Comments on: Social Change Talk with Jon Kaplan, President of Walden University

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:06:18 +0000

I strongly believe that there is no such thing as being “over-educated.” That being said, going back to school is such an important and significant decision. Now that getting education through online classes has become so popular, there really isn’t a reason why people shouldn’t further their education.

By: Jessica Johnson

Jessica Johnson — Wed, 25 May 2011 17:15:55 +0000

It is so important to have universities and colleges who develop great values in their students. In order to develop great values they must have those values already built into who they are. I believe the higher values we uphold ourselves and students to the more possibilities we will have to have success for many reasons.

By: Brian Keough

Brian Keough — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:30:07 +0000

I have just completed the MBA program at Walden University. I have always believed that things happen for a reason. I was enrolled in a well known institution near my work and home. I had a very bad experience and dropped the program. After extensive research into available options I chose Walden University and have been extremely pleased with my experience even in the most difficult times. I seek out organizations that align with my values and Waldens vision is a welcome inspiration. Life is about change. Without change we get left behind, alone. There have been many studies about change initiatives and why they fail or succeed. We talk about motivating factors, degree of support, and sense of urgency among other things. Walden challenged me to find my passion, create a vision, seek out like minded people and make a difference. Take this passion, apply it to your career, allow it to clarify your purpose and the purpose of your work. Now tell me what can we achieve? Humans form organizations to achieve more than they can as individuals. Walden has been that organization for me and now that I am at the end of my program I look to my surroundings to continue this vision and apply my passion. I encourage like minded individuals to gather at Walden U. and make the world a better a place for us all.

By: Brian Keough

Brian Keough — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:30:07 +0000

By: DeVita Slaughter

DeVita Slaughter — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:09:44 +0000

Dr. Kaplan your comments were intuned to my Walden’s mission as well as the mission I have for my community. As a PhD student in psychology, I chose Walden because of it’s social change mission. Meeting the needs of an under-served population is my passion and Walden is teaching me now how to make the difference. I have enjoyed reading your comments and have been inspired even more to continue with my drive and passion to ensure positive social change within my community.

DeVita Slaughter
PhD Psychology Student
Educational Track

By: Aqueil Ahmad

Aqueil Ahmad — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:49:19 +0000

I have been a Walden faculty in one capacity or another for over two decades. What President Kaplan says about Walden’s mission of social change is entirely correct. Of course, all education is ultimately about social change. But to the best of my knowledge, and I say this with experience, Walden university is the only institution of higher education in America which has made social change its cardinal mission since its very inception under the leadership of its founders, Bernie and Rita Turner. Our students and faculty are inspired by this mission even though some of them may not always be able to carry it out to the extent that they would like to. Many others are able to do so, like my student Madeline Frank that Jon Kaplan mentioned as an example.

Aqueil Ahmad

By: Anthony Gyetua-Danquah

Anthony Gyetua-Danquah — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:43:58 +0000

I am in my first year in the Walden Education Doctorate program concentrating in adminstrator leadership. I was attracted to Walden university because of it mission to make a social change. As an educator, I am still amzed about how much more can be done to change the lives of students and their future. There is talk about bifdging the achievement gap but there is one gap that i believe contributes to the achievemnet gap that is not addreesed in our schools – the lack of male minority leaders and teachers who can become role models for the students who are being left behind. As someone who has already earned three graduate degrees for well know colleges, I was amzed about how little my education helped me to question or change the system. my graduation helped me to fit perfectly in the system and to move up the ladder doign what needs to be done but not to change it. I feel very comfortable that I am in aprogram that will alow me to think freely and be able to question certain social injustices and make attempts to help those who are affected. Thank you for inspiring me to follow my dreams. Your interview is refresshing.

By: Vasudev Das

Vasudev Das — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:08:56 +0000

The heart-piercing and inspirational undertone of this positvie social change idealogy is very soothing to a desperate change agent who seeks to transmute the world around him/her positvely beginning with himself/herself. I would like to add that understanding our pristine identity cum practical approaches to applied self-restraint technology would facilitate and sustain our positive social change innovations.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:29:41 +0000

I’m a current MPA student at WaldenU and will gladly tell anyone who wants to hear it that this institution truly embodies social change values. The curriculum is challenging, the people are diverse, and the faculty is knowledgeable and experienced. Interestingly, even with my classmates, there doesn’t seem to be an element of competition academically. Instead, there’s a fabric of support and community. We’re eager to grow and learn together because we really do want to make a difference in our world. As a current public servant, I am constantly applying what I learn on the job so these values are not conferred simultaneously with the degree– they’re happening right now! Thanks, President Kaplan and WaldenU, you guys changed my life.

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:01:55 +0000

As a Walden University Student, reading this interview with President, Dr. Jon Kaplan, further confirms my decision to complete my undergraduate degree here! It overwhelms my heart with great joy to invest into an exceptional vision that significantly impacts the lives of others, while illuminating it’s students to a degree of higher learning.

I also, enjoyed reading the supportive comments mentioned above. Yes, it is refreshing to know that there are people who are paying attention. More importantly, these people are actively involved in the social change movement. To name a few, Global Service Day, Perspectives of the World Public Speakers and continuously surveying the students progress and opinions will improve Walden University yet!

Thank you Dr. Kaplan for being an avid supporter of social change. “None of us are better than all of us,” quoted by Life Coach, JD the Motivator. My Walden experience has been rewarding and empowering since enrollment in June, 2009. I plan to continue a growth pattern of heightened awareness at Walden University through the power of media, as I develop a successful “brand” in the Music Industry.

Best,
-Kat
B.S. Communications
http://www.myspace.com/1sage

By: Nancy Bell

Nancy Bell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:09:23 +0000

Walden University has been a great inspiration to me as a life-long community activist from Detroit’s inner city. Although I live in Chattanooga now, it is disconcerting how many parallels there are in the health, education, and other social issues impacting the most vulnerable populations in our country. It is hard to know the degree of suffering and frustration people from these (and other)populations feel without also seeing (or helping to build) structures that lead to opportunities of hope and empowerment.
I am involved in two volunteer programs right now assisting with community capacity building ventures and have all the intellectual resources of Walden University to help me contribute as a scholar practitioner. I consider this volunteer work my apprenticeship to Walden’s formal education.
As a second year doctoral student, I look forward to graduation and do anticipate fruitful years of working and teaching in my own community, the university community, and the world community. Thank you Jon Kaplan for picking up the torch and leading us in the spirit of positive social change.

By: Marlene Baum

Marlene Baum — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:23:48 +0000

In a time when there seems to be an overabundance of pain and suffering, anger, and destruction it is a great sign to know that there are people who are paying attention and who do care that we need help as a society. We are our “brother’s keeper” in that we live in this world together, and not separate.
Walden is unique in promoting personal responsibility and then setting a course for help and education for those who care to move in a better direction or perhaps a more enlightened direction. I find it commendable that there is a place, and there are many, we just don’t hear them as often, where goodness resides and one is challenged to reach beyond themselves and think about the “whole” and not so much the self.
I appreciate Dr. Kaplan and everyone who has had the courage to step out of the box and step into the place where the work that is promoted is not for just monetary gain but for people to do better in the ways that will serve us all in ways that we cannot know.
Thank you for that and thank you for weaving in so much that provokes real thought about who we are in relationship to this society and world we have been given the privilege of experiencing. In the end we are not judged by the diplomas on our wall but by the effect and contributions we made to essence of life.
Marlene Baum
Student, Psychology Applied to Everyday Life Program

By: Daphne Johnson

Daphne Johnson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:36:32 +0000

Wohderful Article on Change talk!
As a ” Freshman” PhD in Human Service, I already see myself as a positive Change Agent.
Daphne Johnson

By: Jerry Franklin III

Jerry Franklin III — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:51:39 +0000

Aloha All,
As a recent graduate (23 Aug 09) of WaldenU, I can validate the comments made by Dr. Kaplan regarding WaldenU’s mission of social change. Thank you Dr. Kaplan and the rest of your team for the wonderful learning experience. I look forward to your visit here in my home town during the 18 – 24 Oct Honolulu Residency.

Mahalo!

Dr. Jerry Franklin III, Ph.D
Applied MGMT & Decision Sciences
Specializing in Leadership & ORG Change