F or Anne Elise Beals, service work was never a choice. Rather, it was the chance convergence of a lifetime of interests that lead her to being named a finalist for this year’s Truman Scholarship.

 “Being a psychology major,” she said, “and always analyzing the way that people think and why we interact socially the way that we do—it’s that mixed background, that liberal arts education, that’s helped me to combine my interests.”

Beals’ passion for working with LGBTQ+ youth to prevent homelessness and incarceration and her work for the Women’s Center led her to the attention of her philosophy professor, Dr. James Winchester, who suggested that she might be a good candidate for the Truman Scholarship.

None of this was in the plan. Beals credits the work of her non-biological Aunt Beth for inspiring her to pursue public service.

“We met her when I was two, and her daughters went to the same dance studio that I did,” Beals said. “She has her own circle of rehab centers for people who are recovering from addiction. Seeing her not only beat addiction in her lifetime but also help her daughter overcome it and help this whole network of people around her overcome their addictions was incredibly inspiring.”

Only 189 students, pulled from 126 institutions from across the nation, have been recognized as Truman finalists. The award recipient will receive a $30,000 scholarship for graduate school, and will become part of the larger network of Truman Scholarship alums, who are some of the highest achieving public servants in the world.

The scholarship was originally founded as a “living memorial” to the 33^rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, for those who exhibit excellence in education and public service. Since its inception, many of the nation’s most notable public figures have begun their careers as Truman Scholars.

Current Georgia Governor candidate Stacey Abrams (1994) among them, as well as former Director of Speechwriting for President Barack Obama Jon Favreau (2002) and Pulitzer Prize winner Marcia Chatelain (2000). Anne Elise Beals is also joined by several GC alumni who have also been named Truman Finalists; Kendyl Lewis (2020) and Dillon Johnstone (2016).

Winchester referred Beals to Anna Whiteside, the assistant director of the John E. Salstrom Honors College and National Scholarships coordinator, who helped guide Beals through the application process and conducted interviews to determine whether or not to nominate candidates.  

“Part of the Truman application is giving a policy proposal,” Beals said. “You have to identify an issue and explain how you think it should be fixed.”

Since the announcement of the finalists, Beals said life has been “crazy.” People who she never would have expected have been contacting and offering their congratulations.

“I went on the website and they have a list of all the finalists and the schools that they come from," she said. “A lot of them are from schools like Princeton, Yale, Harvard. I didn’t know that was going to be my competition.”

In addition to more mock interviews for the Truman Scholarship, she’s also gearing up to coordinate and run her second Bi+ Community Week March 21 – 24. She spoke in her application about the instruction from Women’s Center director Dr. Jennifer Graham and program coordinator Melissa Gerrior’s mentorship in running the event last semester and is excited to take on more of a leadership role this semester.

“There’s always more,” Beals said. “Melissa helped me to realize there’s always more that we can evaluate, and look at and ask, why does that happen?” 

Beals plans to obtain a Master’s of Social Work and a Master’s of Women’s and Gender Studies after graduation with long-term hopes of one day opening her own community center reminiscent of Hope Homes, the recovery network that her aunt runs. The center would serve as a one-stop-shop for health care, access to food, shelter, water, showers, basic needs, as well as community programming, and above all, a sense of support and belonging.