Ijahnae Robinson to Receive Catherine McAuley Award at Baccalaureate Mass

Ijahnae Corren Robinson ’25 will receive the Catherine McAuley Award at Baccalaureate Mass on Friday, May 16 and will graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Psychology on Saturday, May 17. The Catherine McAuley Award is presented to a graduate dedicated to service, Christian values, and generosity, following the personal mission of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, who dedicated her life to service.

Ijahnae exhibited the spirit of Mercy and Catherine McAuley throughout her time at GMercyU. She served as the Funding Treasurer for the Student Government Association, where she maintained the funds for several clubs/organizations and helped the Purchasing Treasurer with other budgetary matters. As the Treasurer of Open Jam Club, Ijahnae tracked budgetary costs for the club. She was also the President of the Public Health Club, where she helped organize events on campus that spread awareness for how public health impacts the world, including the Public Health Fair during National Public Health Week. As Vice President of the Black Student Union, Ijahnae ran member meetings and helped put together events bringing awareness to the campus community about social justice. Ijahnae also served as the Secretary of the Voices of Gwynedd, where she kept record of all club information and took minutes for officer meetings. As a Resident Assistant, Ijahnae enforced residence hall policies and regulations to ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of all residents. She also planned and facilitated community-building activities, programs, and events for her residents to promote a sense of belonging and connection. Ijahnae also served as a resource and mentor to residents, providing guidance, support, and referrals to campus resources when needed. Ijahnae was recently inducted into the National Society of Leadership Success.

In addition to her leadership roles, Ijahnae was a volunteer at Cradles to Crayons and The Bean Bag Food Program during her Resident Assistant training. She also had the pleasure of participating in the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice in Washington, DC, where she listened to keynote speakers, attended breakout sessions, and advocated on Capitol Hill. As a Public Health major, Ijahnae traveled with classmates to Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica for a week-long service trip. During the trip, Ijahnae cared for adolescents with cerebral palsy and taught young mothers and adolescents with HIV about healthy relationships, mental health, and sexual assault.

Ijahnae completed an internship in GMercyU’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office under the direction of Tatiana Diaz. She assisted in implementing DEI programs, initiatives, and training sessions to increase awareness, understanding, and inclusivity across campus. She completed a secondary internship at the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health, where she was responsible for conducting data analysis on mental health and crisis data from Montgomery County and the surrounding communities. Ijahnae created spreadsheets on her findings and an overview of her data analysis to be considered for new initiatives, projects, and research.

Ijahnae plans to be a Graduate Resident Director at Villanova University while obtaining her Master of Science in Environmental Science following graduation.