2020 Scholars
Anthony
Charisse
Chris
Chris C.
Hunter
Keisuke
Kevin
Martez
Charisse Ahmed
Charisse Ahmed is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the implementation of interventions to improve health outcomes among adolescents living with HIV in Eswatini. Charisse received her first Bachelor’s degree in Health Education at the University of Florida (UF) in 2015 and her second Bachelor's degree in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. Since 2013, Charisse has been involved in HIV advocacy work on the domestic and international level, from providing HIV/AIDS education to high school and college students, organizing community-based HIV prevention and testing events, conducting HIV socio-behavioral research, to attending national and international HIV conferences and meetings with policymakers to advocate for the needs of young people living with HIV.
Philadelphia, PA – University of Pennsylvania - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Anthony Anderson
Anthony graduated from Georgetown University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies. During his time on campus, he advocated on behalf of people living with HIV through various forms of education. Anthony continues his HIV advocacy as the Program Coordinator of Prevention at NMAC. Along with this, he is a member of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness where he advocates for sustainable laws that empower youth experiencing homelessness.
College Park, MD – Tulane University - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Chris Collins
Chris is a second-year PhD student in Social Work at Florida State University. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and professional licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Florida. His current research focuses on violence against women perpetrated by involuntary celibates, extreme risk protection orders (“red flag” laws), and underreporting of hate crimes perpetration.
Tallahassee, FL – Florida State University - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Hunter Drake
Hunter is beginning the second year of his PhD program in Public Health with a specialization in Community and Family Health at the University of South Florida. His prior academic pursuits led to a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Psychological Sciences with a focus in Experimental Psychology. Hunter currently serves as a graduate research assistant and holds a data analysis position at the USF Health Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease. His graduate assistantship work is contributing to a study on a smoking cessation e-health intervention for people living with HIV. He has also enjoyed the opportunity to teach Health Psychology and Psychology of Gender as an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg.
St. Petersburg, FL – University of South Florida - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Chris
Chris is currently part of the Honors Program at the college he attends. Chris plans to complete his Associate of Arts in Spring and matriculate to a four-year university to major in cyber security. Chris is a vibrant person, who strives to bring humor and light to conversations and relationships. He was a class president, an athlete, and a thespian before heading to college the first time. He has previously volunteered at with hospitals, parks, meal programs, and community shelters.
Central Florida - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Full-Time Art History Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
New York, NY - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Full-Time Medical Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Washington, DC - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Full-Time Medical Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Western Ohio - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)
Kevin Graves
Kevin is a second-year Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) master’s student at the University of Southern California, where he is a Topping, AHEC, and Dean's Scholar and holds Kappa Delta Pi and Psi Chi honors. He works as an MFT trainee at Pelican Cove Counseling Centers, providing long-term psychotherapy to low-and-no-income individuals, couples, and families in East Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, CA – University of Southern California - One-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($3,500)
Martez Smith
Martez is a doctoral candidate in Nursing and Health Science at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. He holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Ohio State University and a Master of Social Work from Long Island University Brooklyn. His research interests include addressing racial, sexual and gender minority health disparities through community-driven, asset-based interventions. In addition to conducting research, Martez works alongside a nationwide cadre of activists, organizing for social justice with the Keeping Ballroom Community Alive Network (KBCAN), which he co-founded in 2015.
Brooklyn, NY - University of Rochester - One-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($3,500)
Full-Time Social Work Student
Because of the nature of the HIV League Scholarship, recipients have the option to not make their name public. This HIV League Scholar requested to keep their name private, and we are respecting their wishes.
Baltimore, MD - One-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($3,500)
Keisuke Lee-Miyaki
Keisuke Lee-Miyaki was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, who’s ordained by Hongwanji, Kyoto, in 2006 as a Pure Land Buddhist Priest, and endorsed by Buddhist Churches of America in 2018, as a Minister’s Assistant. Following the first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at California Pacific Medical Center in 2015, he completed his CPE residency 2017-2018 at the Oncology/Hematology Unit of UCSF Medical Center. Currently, he is working at Sojourn Chaplaincy at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center for providing emotional/spiritual care to staff and the most vulnerable population in the city. His primary practice is deep listening and sutra chanting meditation. He holds a Master of Arts, Pure Land Buddhist Studies from Ryukoku University in Kyoto and currently pursuing a certificate from the Buddhist Chaplaincy program at Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley.
San Francisco, CA – Graduate Theological Union - One-Year Part-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($1,500)