The Institute Celebrates 10th Anniversary Gratitude Gala

As we celebrate ten years of The Institute for Health and Social Equity, we begin with a special message from Dr. Ernest Grant, who served as President of the American Nurses Association from 2018 to 2022. Dr. Grant sent his congratulations on this milestone, along with special words for our Founders Award and Laureate Award honorees, Dr. Aisha K. Brooks and Dr. Vivienne Pierce McDaniel. We are thankful to Dr. Grant for being part of this celebration with us.

This past Saturday, The Institute marked this milestone at our 10th Anniversary Gratitude Gala, held at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center at the University of Maryland, College Park.

For ten years, our mission has been to build a diverse workforce and advance access to opportunities across Nursing, STEM, and Public Health Sciences. This weekend was a powerful reflection of that work—and a celebration of everyone who has helped make it possible.

Highlights from the Evening

• $20,000 in scholarships awarded to students across Nursing, STEM, and Public Health Sciences
• Exceptional leaders honored across education and nursing, including a K-12 science teacher whose work is opening doors for the next generation
• Keynote remarks from a NASA pioneer and the 14th President of the National Black Nurses Association
• A new scholarship unveiled: the Dr. Aisha K. Brooks Nursing Leadership Scholarship, honoring a retired Rear Admiral and the 12th Chief Nurse Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service

We are endlessly grateful to our honorees, scholars, sponsors, board, and every guest who joined us to celebrate ten years of creating opportunities for all.

To learn more about The Institute or to support the Dr. Aisha K. Brooks Nursing Leadership Scholarship, visit institute4equity.org or give directly here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/the-aisha-k-brooks-nursing-leadership-scholarship

Stay tuned—highlights and photos from the evening are coming soon.