Fresh out of high school and living away from home for the first time, 麻豆视频app下载 alumna Ellen Lee acknowledges that her studies took a backseat to partying while enrolled as a pre-med student at the University of Notre Dame.
鈥淭hings didn鈥檛 work out,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 as disciplined as I needed to be in studying.鈥�
Disappointed in herself, Lee returned home to New Orleans and contemplated her next step. After staying out of college for nearly two years, Lee enrolled at UNO where she would earn two degrees鈥攁 bachelor's in finance and an MBA.
At UNO she not only found academic rigor, but the academic support she needed to succeed, Lee said.
鈥淚t really doesn鈥檛 matter that you fall down, it鈥檚 that you get back up,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淎nd sometimes you need some help to get back up and UNO was my help.鈥�
Lee said UNO 鈥榮aved鈥� her. Now, she wants to extend a similar lifeline to other students who have returned to school to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree at her alma mater.
Lee, a consultant who recently semi-retired following more than 20 years of working in New Orleans city government, has established the Ellen M. Lee New Opportunity Scholarship at UNO. The scholarship will help pay tuition and fees for students who have earned some college credits and have returned to UNO to complete a degree.
鈥淚 wanted the scholarship to be for people who needed a second chance,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淔or students who had started school and, for whatever reason, wasn鈥檛 successful in college their first time around.鈥�
The first scholarship is expected to be awarded next year. The scholarship requires that students maintain at least a 2.5 GPA, with priority given to students pursuing a degree in the College of Business Administration. Applicants will be selected by a committee consisting of representatives from the Office of Financial Aid and the College of Business Administration and awarded prior to the beginning of each fall semester.
Pamela Kennett-Hensel, dean of UNO's College of Business Administration, will be the contact for the scholarship.
鈥淚鈥檝e been fortunate,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate to have resources right now and I do attribute that to my journey and what UNO set me up for. The fact that I was able to get through UNO and get my degrees there; I think that gave me the foundation to set myself up for success.鈥�
Lee鈥檚 time at UNO has been a full-circle journey that has given her a deep appreciation for the University and its place as an academic gem in the New Orleans region and beyond, said Lee.
鈥淚 love the University. If you cut me 鈥� silver and blue come out,鈥� Lee said with a laugh. 鈥淚鈥檝e been a student, staff, been on the faculty. There was a Black alumni chapter at one point. I was president of that chapter.鈥�
Lee has also served as a board member of the UNO Foundation and the UNO Alumni Association.
鈥淚鈥檓 just proud to support them and look forward to their continued success,鈥� Lee said regarding scholarship recipients. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that someone will be able to benefit from it. That it gives them that other chance to realize the goals that they鈥檝e set for themselves.鈥�
Lee recalled the time shortly after graduating from UNO that she received a telephone call at home from John Altazan, the founding dean of the College of Business Administration. Lee had been a dean鈥檚 list scholar and thought Altazan鈥檚 call was regarding her outstanding performance.
It was a fundraising call that led to a job, Lee said.
鈥淗e asked how I was doing, and I told him, 鈥極K, but that I was actually thinking about moving because it鈥檚 been tough finding work,鈥� Lee said. 鈥溾€楬e said, 鈥楲et me get back to you.鈥欌€�
The next day, Lee was contacted by Altazan鈥檚 assistant who asked if she would be interested in interviewing for the computer center director鈥檚 job on campus. The current director was leaving and there would be an opening. Lee was familiar with the center, having worked there as a student, she said.
鈥淚 ended up working in the College of Business in the computer center for many years,鈥� Lee said.
In 1994, Lee went to work at New Orleans City Hall in Mayor Marc Morial鈥檚 administration, concentrating on community and economic development. She retired in 2020, having worked under four mayors, Lee said.
鈥淭he majority of my career was in public service,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚 did a stint in philanthropy at the Greater New Orleans Foundation.鈥�
Lee recently returned to City Hall part-time.
鈥淚鈥檝e just trusted that God has a plan for us,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淭here are moments we really don鈥檛 see it, but in the end, we are meant to be where we are meant to be. And God puts us on a path.鈥�
