Two Graduates Receive Shirley Chisholm Award

Posted by: admin on June 11, 2012, No Comments

Clarissa A. Gallo of East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Tiffany Keiba Bragg-Best of Bushkill, Pa., were the 2012 recipients of the East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania Shirley Chisholm Award for their demonstrated excellence in learning, sensitivity to social issues and commitment to activism.

Ms. Tiffany Keiba Bragg-Best received her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies at ESU earlier this month. She was honored with ESU’s Shirley Chisholm Award based on her academic accomplishments and her involvement in numerous campus and student activities. While a student at ESU, Bragg-Best was the treasurer of ESU’s Women for Awareness and was also responsible for organizing numerous social awareness activities. She also attended the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Women’s Consortium summer leadership institute for women.

Ms. Clarissa A. Gallo received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology in May 2012. She was employed as a graduate assistant for ESU’s Graduate College for three semesters and one summer session, and coordinated many seminars to assist graduate students in career preparation. Gallo also studied abroad in Le Mans, France at the Universitédu Maine. Because of her interest in improving the lives of people with disabilities, Gallo took an externship at an equine therapy center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and has been a strong advocate for the autistic and has volunteered at Camp Colors, a summer program for autistic students held at ESU. Locally, Ms. Gallo has been a Children’s Church Ministry volunteer at Light of the World Church in Stroudsburg, Pa.

The Shirley Chisholm Award was established at ESU in 1991 after Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American women to be elected to congress and the first to run for United States President, was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from ESU. The award is sponsored by ESU’s Commission for Women, Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and the Women’s Studies/Women’s Center. For more information about this award, contact Dr. Laurene Clossey, assistant professor of sociology at (570) 422-3955.