Imani Paul receives scholarships to attend Washington University in St. Louis

2013 Aug 16

Imani Paul, daughter of Sonja Cherry-Paul and Franklin Paul of Yonkers, N.Y. (10705), has been named both a McLeod Scholar and an Ervin Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis. Paul, a 2013 graduate of Hastings High School in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., will be a freshman at the university when the fall semester begins Aug. 27.

McLeod Scholars are selected on the basis of academic achievement, commitment to serving others, leadership potential and character. The Ervin Scholars Program recognizes incoming first-year students who demonstrate exceptional intellectual and leadership achievements, and who have shown a commitment to community service and bringing diverse people together.

In high school, Paul participated in National Honor Society, volleyball, choir, Culinary Club, and peer tutoring. Outside of school, Paul writes creatively and plays piano.

McLeod Scholarship

Washington University established the scholarship in 2009 to honor James E. McLeod, then vice chancellor for students and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. McLeod died Sept. 6, 2011, after a two-year battle with cancer. During his 37 years at the university, McLeod made an indelible mark through his invaluable contributions, inspiration, devotion and guidance to the university community.

McLeod’s effect on the Washington University community was profound. As dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, WUSTL’s largest undergraduate school, and vice chancellor for students, he and his colleagues built a warm, supportive and challenging student culture that is unique in the nation. His goal to have every student “known by name and by story” set the tone.

His wisdom, steadiness under pressure, generous spirit and strong values guided and influenced many generations of students, faculty and staff at the university.

Recognized as one of the university’s most effective leaders, McLeod spearheaded many successful undergraduate efforts, including developing a residential college approach to dormitory living; strengthening the undergraduate advising system; constructing new small-group housing; advising the new undergraduate curriculum effort in Arts & Sciences; enriching the mix of seminar experiences for freshmen; establishing and building the John B. Ervin Scholars Program; and helping initiate and shape the expanded study-abroad program.

A native of Dothan, Ala., McLeod joined the WUSTL faculty in 1974 as an assistant professor of German. His other positions at the university included serving as assistant dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences; assistant to then-Chancellor William H. Danforth; and director of African and African-American Studies in Arts & Sciences.

Ervin Scholarship

Ervin Scholars are actively involved in the Washington University community and continue the legacy of the late John B. Ervin on campus. A nationally renowned black educator, scholar and author, Ervin was dean of the School of Continuing Education (now University College in Arts & Sciences) at Washington University from 1968 to 1977.

Ervin, who published numerous articles on education in professional journals, was the first African-American to hold a dean’s position at the university. Presidents Ford and Carter appointed him to the National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing Education. He also served as vice president of the Danforth Foundation from 1977 until his retirement in 1986. He was a life member of the NAACP.

The Ervin scholarship is renewable for all four years of undergraduate study.

The John B. Ervin Scholars Program recognized its 25th anniversary at Washington University last year. More than 1,000 alumni, family and friends of the Ervin program were on campus Sept. 14-16 to participate in "Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence: Our Names and Our Stories."

Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research, and it draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 100 nations. The total student body is nearly 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

The approximately 3,400 faculty teach in seven schools: Arts & Sciences, Brown School, Olin Business School, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, School of Engineering & Applied Science, School of Law and School of Medicine. Twenty-three Nobel laureates have been associated with Washington University, with nine doing the major portion of their pioneering research there.

The university offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.