Catherine Dinitra White, a graduate student in the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Department of Immunology and Microbiology, has been named the 2001 recipient of the university’s Special Project Leadership Award. The award, given annually by the WSU’s student center and program activities office, acknowledges outstanding student commitment to a specific project or program.

White, a fifth-year doctoral student in microbiology, was recognized for her assistance in updating and expanding the school’s graduate student recruitment efforts. In particular, White played a leading role in the development of the school’s first ever CD-ROM digital viewbook.

According to Kenneth Palmer, PhD, School of Medicine assistant dean for graduate programs, White’s nomination for the award practically wrote itself.

“The practice of school-wide, graduatestudent recruiting represents a new direction for us,” Dr. Palmer said. “Dinitra has been a valuable part of our team as we have felt our way through the process. She continues to play a major role in helping spread the word about opportunities in graduate science education at the School of Medicine.”

White, who was also active in high school in her native Charlotte, N.C., and as an undergraduate student at Johnson C. Smith University, said one of the biggest keys to being a student leader is taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves. She also credited Dr. Palmer and her advisor, Jeffery Hobden, PhD, assistant professor of immunology and microbiology, with making it possible for her to get involved in the WSU recruitment effort in the first place.

“When Dr. Palmer came to the school’s graduate students two years ago and asked us what we thought was good and bad about the program, I expressed an interest in helping recruit more quality students,” White said. “A few weeks later, he invited me to attend a recruitment committee meeting. I want more good students, especially minority students, to have the wonderful experiences I’ve had here.”