Walden University Mission and Vision Statements Relate

¶ … Walden University mission and vision statements relate directly to the skills and experiences needed for success in the Walden Masters of Clinical Research Administration program. The university has pledged in its mission statement to provide "a diverse community of career professionals with the opportunity to transform themselves as scholar-practitioners so that they can effect positive social change." The university has a vision of a very different learning community where the practical knowledge that is judged worthy of scholarly research can be applied by its graduates to immediate solutions of critical societal challenges.

The university's translates directly into the Master of Science in Clinical Research Administration program that I hope will prepare me for the key roles that I will have in managing and monitoring life-changing clinical research phases and processes. According to my understanding, the program focuses on modern technologies, safe methods for testing and protecting human subjects.

It should then translate into the basic professional knowledge that will propel me into the sea of a career.

To me personally and philosophically, I am here because of my dedication to the field as a vocation and a craft. I am not just here on the earth to have a job. Just money does not appeal to me as being enough to justify existence. While it would be nice to make a comfortable living, I crave something more that is less material. Rather, I am here to make a humanitarian difference in the lives of people and hopefully that difference will be in a positive direction. This relates to my idealistic side, a side that would not be satisfied working in a conventional business environment. Hopefully, a better management of clinical research programs will better manage scarce resources that can then be used to further research and to improve the quality of life.

However, specialized learning is necessary to pursue this path. The path to this career has a milestone that is marked with the achievement of an advanced degree that will help me to pursue the above career and personal life goals. The degree is necessary in my journey to become as a scholar-practitioner who not only has a job and makes a mentally stimulating living, but who further makes the world a better place by affecting positive social change that will materially increase the quality of human life for people in and out of the studies I hope to manage.

One may ask what specific transformations and professional goals do I wish to achieve for myself and society with an advanced degree? It is really akin to the professional goals of that an individual doctor or nurse would have if they had the rank or the influence to propel research in a given direction. I foresee three aspects of these goals that will impact on upon my role as a developing scholar-practitioner. The first of these goals will be to better help others with their medical needs in under-served parts of the world. Secondly, I wish to see that the quality of the clinical research is upgraded for people in these parts of the world. Thirdly, I wish to see higher moral standards in clinical research. Unfortunately, in modern medical research, it seems as though the scholarly community sees human genetics as simply consisting of a group of building blocks that can be switched around at will, like Lego toys. Humans deserve more dignity in the pursuit of research on human subjects.

The Walden environment exemplifies these goals. It is therefore logical that I would pursue an advanced degree from such a higher institution. As the child of a doctor and after having grown up in Liberia, I am sure that the admission committee members will understand my choice. Very simply, the world greatly needs innovative, positive and practical scientific advancement, advancements that I know with certainty I can help provide this. After this program, I plan to undertake a Ph.D. before working as a Clinical Research Administrator. Clearly, I am sure that the members of your committee will understand my enthusiasm for work where I can help people in a systematic way that I have not been able to accomplish solely through volunteer work.