Three Bush Foundation leadership fellows to enter doctoral programs at UST

Three Bush Foundation leadership fellows to enter doctoral programs at UST

The Bush Foundation recently selected 19 leadership fellows from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin to continue their education. Three of this year's fellows, Tracine Asberry of Minneapolis, Michael Klein of St. Paul and Kimberley Smolik of Minneapolis, will apply their fellowships to complete doctoral degrees at the St. Thomas School of Education.

Asberry teaches at the W. Harry Davis Academy in Minneapolis. She will study home-learning environments of African and African-American families to promote academic achievement.

Klein, former social justice vocation instructor and leadership coordinator at St. Thomas, directed the justice and peace studies internships and led the activist group Students for Justice and Peace. He is developing a peace education certificate program.

Smolik works as a program director with Catholic Charities. Her studies will have a strong emphasis on anti-racist practices; she plans to establish an organization that will encourage adult learners to advance an anti-racist agenda.

The Bush Foundation, founded by former 3M executive Archibald Bush and his wife, Edyth, works to financially support accomplished, motivated individuals who are eager to prepare themselves for greater leadership responsibilities within their communities and professions.

Since its beginning in 1953, the Bush Foundation has provided more than $710 million in grants and fellowships to promote the development of individuals as well as provide support for nonprofit organizations.