The David B. Walker Award was established with a generous donation from Parashar Patel, MPA ‘91. This award is given annually to recognize a student in the program who exemplifies tireless dedication to public service. Ideally, the awardee would have an interest in Federalism.
David B. Walker: This endowment honors David B. Walker, former director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations and Director of UConn’s MPA program, who passed away in 2013. Dave dedicated his career to mentoring and supporting future leaders to influence government and politics to improve our country. This endowment, with the continued support of alumni, will ensure the MPA program can carry on Dave’s tradition of recognizing students who demonstrate that relentless dedication he always gave to each of his students.
Parashar Patel is ViewRay’s Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Market Access. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, he leads global efforts to demonstrate the value of MRIdian and drive adoption of MRIdian in cancer treatment. Parashar has held a variety of roles at both the federal and state levels. Parashar holds a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Connecticut.
Nicole Sanclemente, MPA ‘24
Nicole Sanclemente is the Policy Director for the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF). In her role, Nicole leads the organization’s policy efforts coupled with her unwavering commitment to advance the rights of women and girls through legislative advocacy, specifically priorities that center their economic success, mobility, and security. Nicole’s journey with CWEALF started in 2018 when she became the organization’s Bilingual Advocacy Fellow for that year. Since becoming a permanent staff member in February 2020, Nicole’s role has evolved to become a Policy and Program Associate, a Policy and Program Coordinator, a Policy Manager, and her most recent and current role of Policy Director.
Nicole graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban and Community Studies, and a double minor in Psychology and Human Rights. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration through the University of Connecticut’s School of Public Policy, specifically in the Executive Track for experienced working professionals in the public sector. Nicole is concurrently pursuing a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management at the University and is expected to graduate with both titles in May 2024.