IU Columbus professor and student receive Building Bridges Awards
Feb. 14, 2024
The 2024 Building Bridges Award recipients from Indiana University Columbus are Debolina Ghosh, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology and Mental Health Counseling (MHC), and Megan Kleinhelter, a junior majoring in elementary education.
The Building Bridges Award recognizes individuals and organizations who capture Dr. King’s vision, spirit, and leadership in ways both big and small. One student and one community member (faculty, staff, local organization, etc.) from each IU campus and IU’s School of Medicine were recognized.
Debolina Ghosh received the community award. She has instructed PSY-G575 Multicultural Counseling, led a reformulation of the admissions interview process for the MHC graduate program, and initiated a focus on outreach and recruiting activities for the South Asian community in Bartholomew County and abroad.
“Dr. Ghosh has made diversity, equity, and inclusion a theme that runs through her teaching and service to the Mental Health Counseling graduate program at IU Columbus,” said MHC Program Director Darrin Carr, who nominated Ghosh.
Megan Kleinhelter, the student award recipient, strives to actively engage and bring valuable resources to the IU Columbus student population. In her role as the former president of the Feminism Club, she created diversity programming that extends beyond the campus to promote positive change for the most vulnerable community residents. She also serves as a Peer Mentor.
The Building Bridges Award winners were announced January 12, 2024, during a special event entitled “An Afternoon Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” where IU faculty, staff, students, and community members observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
