Aarthy Palani Wins P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship

The Graduate College is pleased to announce that Aarthy Palani, master’s student in the healthcare administration program, has received the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) International Peace Scholarship (IPS). The IPS provides up to $12,500 for women from other countries to study at the graduate level in the United States and Canada. Members of P.E.O. believe that education is fundamental to world peace and understanding.

Aarthy is from Chennai, a city in southern India. She received her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University. Part of her goal after her studies was to spread awareness about cancer prevention and healthy habits, especially among women in rural, underserved parts of the country. While participating in CAN-STOP, a cancer support program in India, she realized how critical the leadership role is — especially for women — in making an impact in the community. With her M.H.A., she hopes to ascend the ranks in healthcare leadership as her clinical background and administration skills will help in developing strategies for providing quality healthcare at affordable prices and spreading awareness about oral cancer and prevention methods.

Being the first girl in her family to pursue higher education abroad, she hopes to be a role model for other women by encouraging them to break any stigmas that prevent them from taking the steps needed to achieve their own goals; however, as an international graduate student, Aarthy faces financial limitations. Initially learning about the IPS through The Graduate College’s GradBulletin, she received encouragement to apply from Jonathan Tyner (coordinator in the Office of International Affairs) and application guidance from Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz (external funding coordinator in The Graduate College). Receiving the International Peace Scholarship has boosted Aarthy’s confidence and reinforced her goals of not only reshaping the healthcare landscape but inspiring other women like her to advance their own careers.