Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), a national nonprofit dedicated to creating generations of confident girls, is proud to announce the 2024 cohort of the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship has been awarded to 10 women of color from nine states.
Named in honor and memory of Dr. Patricia F.R. Cunningham II, a champion for girls, equity, access and social change, this prestigious fellowship increases access to ROX’s robust, evidence-based Program for Girls and provides leadership opportunities for diverse female educators and school mental health professionals. The fellowship is underwritten by the Bath and Body Works Foundation, with additional funding from the PNC Foundation.
ROX welcomed the 10 new fellows to Columbus last week for their three-day ROX facilitator licensure training: Naquita Page-Dawson (SC), Angela Barber-Joiner (OH), Rosie Guerra (TX), Brittnay Powe-Inge (AL), Kourtnay Abernathy (GA), Michele Jordan (MO), Carolyn Thorpe (MD), Cecilia Hebard (GA), Tanisha Dumas (NC), and Khush Driver (CA).
The fellows will now deliver the 20-week school-based ROX Program for Girls at their schools, while continuing their fellowship experience through 2026. Leah Borden, Senior Advisor to the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship shared, “When girls in ROX have a Dr. Patty Fellow as their facilitator, they experience the impact of a ‘real life’ role model who looks like them—one who continually shows up for them, believes in them and invests in them. This profoundly increases their connection to school and their sense of belonging in their educational environment.”
“At ROX we use data to inform our programming, our decisions and our investments. Data shows that diverse women are underrecognized in educational leadership and that girls want and need advocates, role models and mentors that look like them. The Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship program is working to address the disparities and increase the opportunities. Our goal is to continue to grow the fellowship as we partner with additional sponsors and supporters,” said Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, founder and CEO of ROX.
Dr. Patty Diversity Fellows are women of color with a license in social work, counseling, education or school psychology. They have a passion for empowering girls and are committed to creating a safer, stronger and more equitable world for girls. Fellows are trained to lead a 20-week evidence-based curriculum that teaches girls the skills needed to navigate the tough challenges they face, including: confidence, body image, social media, relationships, pressure and leadership. Their fellowship includes all costs associated with two years of having ROX programming in their schools, including facilitator training, monthly professional and leadership development, fees paid for participating girls and related travel expenses.
“Each year, we select a cohort of 10 women based on a competitive application process. They are passionate about changing the lives of girls in their schools,” says Dr. Sibyl West, Senior Advisor to the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship. “They are motivated to engage in this work, are charismatic leaders in their communities, and they form a unique bond with one another that is unlike any other experience found in their professional spaces.”
About Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX)
Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is the national nonprofit authority on girls. Since 2011, ROX research, programs, and resources have helped ensure that girls are in control of their own relationships, experiences, decisions, and futures. Operating in nearly 600 schools across 40 states, we conduct large-scale national research, deliver evidence-based programs in schools nationwide, and equip adults to better support and empower girls in grades 5–12. For more information about ROX programming, visit www.rulingourexperiences.org.
About Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX)
Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) is the national nonprofit authority on girls. Since 2011, ROX research, programs, and resources have helped ensure that girls are in control of their own relationships, experiences, decisions, and futures. Operating in nearly 600 schools across 40 states, we conduct large-scale national research, deliver evidence-based programs in schools nationwide, and equip adults to better support and empower girls in grades 5–12. For more information about ROX programming, visit www.rulingourexperiences.org.
