To many, an interaction with former U.S. President Bill Clinton would be the highlight of attending an academic and leadership conference focused on developing innovative solutions to the world’s pressing challenges.
That’s why Pipa Pipa’s response about meeting Clinton while attending the three-day event in Nashville, Tennessee is unique.
“It was 20 seconds that I’ll always remember because it’s not every day that you get to meet and talk to a president,” said Pipa. “But the more exciting takeaway is the inspiration that I feel to make a difference in my community and the world based on what I learned and what I have a passion for.”
Pipa was one of four Mason students earning an invitation, selected from thousands of applicants, to pitch ideas and brainstorm how to positively impact society for the future at the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU)in March. The other Mason students were Aadam Dirie, Liam Keen and Ethan Mercado. Founded in 2007, the CGIU offers training, mentorship and leadership tracks to help develop skills for the next generation of difference makers.
Pipa, a rising criminology, law and society major who expects to graduate from Mason in May 2024, went to the conference intent on finding a way to abolish the cash bail system in the nation’s jails. After engaging with peers, they pivoted and emerged with an even bigger plan to address the vital need to help explain public policy to create change.
Pipa is now in the process of creating Justice – a non-profit organization that educates people about legislation and judicial rulings that affect underserved communities and minority populations. They are looking toward a future that now includes law or graduate school in order to establish a career in public service.
Pipa said they owe that drive to Mason faculty who encouraged them to apply for the conference and to University Life leadership, who helped make it financially possible. The learning experience at Mason was also a critical component in helping shape goals to improve the lives of others.
“Mason has helped me turn thought into action,” Pipa said. “I’ve been able to tailor my degree and take classes for everything I want to do to eliminate the disadvantages and inequity that so many people experience.”
Meanwhile, Liam Keen, who is a sociology major, and Ethan Mercado, a criminology graduate, brought their push to destigmatize and prioritize men’s mental health to the conference. The pair founded the Advancement of Men’s Mental Health club at Mason and have grown the group to include more than 50 members in under a semester.
“The patriarchy puts a lot of pressure on men to not express their feelings, share emotions, and ask for help. Mens’ feelings are valid, and they shouldn’t have to always be seen as self-sufficient and self-reliant,” Keen said. “There is a need to remove barriers and provide solutions.”
Keen felt that the conference could have benefitted from more human-centered advancements, a culture they’ve seen grow at Mason. Many scholars there were focused on entrepreneurial and business ideas. Still, Keen was thankful for the opportunity to make connections and learn at the conference thanks to the assistance from University Life.
“It helped to observe how others are doing things and how we might do things differently,” Keen said. “It was a chance to take this general idea we have, bring it into focus, and then take it to the next level.”