The Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP) is excited to announce that the University of Virginia at Wise is the newest member institution of the consortium. As members, UVA Wise will participate in year-round programming and help guide the priorities and planning of the Consortium to advance Poverty Studies.
UVA Wise has a long-standing commitment to Appalachian Studies. In 2013, UVA Wise founded the Center for Appalachian Studies “upon the belief that academic pursuits can help solve problems and improve fortunes,”and, later, the school established a minor in Appalachian Studies. This year, they have added the opportunity for students to pursue a concentration in Poverty Studies.
Tonya Nations, Director of Career Discovery and Planning for UVA Wise, said, “In 2019, several of our faculty were in discussion about joining the community of SHECP schools; and then, the pandemic hit, which caused the whole world to pause. In 2023, it was through the SCHEV (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia) grant for internship support that brought together our goal of expanding experiential learning opportunities for our students and long-standing desire to to be part of the work of SHECP. ”
Jen Handy, SHECP’s Associate Director, added “The faculty and staff at UVA Wise have consistently advocated for the study of and support for the region surrounding their campus. From history courses to public health initiatives to community engaged learning opportunities, they have found innovative ways to champion their community. We are excited to have UVA Wise join SHECP, and we are eager to work with them to deepen our understanding of the unique causes and consequences of poverty in rural settings.”
Through SHECP, UVA Wise students gain access to the Summer Internship Program and the Policy & Nonprofit Leadership Internship in Washington, DC. Last summer, Asha Nieminen (UVA Wise, ‘26) worked as a Food for Families Intern with Park View Community Mission in Lynchburg, Virginia.
When asked to reflect on her experience, Asha remarked, “Sometimes it feels that the issue of poverty is too big to even chip at in the United States. The causes of poverty can be so intertwined, it feels impossible to finally break the knot. It can feel like a standstill, with too many issues to tend to, and no way to begin. Working with SHECP, I discovered the huge impact that we can each have by simply getting started. I realized how each volunteer, giving just a few hours of their time, made a monumental difference in the lives of so many people. Hundreds of families were fed each week, and many were directed to other resources that existed in the community. We helped people to get free haircuts, free outfits, and even free classes on cooking and job hunting. While we didn't stop poverty at its source, we were able to help hundreds of people to improve their circumstances piece by piece. Realistically, a single person cannot work to solve poverty, though we might like to. What is realistic, though, is getting involved.”
Sarah Scarbrough (UVA Wise, ‘05) founded REAL LIFE in 2016 in“response to the growing number of challenges faced by men and women exiting incarceration in Richmond, Virginia.” “As an alumnus of UVA Wise and a site supervisor for SHECP, I am thrilled to see my alma mater joining the SHECP consortium. Over the past few summers, we have had several SHECP interns who have brought tremendous value, knowledge, and insight to our organization.”
If you are interested in learning more about what it means to be a SHECP member school, contact Jen Handy at jen.handy@shepherdconsortium.org. UVA Wise students interested in learning more about the SHECP Summer Internship Program should contact Tonya Nations at careerdiscovery@uvawise.edu.