Author Archives UC Liberia

UCL announces the launch of The Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund

May 11, 2025
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The Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund is being launched to support deserving Liberian Ph.D. students to pursue their terminal academic degrees. This scholarship favors academic fields that support Liberian national development and/or advances in the frontiers of knowledge and is for students enrolled at accredited universities.

Current Ph.D. students wishing to apply should submit a one-page statement that includes their name, where they are from in Liberia, the name of their institution, their department, their field of study, and their intended or actual dissertation topic. The statement should also mention their status in their program (e.g., pre-proposal, post-qualifiers, proposal writing stage, data collection phase, ABD, etc.) and how long they have been in the program. Relevance of their topic to Liberian national development or to expanding the frontiers of knowledge should also be well-justified, and their future career goal should be mentioned. Students should state concisely and specifically which item in the list below they are seeking funding for and the anticipated cost (supporting evidence is welcome). Last but not least, a brief letter of support from the student’s major advisor should be attached.

Scholarship funds can be used for the following categories of expenses: 1) tuition and fees; 2) books and other published materials (including access to research-related online resources); 3) research materials and supplies; 4) laptop computers or other tech equipment necessary for the research project; 5) research-related travel; 6) expenses related to attending conferences at which the student is presenting her or his own research; 7) publication fees related to the publication of the student’s scholarly work in a reputable journal or dissertation publication; 8) graduation fees, including academic regalia purchase (not rental). If an award is made, receipts should be provided expeditiously.

 

Support the Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Layli Maparyan Ph.D. Scholarship Fund has been established to support deserving Liberian students in their pursuit of doctoral degrees. This scholarship prioritizes academic fields that contribute to Liberia’s national development or push the boundaries of knowledge. It is available to students enrolled in accredited universities.



DONATION CATEGORIES:
We invite you to contribute at a level that aligns with your capacity and commitment. There are eight giving tiers available—each designed to accommodate a wide range of supporters. Explore the options below to find the one that’s right for you.

  • $5,000 TUITION ANGEL – Will support tuition and fees for a dedicated Ph.D. scholar.
  • $2,500 TECH TITAN – Will support the purchase of a high-quality laptop for one Ph.D. student or other specialized equipment needed to complete the dissertation.
  • $1,500 RESEARCH PARTNER – Will defray research and data collection expenses, including essential research-related travel, for a Ph.D. scholar.
  • $750 REGALIA RELIEF – Will allow a graduating Ph.D. scholar to purchase (not rent) the academic regalia (cap, gown, & hood) they will need for the rest of their academic careers.
  • $500 CONFERENCE CHAMP – Will support research-related conference travel for the presentation of research findings at an academic conference.
  • $200 RESUME BUILDER – Will support conference registration fees for an academic conference in which a Ph.D. student is presenting an academic paper.
  • $100 LIBRARY BUILDER – Will support essential scholarly resources for one Ph.D. student’s dissertation literature review.
  • $25 BOOK BUDDY – Will purchase an essential research-related book for a Ph.D. student.


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International Partnership to Host Workshops to Prevent Human Trafficking in Liberia

September 8, 2021
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Wellesley, Mass. | 09/09/2021 — Together with academic, NGO, and private sector partners, the Wellesley Centers for Women will hold two workshops to address the problem of human trafficking in Liberia.

Human trafficking in Liberia has long been a pernicious form of violence affecting women and children, especially those most economically vulnerable. It has been flagged as a critical issue by the United Nations, and has put a damper on business development and private sector investment in Liberia. In the U.S. Department of State’s 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report, Liberia’s status declined from its ranking the previous year, raising concerns. The government of Liberia has taken recent strides to address trafficking by forming an interagency commission, and WCW will bolster those efforts with these workshops funded by the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia.

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Connect Liberia: Winning In Education During COVID-19 [WEBINAR]

December 16, 2020
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In collaboration with the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) and the Liberian Consulate in Georgia, that we are hosting the second CONNECT LIBERIA Africa Webinar Series “Winning in Education During COVID-19”, Liberia’s e-Learning Transformation and Liberian Student Success Stories Panel Discussions, on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 11:00 AM (EST) & 4:00 PM (Monrovia).  

The Host for the event is Honorable Cynthia L. Blandford, President and Board Chair, University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) and Honorary Consul Republic of Liberia, Georgia. Moderators include Dr. Cheryl Davenport Dozier, President Emeritus, Savannah State University and UCL Board Member along with Dr. Saki  T. Golafale, Assistant Professor Chemistry, Kennesaw State University and UCL Board Member and Scholar.   

The goal of this CONNECT LIBERIA Africa Webinar is to identify new and innovative ways to collaborate and identify how the UCL and the broader community can help buttress Liberia’s efforts for enhanced and improved teaching and learning in the current and post-COVID-19 environment through e-Learning and other technology transfer strategies. 

The High-Panel e-Learning guests include:

  • Reverend Dr. Julius S. Nelson, Jr., President, University of Liberia
  • Dr. George T. French, Jr., President, Clark Atlanta University
  • Dr. Susan Ogletree, Director, Center for Evaluation and Research Services, Georgia State University
  • Dr. Michael L. Best, Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Tech
  • Dr. Layli Maparyan, Executive Director, Wellesley Center for Women
In addition, H.E. Professor Ansu D.  Sonii, Sr., Minister of Education, Republic of Liberia has been invited to deliver the Keynote Address on e-Learning in Liberia. H.E. George S.W. Patten, Sr., Liberia’s Ambassador to USA, Embassy Republic of Liberia, Washington, D.C., will bring Special Remarks. UCL Scholars from the various educational institutions will also join us for a UCL Student Success Panel to discuss their success stories, their journey and to find out “Where Are They Now!”
Please join us for this informative session!
DETAILS
DATE: Wednesday, December 9, 2020
TIME: 11:00 AM (EST) & 4:00 PM (Monrovia)
COST: Free with registration
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Cuttington University Meet and Greet with UCL

February 15, 2020
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In January 2020, University Consortium for Liberia (UCL)  President & CEO, Cynthia Blandford visited Cuttington University and met with President Dr. Herman Browne, Dr. Charles Ford, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Ms. Precious M. Marshall-Feury, Associate Vice President. This meeting was to discuss a new educational partnership between the UCL in Atlanta, Georgia  and Cuttington University to provide Faculty and Student Exchange, Study Abroad and Experiential Learning.

Cuttington University is the newest member of the UCL making 18 Institutional Partners. Honorary Consul Blandford serves as President and Board Chair of the UCL.

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UCL Application Coming Soon

February 3, 2020
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The University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) will be announcing the opening of submissions for the 2020 UCL Higher Education Academic Scholarship soon. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have delayed the launch of the scholarship application window but will be announcing the date soon.

The UCL Scholarship program is open to Liberian students and/or students of Liberian descent pursuing a post-secondary education at a U.S. College or University.

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