The heart at the intersection of support and opportunity

Sumaiya Imad came to MSU with a passion to make a difference. As a talented student from Bangladesh, and the first member of her family to attend university in America, she didn’t have many connections at MSU. Within a campus of thousands, her first step was to find a way to connect and discover opportunities to make a positive difference right away.  

She found that opportunity through the Social Science Scholars Program; a unique initiative in the College of Social Science that offers promising Spartans the opportunity to connect and dive into a multitude of opportunities to practice their skills well before graduation.

During Sumaiya’s interview with the Program Director Dr. John Waller, he said, “I can promise you that if you choose to come to MSU, we’ll invest in you from day one.”  

“So far, it's been absolutely true,” says Sumaiya, now a Social Science and Honors College student in her junior year, studying economics.

On the very first day she set foot in America, Sumaiya joined her new cohort at the Social Science Scholars Community Outreach Day. Looking around at her fellow student-volunteers, she noticed they all had the same jitters.  

“We were just starting out in this new phase of life, going through the same things and emotions,” she says. As they dug their hands into the dirt at Danielle and Charlie’s Sunshine Garden, planting strawberries and carrots, they found their Spartan connection. “I was meeting my lifelong friends,” says Sumaiya.

Throughout the semester, you can often find Sumaiya and her cohort of 20 Social Science Scholars in their dedicated common room, located in Berkey Hall. Here, they learn, linger, study and laugh. They receive career guidance from distinguished faculty members and even meet Spartan alums to hear advice on everything from life, academics and professional pursuits.  

The program is academically rigorous with a sequence of four interdisciplinary classes, faculty-led research, and a U.K. study abroad opportunity. Scholars also participate in undergraduate research with faculty members, giving them the opportunity to research, present and write up findings for publication.

Altogether, it is the intersection of support and opportunity that makes the program so successful and continues to drive student excellence as John and Assistant Director Karen Holt, Ph.D. carry on its mission into an innovative future.

The Social Science Scholars Program began in the fall of 2013, and if you ever meet its director, you will quickly discover he wears many hats.  

On paper, Dr. John Waller is the director of the Social Science Scholars Program and Associate Professor of History within the college. But his investment in the program extends far beyond what his titles indicate. He is overflowing with information about the program and is eager to share the positive community impact.

“This is a program that recruits students who are ready for an ambitious experience, but often wouldn’t be able to afford such opportunities,” says Dr. John Waller. “It has the ability to transform a student’s ability to compete against the very best.”

And while Social Science Scholars are extraordinarily talented, their soft skills are equally valued. “We are careful to recruit students who have high potential and are going to forge friendships and be kind and generous to one another as well as to the community to which they belong,” says John.    

While directing the scholars program is a challenging initiative, John can’t imagine a better job. He’s seen over 150 students graduate as proud scholars, carrying with them a new maturity, confidence and drive for their futures. "I feel extraordinarily lucky to have been given this role," he says.

Students within the program stay connected and go on to do great things, from advanced degrees at MSU and other prestigious universities around the world, to influential careers in finance, business, politics, academia, law and policy. Scholars have also been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, the George J. Mitchell Scholarship (now known as the US-Ireland Alliance Scholarship), the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship, the Beinecke Scholarship and the Richard Lee Featherstone Endowed Prize.

And these success stories are entirely due to the academic, volunteer and internship experiences that they have access to as Social Science Scholars at Michigan State, and the variety of community partnerships that include The Fledge, Citizens for Prison Reform, and The Tenant Resource Center.

Sumaiya is interning with The Tenant Resource Center, and in collaboration with the College of Law, working on a pilot AI chatbot to provide accessible legal advice to low-income individuals about housing.

The internship and volunteer experience are a perfect fit for her professional goals to become an attorney and diplomat, focused on public interest and nonprofit work.  

“I definitely want to go back to working with victims of trafficking, especially in my country, in Bangladesh,” says Sumaiya. “I want to help women in my country gain more access to dignity and rights.”

From her first day volunteering in the garden, to her internship and undergraduate research, these opportunities have allowed Sumaiya to make a difference as a student.  

“Again, everything that I do, in all the work that I do, I love giving back to my community," she says.

Mentorship is key for scholars to be successful and enriches the Spartan spirit for everyone involved. Whether it be through monthly Town and Gown faculty speaking events, or Generations Connect and the Scholars Mentorship Program, which connects scholars with community and alumni mentors, the opportunities for networking are endless.  

“I love talking about it!” says Sumaiya when asked about the mentorship program. She met her mentor, Charles Dobis (Social Science ’71), at a Social Science luncheon during Homecoming week, and they immediately connected over their love of travel, similar values and zest for life.

“Charles has been there for every award I've won, every research symposium I've presented in. Anytime I had anything where I was receiving recognition, Charles was always there,” says Sumaiya.  

This meant so much to her since her mom was unable to attend due to the distance. Charles became her family on campus. “It really showed me the investment that Spartans have in one another.”

For Spartan mentors like Karen Schrock (Honors and Social Science ’73, Social Science ’74), her work as a mentor is what makes her most proud of her connection to the university today.

“As a mentor, you are striving to make a difference in the lives of your mentee,” she says. Karen has been mentoring Social Science Scholars since 2017, most of whom have been Black, first-generation students from the Detroit area.  

“I can honestly say I had something to do with their success and their continuing engagement in society in a productive way,” says Karen.  

And what kind of advice do scholars seek from their mentors that makes such a difference?  

“They're seeking life advice as much as academic advice,” says Karen. Everything from how to deal with a roommate conflict to figuring out a long-term academic plan, and even how to broaden their circle of friends.  

While Karen continues serving as a mentor, helping students integrate into the university, she also makes a point to connect with the Scholar’s parents to build trust for everyone involved.

Mike (Social Science ’72) and Midge (Education ’72) Morrow have been equally dedicated to the Scholars Program. Mike has mentored eight students since 2014 with the utmost care and compassion. He and Midge have also made substantial, heartfelt donations to scholarships named after John Waller’s late son, Charlie, and a graduated Scholar, Harris Bunker, who passed away in 2021.

The journey as a Spartan Social Science Scholar is a holistic one, and it means looking out for mental health along with academics.

“Even super high achieving young people have mental health issues,” says Karen. “And we're fortunate that one of the donors put money aside specifically to address any mental health issues that our students have.”

Those donors are Barbara and Mark Gerson, who created the Gerson Family Mental Health Initiative (GFMHI) in 2016 in partnership with the Department of Psychology. The GFMHI provides preventative and intervention-based mental health and wellness support to students in the Social Science Scholars Program.

Such support is crucial for scholars, especially given their work in the field.  

“A lot of times you don't understand how much you're shouldering until you go in front of a professional,” says Sumaiya. “I'm forever grateful that the Gerson family, who never met me, were willing to extend mental health support for me.”

As scholars prepare for their second act after graduation, one thing is certain: they have a strong network of Spartan friendships that will last them a lifetime. Program alums stay connected with their peers, mentors and faculty advisors long after graduation.

As the scholars share similar experiences and camaraderie, they also share a “sheer passion of wanting to create a better world,” says Sumaiya. “I see myself being a big donor and supporter of the program once I graduate, and that's because I've gotten so much out of it.”

Karen hopes the program can expand to positively impact and inspire even more generations of Spartans in the years to come. And she fully intends to be a part of it.

“It's an experience that's life-changing for mentors as well as for the student,” Karen says. “By mentoring or supporting the program in any way, you will see the outcome right in front of your face and it will be heartwarming for your entire life.”  

And so the Social Science Scholars continue their journey, and graduate not only with a degree, but with the support of a community that will continue as long as Spartans will.

LEARN MORE about supporting the Social Science Scholars Program by contacting Rachel Schmidt, College of Social Science and James Madison College senior director of development, at rschmidt@msu.edu or (517) 432-7047.