Our members participate in volunteer events and take part in a wide range of community service initiatives. Upon graduation, they apply the interpersonal skills they've acquired to start businesses, pursue promotions, and more, using what they have learned to Build Leaders Who Make a Better World.
Check out the headlines made by NSLS members who used their leadership skills to level up in their careers, earn outstanding academic honors, and help make a positive impact on their communities this month.
Healthcare and Military Leader Named Lifetime Honoree
Jennifer Garrison, Walden University, has been recognized as an Inner Circle Lifetime Member for her contributions across healthcare and military service, capping a career defined by leadership in operational medicine, strategic planning, and organizational growth.
Garrison currently serves as vice president of Federal Health at Maximus, where she takes part in executive stakeholder meetings spanning medical exam services, supply chain and cold chain management, clinical operations, knowledge management, and information technology that draws on artificial intelligence and machine learning. She also helps guide the development of the company's Federal Health platform on an international scale. Earlier in her career, she led a team of six colonels who authored and published a study on medical support in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear contested environments.
Her academic credentials are equally extensive. Garrison earned a PhD in health sciences from Walden University in 2015 and is set to receive a doctorate of business administration from the same institution in summer 2026, adding to a master's degree in strategic studies from the Air War College. Away from work, she volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America, serving on a district advancement committee for Eagle boards and as a merit badge counselor.
Global Business Leader Shares His Story on the TEDx Stage
Mithilesh Chandekar, National Louis University, took the stage as a featured speaker at a recent TEDxSeasonsStreet event, sharing a personal journey that has taken him from humble beginnings to the leadership of a billion-dollar business portfolio.
Chandekar grew up sleeping on a floor in a small city and went on to build markets and lead growth initiatives across nine countries. A global sales and marketing leader in the industrial solutions space, he has also built a reputation as an author and an MMA fighter. His two books, The Perspective of Discipline and No One Is Coming, center on a philosophy to stop waiting to be rescued and start taking ownership of your path.
His work has earned a long list of recognitions, including the Sales Warrior Award, the Sales Excellence Award, the Super Champion SPOT Award, the Behaviour Champ Award, and Best Performer honors across the Asia-Pacific region, North America, and Europe. A Presidential Member of the NSLS, Chandekar is also an alumnus of the Korn Ferry Leadership Development Program.
Advocate Advances Disability Rights and Educational Equity
Issata Oluwadare, Capella University, recently completed the New Jersey Partners in Policymaking program, marking a new chapter in her longstanding work across disability advocacy, educational equity, leadership development, and community transformation.
A speaker, strategist, professor, author, and community advocate, Oluwadare has built work that is deeply rooted in her own family's experience navigating disability, school, and health care systems, including advocacy for her son Emmanuel, who has complex medical and developmental needs, and for her brother, who has needed sustained disability support. Through Issata O. Inc., The EZ Breezy Life, and Manny's Village, along with her teaching and her leadership in college access, she serves families who often feel overwhelmed or unheard. Over two decades in leadership, she has delivered more than 60 invited presentations, reached participants at more than 80 higher education institutions, and built a global community of women spanning more than 50 countries.
A five-time bestselling author and certified life coach, Oluwadare wrote the children's book Mighty Manny, inspired by her family's journey, which debuted as an Amazon number-one new release and drew coverage from hundreds of news outlets. Her honors include the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, Marquis Who's Who recognition, and a Brainz 500 Global honoree distinction. Her education and professional development have taken her through Capella University, the Yale School of Management, Northwestern University, and Rutgers University.
Read More at Black News Scoop >>
Student-Athlete Earns Humanitarian Award and Lacrosse Roster Spot
Louie Germain, Bucknell University, is set to continue his lacrosse career at Ohio State for his final season, joining the Buckeyes after four years as a respected leader both on and off the field.
A three-year starter at Bucknell, Germain appeared in all 13 games with five starts during the 2026 season and turned in one of his standout performances in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals, recording three caused turnovers in an overtime game against Colgate. This offseason, he became the inaugural recipient of Bucknell's Coach Liam Gleason Humanitarian Award, which honors student-athletes who lead by example, compete with sportsmanship, and give back to their teammates and community.
His accomplishments reach well beyond the field. Germain graduated with a 3.95 cumulative GPA as a political science and government major, served on the executive board of his NSLS chapter, and took part in Bucknell's Athletics Leadership Institute. He also earned the Bison Elite Award and the President's Award and was named a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.
Read More at College Lacrosse News >>
Research Administrator Earns Quick Promotion Through Discipline and Determination
Patience Ezeike, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, has been recognized for a fast-rising career in research administration and financial management, earning a promotion to senior research proposal and contract analyst within six months of joining the university's full-time staff.
In her current role, Ezeike manages awarded multimillion-dollar research grants, prepares competitive budgets, secures agency approvals, and works with the university's central unit to keep research activity in line with sponsor and institutional requirements. She first joined the institution through the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research, moving from student and internship roles into proposal coordination before her latest promotion. She earned her MBA in management with a concentration in business analytics from the university in 2024, completing the degree while raising infant twins, and holds a bachelor's degree in banking and finance from Abia State University in Nigeria.
The first college graduate among her siblings, Ezeike credits her progress to determination, discipline, and focus, and her example inspired all of her siblings to pursue higher education as well. She remains civically engaged through volunteerism, having co-founded a charitable group in Nigeria that supported orphanages and elderly care homes, and she now mentors young professionals through her LinkedIn newsletter, "The Career Evolution Brief."
Read More at Marquis Who's Who >>
Other NSLS Members Receiving Recognition This Month:
Amanda Maez, University of Maryland Global Campus, was promoted to chief lending officer at San Luis Valley Federal Bank, effective July 1. A San Luis Valley native with 15 years of banking experience, Maez rose from a part-time teller to a commercial loan officer before stepping into her new leadership role. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus, graduating with honors. A mother of two, she coaches baseball, softball, and soccer in her spare time. Full Story >>
Jennifer Garrard, Mississippi University for Women, was named one of Progressive Grocer's 2026 Top Women in Grocery in the Store Managers category. As store leader in Moab, Utah, Garrard drove a significant increase in her store's composite score and built a culture of accountability that helped her team earn multiple operational awards and exceed its associate retention goal. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Dallas College, where she earned the Senior Vice Provost's Honors Recognition. Full Story >>
Enrico Berti, Pennsylvania State University, was named the summer 2026 student marshal for the College of Information Sciences and Technology, an honor reserved for graduates with outstanding academic achievements. Berti, who majored in information sciences and technology with a design and development option, will lead the procession of IST graduates at commencement. A native of Camerata Picena, Italy, he began his college journey 10 years after finishing high school while starting his own family and working full-time at an engineering company. Full Story >>
