Graduate Student Scholarships

Adele Eisler received her Master of Social Work from Tulane University School of Social Work in 1957 and cultivated a career as an advocate for children’s welfare. Established in 2007 through a generous bequest from Ms. Eisler’s estate, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to deserving students at the School of Social Work.

Barbette Christian Stephenson Cosby is remembered for her training and supervision of many social workers and as a nurturing mentor who helped her colleagues develop their skills and careers. Established in 2015, students pursuing a social work degree can apply to receive this funding for the cost of books, academic materials, and other related course needs. This fund does not provide for tuition assistance.

This endowed scholarship was established in 1949 by the Alpha Epsilon Phi national social fraternity in honor of its late member Bertha Wolbrett Feitel. This endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to a student in the School of Social Work. Awarding of the scholarship is performed by the University President on the recommendation of the Dean and Faculty.

This memorial fund was established in 1995 by Robert Fonville in honor of his wife and Tulane alumnae Beth Gulledge who received a Master of Social Work from Tulane University in 1949. They met in Germany while she was a medical social worker at an Army base and he was an active duty officer during the Korean War. Mrs. Gulledge-Fonville had a long social work career, including working for the Texas State Department of Public Welfare as well as an agency offering adoption support. This endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for full-time students pursuing a graduate degree in social work at the School of Social Work.

Cathy Bryson received her Master of Social Work from Tulane University School of Social Work in 1996. Established in 2017 by Ms. Bryson and The Bryson Foundation, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for students at the School of Social Work.

Charles C. Crawford established this fund in 1977 through a generous bequest in memory of his beloved wife, Cornelia Smith Crawford. This endowed fund provides support to the School of Social Work that is used for tuition assistance for students.

Cynthia Sanborn Ware was a pioneer activist for equal rights for women and social justice. She worked for early integration of public recreational facilities in New Orleans, voter registration, the ERA, and other women’s initiatives. Established in 2006 in memory of Ms. Ware, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for female students in the School of Social Work.

Established in 2011 by a generous bequest from alumnae Sarah Grace Hudspeth (SW *47), this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for a student pursuing a Master of Social Work degree. The fund was named in honor of Dr. Elizabeth Wisner, the first female Dean of the Tulane School of Social Work who held the position until her retirement after nearly 20 years of service. Dr. Wisner was a pioneer in the field of social work focusing her attention on social work education and working tirelessly to improve social welfare in the South.

A trailblazer for African Americans in social work, Dr. Jeannette Jennings created a legacy of breaking barriers and advocating for the disenfranchised. She received her Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University School of Social Work in 1969 and was an associate professor at the school from 1998 to 2007. Established in 2013, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for a student in the School of Social Work who demonstrates financial need. The fund makes special consideration for those from the rural south and those that overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages.

Professor Emeritus Edith Schulhofer was on faculty with the Tulane University School of Social Work starting in 1950, and was awarded emeritus status in 1970. Established in 1993 by fellow faculty, alumni and friends, this endowed scholarship fund in honor of Dr. Schulhofer provides tuition assistance to a student at the School of Social Work.

Mrs. Elizabeth Land Parks received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Newcomb College in 1926 and her Master of Social Work degree from Tulane’s School of Social Work in 1936. Mr. Franklin Parks also held a Master of Social Work degree. Established in 1999, this endowed scholarship fund is a merit-based award that provides tuition assistance for highly gifted students regardless of financial need.

This endowed scholarship fund was established in 1954 by friends and associates in memory of the late Eva Smill. This endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to a student in the School of Social Work.

Jeannette Caldwell Randolph received a Master of Social Work degree from the Tulane University School of Social Work in 1949. Established in 1993 by Malcom Randolph in memory of his late wife, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to a student at the School of Social Work.

Thomas E. Marzolf was a 1966 graduate of the Tulane University School of Social Work. Established in 2018 through a bequest in honor of his late partner Joseph B. Pacheco, this endowed scholarship fund providestuition assistance to deserving gay or lesbian students of the Tulane School of Social Work.

Lulu Belle Clarke received her Master of Social Work degree in 1964 from the Tulane University School of Social Work. Established in 1996 in memory of Ms. Clarke by the estate of Juanita T. Clarke, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance to a student at the School of Social Work based upon financial need.

Dr. Margaret M. Campbell joined the faculty of Tulane’s School of Social Work in 1968, and was named Dean in 1982. She directed the school’s continuing education programs, it’s Child Welfare Services Training Center, and the Tulane Center on Aging, Research, Education and Services, which she co-founded. During her leadership of the School of Social Work, three research institutes were established, an advisory board was founded, and the school became fully computerized. Established in 2000, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for a student at the School of Social Work in the family and children's field of practice.

Ms. Miriam L. Gaertner was a graduate of Rollins College and received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California. She was a Commonwealth Fellow and a faculty member at the Columbia University School of Social Work, where she continued her studies toward a Ph.D. During World War II, she was an assistant field director of the American Red Cross Unit at St. Elizabeth’s Mental Hospital in Washington, D.C., and was later a member of a psychiatric social work team that organized and administered the first post-war mental health treatment clinics for veterans in New York City. Established in 2001 by a generous gift from Ms. Gaertner’s estate, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for present or incoming students in the School of Social Work who have proven financial need and academic ability.

Phyllis Gunter received a Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University School of Social Work in 1955. Upon graduation from Tulane, she moved to Nashville and worked as a social worker for burn patients at Vanderbilt Hospital, where she met William Snyder, a 4th year medical student who became a pioneering retinal surgeon. The pair were married 62 years and shared a love of promoting education with generous endowments to multiple institutions. Established in 2012, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for a Master of Social Work student.

Ruth C. Roe was a 1949 graduate of the Tulane University School of Social Work. Established in 2000 through a generous bequest from Ms. Roe’s estate, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for a deserving student or students in the School of Social Work. Preference is given to students that are committed to work in the field of medical social work, are from Mobile County, AL, and are members of the Government Street Presbyterian Church of Mobile, AL.

The Thomas H. Simmons Memorial Award provides a competitive, merit-based monetary award to a deserving student of the School of Social Work at the beginning of their third semester of coursework. This endowed scholarship fund is made possible by a generous gift from Janice A. Simmons (NC ‘77) in 2013 to establish a fitting and lasting tribute to her father. Mr. Simmons graduated from the Tulane University School of Social Work in 1953 and worked as Chief of Social Work for Veterans Administration hospitals in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

Cheryl A. Verlander earned her BA in psychology from Newcomb College in 1970 and her MSW from the Tulane University School of Social Work in 1975. With an ongoing career in clinical social work and a passion for mental health and education, Ms. Verlander, together with her husband, Charles Bracht, currently serve on the Tulane President’s Council and the School of Social Work’s Dean’s Advisory Council and are loyal supporters and advocates of both Tulane and the city of New Orleans. Established in 2011, this endowed scholarship fund provides tuition assistance for a student pursuing their Master of Social Work degree at the School of Social Work. Preference is given to students who received their undergraduate degree from Tulane University.

The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation is a public charity that provides support for the education of female students and for the care of elderly women in nine Southeastern states. The Foundation provides scholarship grants for deserving female students with financial need at more than 200 colleges, universities and schools. These scholarships are awarded by Tulane’s Office of Financial Aid to be awarded to need-based scholarships for Christian women at the School of Social Work.