AMU Congratulates Dr. Sharon L. Burton, PhD, DBA, MBA, CCMP

Chief Learning, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Compliance Officer On the Achievement of her 2nd Doctorate!

American Meridian University leadership, faculty and staff celebrate the successful defense by Dr. by Sharon L. Burton, ( PhD, DBA, MBA, MLSSBB, CCMP, SWP } of her doctoral exegisis. She is a member of the Board of Trustees and currently serves as the Chief Learning, Diversity and Compliance Officer. Dr. Burton already has a Doctor of Business Administration in Quality Systems Management. She adds a PhD in Cybersecurity Leadership from Capitol Technology University in Laurel, MD. Her exegesis is entitled, Cybersecurity Leadership from a Telemedicine/Telehealth Knowledge and Organizational Development Examination. As she continues to cherish the fruits of her hard work, we at AMU wish her all the best. Keep dreaming novel dreams, go aboard with who you are, continue to encircle life with passion, and continue to reach for the stars. Her new title will be Chief Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Compliance Officer.

Welcome, President Bonney!

AMU Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Dr. R. Scott Bonney has accepted the role of President. Dr. Bonney is a graduate of AMU DBA and Post-Doctoral programs and a long-time faculty member and friend with decades of leadership experience in a wide variety of industries, including education and training, manufacturing, services, healthcare and government. We look forward to continuing to work with him in his new and expanded role!

AMU Holds Alumni Association Reception and Awards Ceremony

AMU Holds Alumni Association
Reception and Awards Ceremony

Washington, DC., June 9, 2018 –American Meridian University (AMU) Dr. James N. Phillips Jr, receives the President’s Medallion award from Dr. Sharon L. Burton, Chief Learning Officer, for outstanding achievement in his pro bono consulting and significant contributions to AMU at an Alumni Reception and Awards Presentation at the Boca Raton Hilton in Boca Raton, FL.

Upon receiving his award, Dr. Phillips gave a heartfelt speech crediting the AMU Doctor of Business Administration program for helping him “make a better life” by publishing articles and a book related to his career. Dr. Phillips thanked his wife for her support through his studies, and his AMU faculty and Advisor for encouraging and supporting his effort to receive a doctorate.

The evening also featured networking opportunities for AMU alumni, faculty, and friends from the Florida area.  Dr. Jay Gabrelcik, President of the AMU Alumni Association, spoke to the crowd about the activities of the Alumni Association, including the creation of a new mentoring program and future activities, and Dr. Burton spoke about the future of the University, including the fact that the doctoral program enrollment was one of the largest in school history.

Dr. Francis Grimm, Vice President of the Alumni Association, said “The event was heartwarming and a pleasure to attend. My wife is also an AMU doctoral graduate and we welcome these gatherings as if they were family affairs.”

About The American Meridian University, the University of Quality Systems Management
The American Meridian University is the nation’s only University whose programs center around the principles and best practices of quality systems management. It is uniquely positioned in the higher education community– offering bachelors, masters, and doctorate level programs focused on actual ROI from Projects completed at student employers or sponsors. For more information about AMU, visit www.AMU-edu.org.

Congratulations Graduates

AMU celebrated its 5th Annual Commencement Week-end on June 8-9 with the AMU Annual Conference, Student and Graduate Projects with quantifiable results, a Poster/Storyboard session and Graduation. Graduation included degree and certificate awards, guest remarks by US and International students, heartfelt welcome to NGS Associate Alumni, and award of Honorary Doctorates. Credentials awarded include Honorary Doctorates, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Doctorates. Masters degrees, Bachelor degrees, as well as Certifications in Lean Six Sigma Green Belts, Black Belts and Master Black Belts. Faculty and Administrators from US and international Universities were in attendance and introduced speakers.

AMU Annual Conference Includes Quality Management Project Storyboards

AMU’s Annual Quality Management Conference is a report out by Individuals and Teams of the quantifiable financial savings achieved by student projects. Storyboards accompany the Quality Management degree and certification-related projects and verify the quantifiable financial results through the display of significant data, statistics and quality management tools. Storyboards follow the DMAIC process (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) and include tools such as Ishikawa diagrams, radar charts, customer requirement matrices, and process and value-stream maps.

Keynote Speaker: Esteemed Educator and Humanitarian

President Dr. Hiam Sakr, Foundress of American University of Science and Technology (Lebanon) delivered the keynote address at the American Meridian University graduation. Dr. Sakr is an educational entrepreneur noted for her humanitarian commitment to providing educational access for diverse populations. Dr. Sakr received the Honorary Doctorate from American Meridian University for her lifetime achievements. Dr. Sakr’s address provided an intellectual history of education and the influence of Lebanese and Middle Eastern contributors throughout the centuries. Dr. Sakr is pictured here congratulated by professional colleagues, family and friends after her address. Also receiving Honorary Doctorates were Dr. Antoun Moussa who has led World Bank projects which brought technology and improved lives to diverse global populations, and Reverend Dr. Fadi Dagher who has provided spiritual comfort and safe havens to refugees throughout the world.

AMU Congratulates “The Gabrelcik 5!”

AMU is proud to announce the final formal recognition by the State of Texas Adoption Agency yesterday (Friday, June 22) of “ The Gabrelcik 5”— Dr. Jay Gabrelcik, Mrs. Lisa Gabrelcik and their three treasures. After many years of selflessly providing homes and safety to many children, Jay and Lisa started a special journey just about one year ago when they took in the two twin boys and their slightly older sister (all in one night!!!)! As of yesterday, the adoption finally came through! Feel free to send good wishes to Jay and Lisa Gabrelcik  jgabrelcik@sbcglobal.net

American Meridian University Contributes to American Society for Quality (ASQ)

The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is America’s oldest Society devoted to Quality. ASQ also manages the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award The Quality and OR Research Group (QOR) policy according to leader Mohammad Hossein Zavvar Sabegh is to share “posts about the latest progresses in Quality, Excellence, Productivity and Operational Research fields. Additionally, the group will cover all important events, conferences, related papers, books, booklets, best practices, reports and possible job vacancies or contractual projects”. American Meridian University American Meridian University announces that it has been accepted to contribute to the posts of the group and assist in generating exchange of ideas.

Families and Friends Celebrate Graduates’ Success

AMU recognizes the importance of family and friends in graduates’ success. 2018 Graduate Dr. Richard Scott Bonney’s family help AMU faculty place the doctoral hood on Dr. Bonney. The Bonney family also celebrated the Bachelor Degree of their daughter at the same graduation shown to the right wearing the traditional black Bachelor robe.

AMU Honorary Doctorates Awarded to Leading Figures in Higher Education, Development and Humanitarian Endeavors.

American Meridian University proudly announces the recipients of AMU Honorary Doctorates for the year 2018. All three recipients have gained international esteem for measurable achievements in their chosen fields. Most importantly, they have time and again demonstrated a higher purpose in their work – unselfishly improving the lives of others through service and education.

Mr. Antoun Moussa, a graduate of the American University in Washington D.C., served the World Bank for 43 years involved in projects which he describes as “finding common purpose in public projects so that private sector funding could help satisfy community needs.” He led initiatives in over 50 countries, spanning all continents, in Information Technology, online education, institutional reforms and strategic management. Finance for such projects ranged from 20 million to 2 billion US dollars.

His accomplishments included the launch and establishment of – “telephone boutiques” for connecting the “last mile” population, – the first demonstration of “Telemedicine” in the Middle East, the “Bank on wheels”, the “Regional Education Centers”, the “Info Shops”, and the “Distant Learning mechanisms” for farmers in Asia and Africa.

Mr. Moussa’s contributions in the fields of technology, education, and health services made a positive difference in the fight against poverty and helped in raising the living conditions of the inhabitants.

Rev. Fadi Dagher, a graduate of the Near East School of Theology, is a pastor, a church leader, a dedicated humanitarian and a devout educational supporter. He is the Trust and Faith keeper of the early American Presbyterian missionaries who founded two leading American universities in Lebanon over a century and half ago.

Rev. Dagher is the General Secretary of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon, Founder and Director of Hemlin Hospital for the elderly, a member of the Supreme Council of the Evangelical Churches in Syria and Lebanon, Executive Committee Member of the Middle East Council of Churches, and Chairman of the Near East School of Theology. He served as the President of the Association of the 30-strong Evangelical Schools in Lebanon, and as a special status member of the Board of Trustees of the Lebanese American University.

Rev. Dagher’s contributions in promoting, managing and supporting American type educational institutions in Lebanon and Syria, both at the K-12 and university levels are both significant and extensive.

Mrs. Hiam Sakr, a graduate of the American University of Beirut, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, visionary and innovative educational leader. She is Founder and President of the American University of Science & Technology (AUST) located in Lebanon. She is also the Founder and President of the American Lebanese Language Centers in Lebanon, the first network of language centers in Lebanon.

President Sakr’s professional life is notable for the diverse accomplishments on which she embarked with an ever-expanding vision. She started her career as a teacher of the English language and became a consultant to UNESCO on English language teaching in diverse Arab countries. She next established a chain of language centers throughout Lebanon. Her entrepreneurial decision derived from a humanitarian wish: to make English language acquisition available to all Lebanese citizens. It was the same humanitarian impulse- this time to make university education accessible to all young men and women at a reasonable cost— that led her to establish AUST.

Though she has never sought the limelight, international leaders have noticed and awarded her work: She was decorated by the President of the Republic of Lebanon, recognized by NGOs in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, honored by social, governmental, and women’s organizations for her support of education in the Middle East, and decorated by the Bulgarian government for providing subsidized access to education to youth who could otherwise not afford it.

Dr. Georges Nicolas, the Chairman of the AMU Board of Trustees, praised the three recipients. “The entire AMU Community congratulates the esteemed recipients for their significant achievements. All three recipients of the honorary doctorates do honor to AMU by their sustained innovation, vision, and quantifiable improvements. They leave a legacy which shall endure at AMU”.