Melvine Walker Awarded Prestigious Mereese Ladson Diversity Scholarship
May 09, 2018
Melvin Walker
NACAS Foundation, a non-profit corporation that promotes the auxiliary services profession through NACAS, announced today they have awarded the 2018 Mereese Ladson Diversity Scholarship to Melvine Walker, director of marketing/communications for auxiliary services at Old Dominion University.
"It is my sincere honor to award the Mereese Ladson Diversity Scholarship to three worthy candidates," said Matt Portner, president of the NACAS Foundation. "The NACAS East Region created this endowment as a tribute to honor Mereese Ladson for her leadership in the Auxiliary Services industry. This effort has been a success from the start and is only furthered with these new Diversity Scholarship recipients."
The Mereese Ladson Diversity Scholarship was established in 2005 in honor of the late Mereese Ladson, controller at Brooklyn College. Ms. Ladson was a president and long-time leader of NACAS East and a great friend to the entire association. This scholarship is intended to further her work to promote the advancement of diverse, career-minded higher education professionals.
Melvine Walker is the director of marketing/communications for auxiliary services for Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She began her career at Old Dominion 28 years ago and has served in several capacities in housing and residence life and auxiliary services. Walker has been a member of NACAS for 10 years and has held many volunteer positions: conference coordinator, diversity inclusiveness member, host institution for On the Road, and registration volunteer, nationally and regionally. In addition, in 2010 she was recognized as NACAS Emerging Professional.
"Receiving the Mereese Ladson Scholarship supports one of my professional goals: changing the lives of others. This honorable and well appreciated award is two-fold; funds from this scholarship will further promote the opportunity to advance my leadership skill and an opportunity to engage a first-timer to experience the unlimited benefits of NACAS," Walker said. "The funds that the university normally pays for me can now be used to support one of my mentees. I perceive the Mereese Ladson Scholarship to be an extension of Ms. Ladson's passion. My greatest passion is to be an integral part of humanity's growth and the Mereese Ladson Scholarship is providing me this privilege. I'm elated to share in Ms. Ladson's legacy and just as eager to give back through my strong commitment and servitude to NACAS, NACAS East, and my campus community."