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George Mason University is delighted to announce the creation of the Susanna Ezeanii and Mayfred Jolinda Nall Health Informatics Scholarship Endowment. This extraordinary philanthropic endeavor, brought to life through the generosity of Dr. Tamara Nall and her husband, Clement Ezeanii, not only honors the cherished memory of their mothers but also makes the scholarship a tangible reality. The scholarship's funding will serve as a profound catalyst for students pursuing a MS in Health Informatics, enabling them to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to their studies, overcome financial barriers to graduation, and significantly enhance their research and career readiness. Mason’s College of Public Health is in the process of selecting the inaugural recipient of the scholarship.
“Health informatics is a rapidly growing and dynamic field,” said Janusz Wotjusiak, director of the Health Informatics program, “Highly qualified graduates are urgently needed by today’s health and public health systems and this scholarship creates opportunities for students from all pathways to pursue this exciting career.”
At the intersection of health care, technology and data science, graduates from the MS in Health Informatics are employed by healthcare and public health agencies and technology firms to support specialized data collection and analysis that is mission critical to providing essential health services.
Mason’s Health Informatics program has an international reputation for faculty excellence and commitment to student success, which attracted support from Nall and Ezeanii. The nationally ranked program and rigorous accreditation process ensures that graduates are prepared for future challenges.
“I know our moms would approve of this,” said Ezeanii. “They were givers, and they always loved to see people have opportunities to be able to succeed in life. My mom, early on, knew that education was something that could transform lives.”
Nall, too, recalled her mother’s work to support students in local schools. “She would go, during the winter, and buy jackets, buy coats, and organize winter clothing drives for children,” she said. “She would partner with a local church to provide breakfast and to provide food during the summer” for students who relied on receiving meals at school. “If you grow up in that environment of giving,” she added, “it just becomes part of you.”
“The College of Public Health is grateful for the opportunities that this endowment offers students,” said Dean Melissa Perry. “Endowed scholarships such as this provide much needed financial support for ambitious students who wish to pursue knowledge and experience through graduate education.”
“We love to do this,” said Ezeanii. “This is something that [our mothers] really wanted to do: to scale out their efforts. If they can use us as vehicles to scale those efforts in some way or another, then we’ve achieved that purpose.”
Nall, a distinguished member of the George Mason University Foundation Board of Trustees, holds multiple roles as the founder, president, and CEO of The Leading Niche. She leads this internationally renowned company, known for its exceptional use of data and cutting-edge consulting to provide actionable intelligence to customers in the commercial, defense, and civilian sectors both in the United States and internationally. Nall's achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including esteemed honors such as The Network Journal's 40 Under 40 Award, Black Enterprise 40 Under 40 Award, and the Global Outstanding Business Award presented by the National Minority Business Council, among many others.
Nall is not only deeply committed to her role at The Leading Niche but also takes great delight in contributing to Mason’s endeavors to foster student success, especially in vital areas like Health Informatics. Her commitment to philanthropy shines through as she expresses her profound appreciation for the university's dedication to the students' journey. "The impact of George Mason's initiatives is truly awe-inspiring, and we feel humbled to be able to contribute to an institution so devoted to its students," she remarked. "These endeavors only serve to enhance the already remarkable work Mason is doing, and we take immense pride in being part of that."
Learn more about College of Public Health Scholarships and how to apply at publichealth.gmu.edu/students/scholarships.