Finally, an opportunity for black and brown students at non-HBCU’s: The University of Pennsylvania’s (UPENN) Schools of Social Policy and Practice (SP2) announced an opportunity for underrepresented peoples it shared with me recently. In retrospect, I have written several articles critiquing the limited financial and funding opportunities for historically underrepresented students at Ivy League colleges. There has been a plethora of programs for HBCUs but none for black and brown students who are doing well but struggle to meet financial requirements. HBCUs still has a higher drop-out rates and lower achievements rates which mainly stems from poor academic performance. When compared to students who drop put at Ivy colleges, it is mainly on financial reasons. Nevertheless, HBCUs have disproportionately received most of the assistance compared to these students from the Ivies. In fact, Stephen A Smith and ESPN, many black celebrities and stars have mainly focused on helping black colleges instead of black student who are not just at HBCUs. This does not mean that HBCUs need financial support, but the focus cannot be only on an institution as it is on the actual students who are spread out at various institutions.
Having said that, I recently received a letter from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2)! It was a letter introducing the school’s opening of its admissions process for their five-degree programs – Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP), Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL), Doctorate in Clinical Social Work (DSW), and PhD in Social Welfare programs. However, it was not just an announcement about the opening, but it provided groundbreaking information about resources and tools that make a graduate degree at SP2 accessible and affordable. The letter was from: Mary Mazzola, MSW, EdD , Associate Dean, Enrollment Management and Global Outreach and Adiza M. Ezell, MSW, Director of Admissions and Recruitment.
according to Mary and Adiza of the UPenn SP2,
This summer, SP2 announced that a private donor committed $7.5 million to increase scholarships for graduate students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who are committed to social innovation and social justice. Penn announced $5 million in matching funds bringing the total investment in the initiative to $12.5 million. This commitment will mostly support the SP2 Social Justice Scholars Program. Introduced as the first-of-its-kind in January of 2021, the Social Justice Scholars Program cultivates a distinct and impactful learning environment for cohorts of students of color while removing the financial burden of graduate studies. With a preference for those graduating from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions, Social Justice Scholars receive full tuition benefits, are supported through an enriched structure of mentorship, and are provided with additional training opportunities all through a dynamic cohort experience. This opportunity is available to applicants to any of our three master’s programs.
Mary Mazzola and Adiza M. Ezell, in a Letter dated, 12.15.2022.
They continued in the letter stating that they are looking for inspired individuals who may be ideal candidates for the degree programs as well as the Social Justice Scholars Program. They are looking for passionate individuals who will comprise the next cohort of students and eventually join me in Penn’s growing alumni network of innovative leaders. If you’re interested, please contact Renaldo McKenzie for more information. They will be happy to waive the application fee for any applicant referred by Penn alumni, which Renaldo McKenzie happen to be.
I responded to the letter asking for more information:
I’d like to know more about the program, so that I can make a recommendation and even consider the program myself as a Penn Alumni.
Does the program require that a student already has a degree? Can someone apply to the PHD program, or transfer from a PHD program into the SP2 program?
Thank you for reaching out with your questions. The Social Justice Scholars program does not require that a student have a specific degree, though eligibility is considered for any applicant to one of our three Master’s degree programs (Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Science in Social Policy (MSSP), Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership (NPL). Regarding the PhD program, it is not possible to transfer into the doctoral program from another doctoral program.
Adiza M. Ezell, MSW (she/her) Director of Admissions and Recruitment
For more information about the scholarship opportunity and SP2 program at the University of Pennsylvania, visit:
Recently I interviewed a Penn Alumni who is originally from Ghana. Here is a link to the Podcast with David:
Rev. Renaldo McKenzie is an Alumni of The University of Pennsylvania, graduated twice with a Master of Liberal Arts and later a Master of Philosophy. Renaldo is currently completing a Doctoral program at Georgetown University and is an Adjunct Lecturer at Jamaica Theological Seminary. Renaldo is author of Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance and working on the release of the upcoming book with Prof. Emeritus Dr. Martin Oppenheimer “Neoliberal Globalization Reconsidered.” Renaldo is Creator and Host of The Neoliberal Round Podcast and President of The Neoliberal Corporation, a Think Tank, Digital/social media Company that is aimed at serving the world today to solve tomorrow’s challenges, by making popular what was the monopoly!
The Neoliberal Corporation is a think tank, news commentary, social media, and publisher that is serving the world today to solve tomorrow's challenges. This profile is administered by Rev. Renaldo McKenzie is the President and Founder of The Neoliberal Corporation.
