Landy Lin ’22 named to prestigious National Hunger Fellowship
Landy Lin ‘22 has been named to a prestigious post-graduate fellowship.
Lin, a first-generation Bonner Scholar and Shepherd Intern, was named as a National Hunger Fellow earlier this summer.
The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship “trains and inspires new leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty in the United States.” Lin said she’s eager to get first-hand experience in Washington D.C., and it was her Bonner Program experience that led her to the fellowship.
“I was initially drawn to it because it looked like a great continuation of what I had already done throughout my Centre experience,” Lin said. “I will be able to work with a network of non-profits and organizations that are dedicated to ending hunger and poverty in the United States, allowing me to gain incredibly valuable experience in the field and a different perspective. Fellows have the opportunity to work with and learn from a field organization, as well as a policy organization, in Washington D.C.”
A native of Louisville, Lin majored in Behavioral Neuroscience and minored in Social Justice. She said that her three years in the Bonner Program gave her the confidence to seek other high-profile opportunities.
“Our weekly Bonner meetings expanded my perspective on what service looks like in the world, as well as how important it is to amplify others’ voices and needs—instead of overshadowing—while conducting such work,” Lin said.
Assistant Professor of Education Ellen Prusinski is also the Assistant Director and Coordinator of Experiential Learning. She said that Lin was an engaged member of the Centre community and the National Hunger Fellowship is a great opportunity.
“Landy is a thoughtful, engaged student who actively seeks out new experiences, perspectives, and knowledge in order to expand her worldview and become a stronger leader,” Prusinski said. “She is also deeply concerned with issues of equity, justice, and community well-being.
“The fellowship will be an incredible opportunity for her to contribute to the work of a leading nonprofit and develop her understanding of how nonprofits function. It will also help her refine her goals and be an important step toward taking on leadership roles.”
Lin said the Bonner Program led her to an internship with the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP). She credited her Shepherd Internship in the summer of 2021 as a driving force in her post-graduate fellowship.
It is through those experiences at Centre that gave Lin the confidence and skills to position herself for a prestigious national fellowship.
“The SHECP Program was an amazing opportunity because it connects a network of undergraduate students, colleges, and various non-profit organizations,” she said. “I was able to spend a summer, though remotely, working with the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers to pilot a county-wide program aimed at reducing maternal health disparities due to race, income, access to transportation, insurance, and language/cultural barriers. I feel ready to complete my Fellowship because of the experiences and support that the Bonner Program, SHECP, and the Poverty and Homelessness Initiative have given me.”
For additional information about the National Hunger Fellowship and other competitive national and international fellowships, contact Dr. Robert Schalkoff in the Office of Fellowships at fellowships@centre.edu.
