Syracuse University Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad is proud to announce that Department of Marriage and Family Therapy graduate student Fatim Cisse ’25 from Falk College and Anthony J. Thomas ’24 (School of Information Studies) have been named 2024-2025 Todd B. Rubin Diversity and Innovation Scholars, and Aidan R. Turner ’25 (School of Architecture) has been named the Hunter Brooks Watson Scholar for the upcoming academic year.
Cisse’s entrepreneurial experience includes owning Womb’s Yoga, an organization that provides mindfulness workshops and support groups for women of color. Fatim is passionate about maternal health care and women’s wellness. She also previously served as a researcher in Health and Wellness Services through Syracuse University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
The Todd B. Rubin Diversity and Innovation Scholars are generously funded by a multi-year gift from Todd B. Rubin ’04 (School of Architecture) to directly support employment of entrepreneurial students focused on innovation, diversity, and inclusion at the LaunchPad. Rubin was the recipient of Syracuse University’s 2014 Generation Orange Award for philanthropy and is a member of the Syracuse University Libraries Advisory Board. Todd serves as the Minister of Evolution (president) for The Republic of Tea, founded in 1992 as a premium tea company dedicated to enriching people’s lives through great-tasting premium teas and herbs, education, and innovation.
Please visit the Syracuse University News website to learn more about Thomas and Turner, their awards, and the libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad innovation hub.