MACON, Ga. — Mercer University rising senior Latoya Bartley was recently awarded the Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service scholarship. The program recognizes 20 exceptional liberal arts and sciences students with a demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in local, state and federal government.
“I am incredibly passionate about my decision to pursue a career in health justice, so I am grateful that this scholarship will facilitate my journey,” said Bartley. “I am also thankful to my amazing professors and overall campus community for helping me begin to actualize my potential.”
Chosen from more than 700 rising college juniors and senior applicants attending Phi Beta Kappa chapter institutions across the nation, the 2025 Key into Public Service Scholars will receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship and participate in an educational conference in Washington, D.C. The program is designed to provide the scholars with training, mentorship and opportunities for reflection on pathways to active citizenship.
As a junior, Bartley was also chosen for the coveted Public Policy and International Affairs summer program at Harvard University and selected as a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, which is one of the most prestigious scholarships for juniors who want a career in public service.
“Going through the (Truman Scholarship application) process was deeply personal for me because it showed me that I have what it takes to excel in higher education,” said Bartley. “Up until this point, I’ve had a hard time accepting the fact that I belong in these kinds of spaces. The process was challenging, but I grew so much.
Dr. Amy Nichols-Belo, associate professor of global health studies and anthropology and chair of international and global studies, described Bartley as an outstanding thinker and researcher who is using her studies in anthropology and history as a bridge to a career in public policy.
“She is particularly passionate about improving Black maternal health outcomes by working on structural factors,” said Dr. Nichols-Belo. “She will spend the summer completing a Mercer on Mission program in Uganda and attending the highly selective Harvard Kennedy School of Government PPIA Junior Institute. Latoya is slated for great things, and I look forward to following her career.”
From Springfield, Bartley is a history and anthropology double-major with a global health studies minor. She aspires to devote her career to improving health outcomes for Black Americans, particularly Black mothers, through law and policy. After graduation, she plans to pursue a Juris Doctor and embark on a career as an attorney and policymaker.
At Mercer, Bartley is president of the National Council of Negro Women chapter, a member of the University Honors Program, Phi Alpha Theta history honor society, Phi Eta Sigma honor society and the Association for Global Health. She is also involved in the minority mentor program, is an intern for the history department and a health equity intern at the Georgia Department of Public Health district office in Macon.
About The Phi Beta Kappa Society
Founded on Dec. 5, 1776, The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the nation’s most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at over 290 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 50 alumni associations, and over 700,000 members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 150 Nobel Laureates. The mission of The Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. For more information, visit www.pbk.org.
