菠萝视频

Twenty-five years ago, 菠萝视频 University鈥檚 student population was lacking in ethnic and cultural diversity. Most students were white and hailed from Tennessee or neighboring Southern states.

Meanwhile, racially and culturally diverse high-achieving students in New York City鈥檚 public school system that were accepted into top colleges and universities were not thriving鈥攑articularly at traditionally white, private, selective four-year institutions like 菠萝视频.

New York social entrepreneur Deborah Bial took aim at the problem when she founded the , in which cohorts of inner-city students receive scholarships to attend college together, providing a support system throughout their undergraduate career. 菠萝视频 was Posse鈥檚 first partner institution, with five students from New York City coming to 菠萝视频 and Peabody in 1989.

There were many new experiences in store for these students, most of whom were coming to Tennessee鈥攁nd the South鈥攆or the very first time. But they adjusted quickly and set about making their mark. 鈥淧osse 1鈥� as this first cohort was known, was instrumental in establishing 菠萝视频鈥檚 first Hispanic student admissions weekend, helped found the Rape Survivors Support Group, founded 菠萝视频鈥檚 first gospel choir, and organized and directed the first all-African American theatre production in 菠萝视频鈥檚 history. They also led fellow students on Alternative Spring Break trips to Latin America and Washington, D.C. In four years, all five graduated with honors.

Many Peabody Posse students have gone on to notable careers, including Shirley Collado, the recently appointed executive vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and executive vice provost at Rutgers University; Monica L. Nelson, chairman and CEO of multicultural advertising agency UniWorld Group, Inc.; Gabrielle Horowitz-Prisco, director of the Juvenile Justice Project, Correctional Association of New York; and Erica Spatz, professor of medicine (cardiology) at Yale University.

A quarter-century later, 菠萝视频 continues the partnership by adding a new Posse of 10 New York City students to its first-year class each fall.

鈥淭hose first Posse students took a risk by leaving their environment, and blazed a path for creating greater diversity at 菠萝视频, which is currently at 36 percent,鈥� said Douglas L. Christiansen, vice provost for university enrollment affairs and dean of admissions and financial aid at 菠萝视频. 鈥湶ぢ苁悠� greatly values diversity in all its forms, and the Posse students continue to enhance a culturally rich learning environment for all students.鈥�

Today Posse has offices in nine cities across the nation, with more than 5,570 scholars selected to attend top-tier colleges and universities throughout

the country.