Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty Welcomes New Governing Board Members

LEXINGTON, Va., Sept. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP) is pleased to announce the election of two new members to its governing board, Dr. Brian Doyle, director of Marymount University's Center for Ethical Concerns, and Richard "Duke" Cancelmo, head of trading and portfolio manager at Bridgeway Capital Management.

Doyle and Cancelmo were elected by the SHECP Council, which is composed of leaders representing member institutions and at-large members who bring a combination of experience and or expertise to the consortium. SHECP is a collaboration among 25 colleges and universities that integrates classroom study of poverty with summer internships and co-curricular activities.

"Our governing board is an elected group of leaders, from an already selective group, who have the passion and drive to transform poverty studies by expanding and improving educational opportunities for college students with an eye toward the long view," said Dr. Brett Morash, SHECP executive director. "Brian and Duke have already demonstrated their deep commitment as council members and I look forward to working even more closely with them to enhance our mission and to drive toward our long-term objectives."

Doyle is professor and chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Marymount University, as well as the director of the Center for Ethical Concerns. His publications examine the Christian doctrine of God and its practical relevance for the believing community. He is active in the College Theology Society, having given several papers and convening the History of Christian Life and Thought Session. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Xavier University, his master's in theological studies from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology, and his doctorate from the Catholic University of America.

"It's important to tie the Christian call to social justice and the dignity of every person to real life struggles and solutions," Doyle said. "Marymount has a culture of engagement that fosters intellectual curiosity and service to others that is very much in line with SHECP's aims, and I look forward to our continued collaboration."

Cancelmo has more than 30 years of investment industry experience, including five years with Cancelmo Capital Management and The West University Fund. He previously worked for Paine Webber, Rotan Mosle, and Casella Securities on the options floor at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Cancelmo holds a bachelor's degree in history from Washington and Lee University, one of SHECP's founding institutions. He serves on the advisory board of Washington and Lee's Shepherd Poverty Program and is an active member of the West U Rotary Club in Houston, Texas.

"Can you think of a greater social issue than poverty? It is pervasive in our country and SHECP offers students an opportunity to learn through rigorous academic studies in poverty with co-curricular summer internships," said Cancelmo. "Picture a pre-med student with a poverty minor who does a summer internship at an emergency room at a Bronx hospital, or an aspiring lawyer serving the disadvantaged at a free legal clinic in West Virginia. They will go into their careers with a very unique perspective on how they can help diminish poverty in their future, professional lives."

In addition to the new appointments, the SHECP Council elected Dr. Alan Tinkler, University of Vermont, to serve as vice chair; and Dr. Howard Pickett, Washington and Lee University, as secretary. Outgoing chair, Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters of Elon University, will remain in her role until Dr. Louwanda Evans, Millsaps College, returns from maternity leave.

SHECP would like to thank departing governing board members, Dr. Jay Barth of Hendrix College, and Dr. James Calvin Davis of Middlebury College, for their leadership and commitment during their three-year, elected tenures.

To learn more about SHECP and how you can support its mission to transform poverty studies, visit shepherdconsortium.org.

About the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty: The Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP), is a consortium of colleges and universities that are committed to the study of poverty as a complex social problem, by expanding and improving educational opportunities for college students in a wide range of disciplines and career trajectories. SHECP institutions support undergraduates toward a lifetime of professional and civil efforts to diminish poverty and enhance human capability. For more information, please visit ShepherdConsortium.org, or follow us on Twitter at @TheSHECP.

SOURCE Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty