcare "I want more representation of Black people in fields of mistrust such as the medical field and healthcare." |
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Shraddha Patel Major: Math & Sociology with a track in Diversity and Inequality Minor: Political Science & Classical Studies Area of Interest: Education Equity "I want to work toward an education system that truly provides equal opportunity for upward mobility and ensures that no one is restricted in their academic endeavors by their address." |
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Edison Pleasants Major: Graphic Design Minors: Pan-African Studies & Communication Area of Interest: Education within Jefferson County Public Schools "There's nothing the world fears more than an educated Black woman." |
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Lorenzo Rowan Major: Individualized & Pan-African Studies Area of Interest: Black Art & Activism "Social justice is intrinsically linked to the well-being of all people regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or political ideology. I see art, inspired and developed by social justice movements, as a visual reminder that a better world is possible and that I can help create it." |
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Aubri Stevenson Major: Public Health Area of Interest: Advancement of Black People "I am very much and most involved in the fight for the advancement of Black people in America." |
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Pamambuna Touray Major: Computer Information Systems with a track in Business Process Management Minor: Psychology Area of Interest: Mental Health for Underrepresented Youth "Protect your freedom, protect your rights, and most importantly protect your state-of-mind." |