College Mentors for Kids will honor Brian Dixon, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, and founding chapter president of the DePauw University chapter, with the first ever Inspiring Alumni Award at the 2019 Inspire Awards, presented by Verizon. The Inspiring Alumni Award, sponsored by Hylant, is presented to a former College Mentors for Kids mentor or chapter leader who has exemplified and furthered the organization’s mission and values since graduating the program.
Brian is an accomplished scholar, trailblazer in public health informatics, and devoted philanthropic leader. Mentorship, he says, “is important because it allows me to develop individuals who are the future leaders in my field, in my organizations, and in the community. I have benefitted from mentorship, and it is important that I help mentor the next generation.”
Brian’s contributions to the community are numerous. Brian has served on the board of College Mentors for Kids; as president of the Indiana Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration; in various leadership roles for the American Medical Informatics Association; and on the board of directors for the International Society for Disease Surveillance. Dixon also volunteers for JumpIN for Health Kids and as Cubmaster for Pack 398.
Brian commits himself fully to developing others within his field, serving as a personal and professional role model for many. He created the public health informatics fellowship program which offers mentorship for both pre- and post- doctoral students and mentors dozens of students on an individual basis. As one mentee says, “It is hard not to be impressed by Brian. As a doctoral student who has chosen an academic pursuit, I strive to follow his lead. His devotion to people is inspiring.”
College Mentors for Kids will celebrate Brian Dixon for his long history of and unwavering dedication to public service and mentoring, alongside other outstanding mentors, at the Inspire Awards held on February 21, 2019, from 12:00 – 1:30 pm at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.
Finalists for the 2019 Inspiring Alumni Award include: Alex Blubaugh (Purdue University chapter), Eli Lilly and Company; Jimmy Cox (Purdue University chapter), Purdue University Alumni Association; Colleen Ferlotti (Virginia Tech chapter), Duke University Health Systems; George Giltner (Purdue University chapter), TechPoint Foundation for Youth; Melissa Hunt (Purdue University chapter), Vinton Elementary School; Craig Kwiatkowski (Purdue University chapter), Science Fun for Everyone!; Stephanie Laskey (University of Notre Dame chapter), Susan G. Komen Central Indiana; Joshua Reichart (University of Indianapolis chapter), 500 Festival, Inc.; Emma Whitlow (Marian University chapter), Whitlow Family Vision Center.
The tenth annual Inspire Awards, presented by Verizon, recognize and celebrate workplace and community mentoring and benefit College Mentors for Kids. For more information on all of our finalists and how to purchase a ticket, please visit: www.collegementors.org/inspire.
College Mentors for Kids is grateful to our many sponsors, including: Verizon, Hylant; Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield; The Ackerman Foundation; Element Three; Fifth Third Bank; Indianapolis Power & Light Company; Lumina Foundation; Sherck, Hussey, Johnson & McNaughton, LLC; Van Riper-Woodard Family Foundation; F.A. Wilhelm Construction Company; Indianapolis Business Journal; and Towne Post Network.