When Kennedy Messado was a first-year student at Clark, she knew little about the Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise (MIPE). Then she became friends with several students who were MIPE Fellows, including Biko Gayman ’21, MHS ’22, who called the Institute “the house of ideas.”
Messado soon found herself in the MIPE office in Gates House, on the corner of Clifton and Charlotte streets, discussing a possible immersion trip to Ghana. She quickly learned that Gayman’s nickname for the Institute was more than just a term of endearment.
“This is where ideas come to life,” she says.
Messado became a MIPE Fellow in her sophomore year and held the position throughout her time on campus. In that role, she has helped develop and implement a social-emotional learning curriculum as part of Southbridge CARES (Coordinated Academic Resiliency and Emotional Success), a partnership with the Southbridge Public Schools supported by a grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts.
Messado was one of three fellows who visited weekly with 9th-grade students at Southbridge High School throughout the 2024–25 school year. They introduced students to MAAX (Maximizing Adolescent Academic eXcellence), a program designed to help middle school and high school students learn about themselves, foster good academic relationships, and clarify their college and post-educational goals.
“Being a MIPE Fellow and working on the MAAX program has been especially meaningful — it gave me the chance to engage directly with students in the community and apply classroom learning in real-world settings,” says Messado, who is a psychology major with a minor in sociology and a concentration in conflict studies. She was inducted into Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology.
During her time at Clark, she has also worked with Advocates for Opportunity and participated in community engagement initiatives, and helped organize the trip to Ghana in 2023.
This fall, Messado will begin pursuing a master’s in global sustainability policy and management at Brandeis University. “I’m excited to deepen my understanding of international policy and development, and to explore actionable solutions for global equity and environmental sustainability,” she says.
“Clark has shaped my academic journey, personal growth, and commitment to justice-oriented work — I’m incredibly grateful for the mentorship and opportunities I’ve received here.”
