Thank you for your interest in the Maxie Collier Scholars Program at Coppin State University. The Program has a strong legacy of preparing undergraduate Scholars for professional careers in the field of public behavioral health services.

Application Packet

Please complete and include the following documents in your application packet: 

• Application 
• Personal Statement: Responses to three questions on application 
• Signed applicants’ agreement included in application 
• Proof of Maryland residency 
• Three submissions addressing your strengths and why you should be selected as a Scholar. Two submissions from CSU professors and one submission from a community person (examples: supervisor, clergy member, volunteer coordinator ). Submissions are due by March 17, 2021 and may be submitted to Maxie Collier Scholars Program Recommendation Form.

Submit Your Application Packet 

Applications may be submitted in person or by email. Please submit the complete application packet to: 

• Email: Email your application packet to MaxieCollierScholarsProgram@coppin.edu 
• In Person: Drop your application off in room 522 of the Health and Human Services Building (HHSB) 

Important Dates 

Please be reminded of the following important dates: 

• January 20, 2021 - Applications available 
• March 17, 2021 - Deadline to submit completed Applications and Recommendations
• April 7, 2021 - Interviews for Applicants 

Please feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,

Julie Manley, MCSP Program Coordinator

• From the State of Maryland 
• Officially enrolled as a Coppin State University undergraduate student
• Have a minimum of 1 year remaining as an undergraduate student at CSU
• 3.0 minimum GPA preferred
• Declared major in criminal justice, natural sciences, nursing, psychology, or social work
• Commitment to pursue a behavioral health career in the State of Maryland
• Completed Application to include a required personal statement
• High rating in a required personal interview
• Three letters of support from recommended sources
• Official college transcript

Completed applications should be returned to:

Maxie Collier Scholars Program Coordinator
Coppin State University
2500 W. North Avenue, HHSB Room #523 or 339
Baltimore, MD 21216

Graduation Requirements

The Mental Health Seminar HEED 105 is a graduation requirement for Maxie Collier Scholars.

Participating Departments

In order to participate in the Maxie Collier program students must declare a major in the following departments/schools:

• Helene Fuld School of Nursing
• Psychology, Counseling & Behavioral Health
• Department of Criminal Justice
• Department of Natural Sciences
• Department of Social Work

Honoring the name of a prominent practitioner, Dr. Maxie T. Collier, lends prestige and honor to a scholars program designed to increase the number of minority professionals in the field of Mental Health.

Maxie Collier graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee with a degree in psychology in 1967. He graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1977. Dr. Collier began his private practice in 1980 where he offered his expertise in the areas of family therapy, individual psychodynamic therapy, and forensic psychiatry. In 1987, Dr. Collier became the Chief of Psychiatry for the Johns Hopkins Health Plan where he was responsible for the management and supervision of mental health services including outpatient treatment, inpatient admission, and rehabilitative services.

Dr. Collier sat on numerous boards and committees, including the Baltimore City Medical Society Board of Directors, Baltimore Urban League Executive Board, Congressman Benjamin Cardin's Health Advisory Committee, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine Admissions Committee.

In addition to his many professional activities, Dr. Collier was an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Collier created "The Baltimore Project," a novel prenatal care project aimed at reducing infant mortality and future unwanted pregnancies. He established the Baltimore City Health Consortium, which acts as a resource for health care partnerships, and the Health Expo intended to recruit high school juniors and seniors into the field of health. Dr. Collier also created an office of Minority Health to conduct research and education and to orient Baltimore Health Department services to better serve minorities. From 1987 to 1990, Dr. Collier served as the Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, a cabinet level appointee of the Mayor.

Prior to his unexpected death in April of 1994, Dr. Maxie T. Collier was President of Spectrum Development Services, Inc. and in addition provided consultative services for the Green Spring Mental Health Services, Inc.

Purpose of the Maxie Collier Program

The Maxie Collier Scholars Program is a behavioral health workforce development program for Coppin State University undergraduate students who reside in the State of Maryland. The purpose of the Maxie Collier Scholars Program is to prepare promising undergraduate students at Coppin State University for completion of undergraduate school requirements and placement in professional behavioral health career positions in the State of Maryland.

More specifically, the charge is to prepare Coppin State University students from the fields of Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Natural Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, and Social Work, with a recommended minimum of two years remaining for completion of undergraduate work, who will be well trained and available to serve children, adolescents and their families in the Baltimore Metropolitan area.

The Program is funded by the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration. Partners of the Program include the Department of Health, the Behavioral Health Administration, Coppin State University, University of Maryland at Baltimore, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Behavioral Health Systems, Baltimore, and the Black Mental Health Alliance.

Program Goals

The goal of the Maxie Collier Scholars Program is to educate and recruit more African-American professionals into professional behavioral health career positions in the State of Maryland.

Maxie Collier Scholars receive an enriched, career focused, academic background; financial support; graduate school preparation; internship experience; access to a network of career placement resources; and financial resources which encourage and support their educational advancement.

Program Elements

• Behavioral Health Seminar (Emerging Issues in Behavioral Health and Well Being)
• Internships
• Stipends
• Graduate School Mentors
• Individual Advisement
• Coppin Undergraduate Faculty Advisors
• Enrichment Activities

The program is expected to promote college-wide interest in behavioral health issues at CSU. It is also expected to increase community awareness of resources to assist people who are interested in a career in the field of behavioral health.

The project is named for the late Dr. Maxie T. Collier, former Baltimore City Commissioner of Health and practicing psychiatrist.

Apply by March 13, 2024

Please complete and include the following documents in your application packet:

• Application Form (pdf)
• Program Application
• Personal Statement: Responses to three questions on application
• Signed applicants’ agreement included in application
• Proof from the State of Maryland (Driver's License, Utility Bill; Real ID)
• Online Recommendation Form: Three submissions addressing your strengths and why you should be selected as a Scholar (TWO submissions from CSU professors and ONE submission from a community person, ex: supervisor, clergy member, volunteer coordinator)

Submit Your Application Packet

Applications may be submitted in person or by email. Please submit the complete application packet to:

• Email: Email your application packet to MaxieCollierScholarsProgram@coppin.edu
• In Person: Drop your application off in the Health and Human Services Building (HHSB) Room 522.

Eligible Applicants will be invited for interviews.