Presidential Fellows

ELLEN WENDERS STOWE-2016 Scholar
major & degree: Health Promotion, Education and
Behavior, Ph.D.
hometown: Milwaukee, WI
contact: e.w.stowe@gmail.com
What brought you to USC?: In addition to the opportunity to study at
the Arnold School of Public Health, I selected USC to join Dr. Andrew
Kaczynski’s Built Environment and Community Health (BEACH) Lab.
My interests align perfectly with the studies and goals of the lab, and
I look forward to learning from and contributing to the meaningful
research it produces.
What do you hope to accomplish while you pursue your degree?:While earning my degree, I hope not
only to develop and refine my skills as a researcher and academic but also to create lasting relationships
with other students and faculty.
Fun fact about yourself: My dogs, Indiana and McCoy, are named after two of my favorite franchises,
Indiana Jones and Star Trek, as I am a science fiction and fantasy enthusiast.
Research Key Words: built environment, parks, greenspace, physical activity, exercise, obesity, community
heath, mental health, health behavior, health promotion
RUFUS WOFFORD-2015 Scholar
major & degree: Counselor Education, Ph.D.
hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC
contact: wofforjr@email.sc.edu
What brought you to USC?: I grew up in South Carolina, but I was living
in Georgia in 2014 while looking at PhD programs in my field. USC has
a reputation for a great Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and
Supervision, and from my perspective was far better than any comparable
programs in Georgia.
What do you hope to accomplish while you pursue your degree?: Learn the ropes of academic research
and publishing. Conduct specific research on strengths and struggles of siblings of children born with
disabilities, especially ethnically diverse siblings, as applicable to the counseling field.
Fun fact about yourself: I enjoy competing in mustache contests.
Research Key Words: adjustment, disability, ethnicity, counseling, families, salutogenic effects, siblings,
strengths, struggles
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