Creating meaningful experiences through service and leadership

“Meaningful” – This is how Plater International Scholar Abigail Hadley described her many experiences at IUPUI.

High school biology classes and the partnerships between IUPUI and the IU School of Medicine led Hadley to apply to the university and the Honors College scholarship programs. “You can get involved in things that will be meaningful to your career,” said the senior Biology and Sociology double major with a concentration in Medical Sociology.

As a freshman, Hadley was a mentee in the Honors College Peer Mentor program, in which current mentors welcome first-year students to the college, help them build networks, and serve as guides through the first year of college.  

“If you're coming in as a nervous freshman, it's helpful to have someone you know and someone you can ask questions,” said Hadley, who saw the benefit of the Peer Mentor program and served as a mentor for the remaining three years of her undergraduate career.

Her own peer mentor introduced her to  Timmy Global Health, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health outcomes and empowering students and volunteers to tackle global health challenges.  

Through the organization, Hadley served as a volunteer, Vice-Chair of Registration, and Chair of Registration of the  IU-Student Outreach Clinic, where she was in charge of supplying volunteers and adjusting registration and EMR protocol to fit clinic needs. She noted this opportunity as a “great connection” between what she received at IUPUI and the work she hopes to achieve after graduation.

Utilizing the  Honors College Study Abroad Stipend, Hadley participated in the Croatia: Social Work Practice in Post-War Communities program through the IUPUI School of Social Work. She gained insight into theories and approaches of community reconstruction, working with groups active in the development programs of communities affected by war.   

Hadley served as the Treasurer and Vice-President of the  LGBTQ Student Alliance at IUPUI, a cultural club dedicated to providing education for IUPUI students on LGBTQ issues and topics, as well as advocating for the rights of LGBTQ students.  

She worked to secure $4,786 in grants, acted as a liaison with other cultural clubs, and became involved in OutCare Indiana, a non-profit organization with the purpose of providing extensive information and education on LGBTQ healthcare.

Further involvement at IUPUI includes her work as a Child Life Volunteer at Riley Hospital for Children, Intern Ambassador for the Life-Health Sciences Internship Program, and Vice-President of the Pre-Med Club and Pre-Med Mentoring Program.

The 2018 Honors College Chancellor’s Scholar award recipient will continue her education with the  Indiana University School of Medicine, striving toward her dream of medical practice and clinical research. Her particular interests include BRCA gene mutation and working with breast cancer patients.

“Make connections and don’t be afraid to ask for help,” said Hadley, encouraging the next generation of IUPUI Honors College scholars.