National
University’s
Alumni
Magazine
National University
Alumni are Everywhere
Six award winners,
35 more to watch
The School of Media
and Communication
Podcasting, digital cinema and more
Thriving on Peak
Performance
E-magazine and TV show
put viewers in the zone
June
2006
Editor in Chief
Maggie Watkins
Editors
Hoyt Smith
David Neville
Art Director
Keith Kanzel
Designer
John Fretz
Printing Manager
Robin Long
Photographer
Mark Dastrup
Copy Editors
Lisa Angerame
David Neville
Sarah Weekly
Contributing Writers
Hoyt Smith
David Neville
Vision Magazine
National University Alumni Magazine
Issue No. 8
Published by National University
11355 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla,CA 92037-1011
www.nu.edu
For story ideas, please call the Alumni Relations Department at (858) 642-8111.
VISION MAGAZINE
A message from
Chancellor Lee
This year, the number of men and women who have
graduated or earned a credential from National
University
will
surpass
the
100,000
mark.
Increasingly, National University alumni are
assuming positions of influence and authority across
the nation. As the number of alumni grows in both
prestige and prominence, you may be surprised by
the areas of your lives that are impacted by people
who share your connection to National.
A fellow alum may very well be
your city’s mayor, the principal of your
children’s school, chief of your local
police department, CEO of an important
company, executive director of a favorite
charitable organization, or even your
television newscaster.
In this issue of Vision, you will be
introduced to six distinguished alumni
who proudly represent you and National
University:
Mr. Rob Dean
CEO of Vista Hill Foundation
They are a richly
diverse group,
representing
many different
backgrounds
and disciplines
Ms. Marti Emerald
Investigative Reporter for KGTV Channel 10
Mr. Adolfo Gonzales
National City Chief of Police
Ms. Sammantha McDonald
Board Member, Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation
Mr. Jeff Olivero
Principal of Mira Mesa High School
Mr. Jerry Sanders
Mayor, City of San Diego
These alumni are a small but vital
sample of the men and women who have
earned an education at National University
over the past 35 years. They are a richly
diverse group, representing varying
backgrounds and walks of life. But they all
share one thing in common: they relied on
National University to help them pursue
their academic ambitions while working,
raising families, serving in the military, or
engaging in community service.
In addition to these six distinguished
men and women, and in honor of our 35th
anniversary, we also have highlighted 35
alumni to watch in the following pages.
National University takes great pride in
their outstanding achievements, as well as
in the continued success of every person
who has graced our classrooms.
Please enjoy.
VISION
National University’s Alumni Magazine
Contents
30
4
June
2006
News Briefs
A new campus, partnership, e-magazine and more.
8
Cover Story: National University Alumni are Everywhere
Meet the six recipients of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards.
22
The 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner
Photos from this year’s awards dinner.
24
2006 Alumni Survey Results
New data helps to define future alumni services and events.
26
The Institute for Wellness and Peak Performance
A remarkable new entity that may revolutionize health awareness.
30
The School of Media and Communication
Offering a comprehensive education in media and communication technologies.
34
Reaching Out to Alumni Online
National University helped established online learning. Now it’s leading the way in
online alumni relations.
38
35 Alumni to Watch
As National University marks its 35th anniversary, Vision highlights 35 outstanding alumni.
8
School of
Media and
Communication
Teaching modern storytellers
to harness the proliferation
and integration of technology
and innovation.
VISION MAGAZINE
Cover Story: National University
Alumni are Everywhere
We have more than 100,000 graduates and credential
completers and counting. How many do you see every day?
We recently honored six.
26
National University
Board
of Trustees
Institute for Wellness and
Peak Performance
Mr. John Bucher, Chair
President, John Bucher Real Estate Co.
Discovering and sharing ideas that lead to peak
performance in business, sports and fitness.
Mr. Gerald Czarnecki, Vice Chair
Chairman and CEO, Deltennium Corporation
Ms. Jeanne K. Connelly, Secretary
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Calpine Corporation
Ms. Stacy Allison
Professional Speaker, Author
35 Alumni
to Watch
in 2006
Mr. Felipe Becerra
Managing Partner, CIR Law Offices
(Creditor Iustus et Remedium, LLP)
Mr. Richard Chisholm
From an Indonesian
media mogul to a
Grammy-nominated
school teacher,
Vision offers
diverse profiles
in dedication,
determination,
and drive.
Managing Director, Banc of America Securities
Mr. John D. Collins
Partner, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
Mr. Robert Freelen
Vice President for External Affairs,
Dickinson College, Retired
Ms. Cheryl Kendrick
Community, National Volunteer
Ms. Jacqueline Townsend Konstanturos
CEO, Townsend Inc.
38
Dr. Donald Kripke
Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry,
School of Medicine, University of California San Diego
Dr. Jerry C. Lee (Ex-Officio)
Chancellor, National University System
No response 1.6%
President, National University
Ms. Jean Leonard
No 14.1%
Educational Consultant, JM Leonard & Associates
Mr. Carlos A. Rodriguez
Rodriguez & Company
Mr. Jay Stone
Yes 84.3%
Vice President, Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc.
Ms. Judith Sweet
Alumni
Survey
Results
Senior Vice President for Championships
and Education Services
National Collegiate Athletic Association
Mr. Thomas Topuzes
What is important?
We asked. You told us.
I would recommendNow
National
others action.
we’retotaking
If I had to do it over again, I would attend National
I would choose National to pursue another degree
I would return to National for Extended Learning
I am interested in Extended Learning opportunities online at National
No response
24
President and CEO, Thomas Topuzes & Associates, LLC
75.9 %Ms. Doreen Tyburski
66.1 %
44.8 %
41.9 %
30.8 %
8.8 %
President, Business Perspectives, Inc.
Mr. Michael Wilkes
CEO, Architects Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker
News briefs
4
VISION MAGAZINE
s
Introducing iTHRIVE:
an e-magazine about
peak performance
The National University Institute
for Wellness and Peak Performance
is introducing iTHRIVE, an electronic
magazine for individuals seeking to
achieve a state of peak performance in
their personal and professional lives. The
e-magazine is published six times a year.
iTHRIVE helps readers tap their inner
resources to reach an extraordinary
level of achievement. Each issue focuses
on three major categories: wellness; peak
performance as it relates to golf and other
sports; and organizational development.
Some of the topics covered in the
first edition of iTHRIVE included finding
work-life balance through wellness;
reaching “The Zone” on the golf course;
achieving peak performance in the
workplace; and how to boost your brain
power through a healthy diet.
For more information about iTHRIVE,
log on to http://iwpp.nusystem.org/.
National University partners
with ITV Channel 16
Earlier this year, National University
and the San Diego County Office of
Education announced an innovative
public/private partnership benefiting the
County’s educators and families, as well
as students in the University’s new School
of Media and Communication.
Under the partnership, National
University will underwrite current
programming on the County Office
of Education’s cable television station,
ITV Channel 16; produce original
programming for ITV on issues of health,
wellness, and peak performance; make a
one-time contribution to upgrade existing
equipment; and offer televised professional
development courses to educators in
San Diego County school districts.
The partnership will also provide
National University students in the School
of Media and Communication with
television production internships at ITV.
In addition, National University students
will have access to such areas as web
casting, online program development,
graphic arts, and computer technology.
San Diego 6 TV
program promotes
health to youth
They’re young, they’re active, and they’re
coming to a television screen near you.
Meet the San Diego 6. On this fastpaced, entertaining program airing on ITV
Channel 16, six students ages 9-12 will
introduce viewers to San Diego’s most
entertaining locales while stressing the
positive values of healthy lifestyles,
nutrition, and exercise.
The San Diego 6 will be visiting the
region’s many renowned golf courses,
expert-grown gardens, and famous
restaurants where chefs prepare delicious
and healthy meals. Other segments may
include appearences by well-known
athletes and coaches of local sports teams,
getting golf tips from a PGA pro, visiting
the San Diego Olympic Training Center,
or trips to one of the region’s museums.
The initial episodes of San Diego 6 are
under development and are scheduled to
air later this year. For more information,
visit www.sandiego6.com.
5
Engaging third
graders with
iPod technology
As many parents and K-12 teachers
have learned recently, there is an
innovative new way to reach today’s
youth: podcasting. As the popularity of
iPods and MP3 players has skyrocketed,
teachers have started to use podcasts as
a way of keeping students engaged.
National University is riding the newest
wave in education with The Healthy
Reader, fun and fast-paced weekly audio
podcasts aimed at third graders and
focusing on the importance of nutrition
and fitness.
The Healthy Reader podcasts are brief
three to seven minute episodes focusing on
health-related issues. Like the San Diego 6
television show being produced by
National University on ITV Channel 16,
The Healthy Reader stresses the importance
of eating right and staying active. Visit
www.sandiego6.com to learn more.
6
VISION MAGAZINE
A new campus
for students
in Los Angeles
National University has opened a new
state-of-the-art campus near Los Angeles
International Airport. In addition to hightech classrooms, the campus offers several
unique features, including a digital design
and production studio which caters to
students interested in cutting-edge film
industry technologies available through
National University’s new School of Media
and Communication.
It also has two laboratories, one for the
forensics programs and a second to help
train the nurses needed to re-supply the
state’s critical shortage of healthcare
professionals. The new location, located at
5245 Pacific Concourse Drive, offers onsite
and online programs, and will play a vital
role in serving the increasing higher
education needs of non-traditional students
throughout Los Angeles.
Alumni can
now request
transcripts online
National University’s
award-winning ways
“How can I obtain a copy of my
transcript?”
That is one of the most frequentlyasked questions by National University
alumni, and the answer has now been
simplified. All transcript requests at
National University are now handled by
the National Student Clearing House
(NSCH).
“This change has been made in an effort
to improve customer service to alumni,”
said National University Registrar James
Garrison. “Both alumni and students can
order their transcripts, make payments, and
view the status and progress of their
requests online.”
Information is available at the National
University alumni services web page, or
can be accessed directly at the NSCH
website at www.getmytranscript.com.
Over the years, National University
has received numerous awards for
accomplishments in areas ranging from
academic rigor to the quality of its
marketing and communications materials.
Last year, the University added to its
growing list of awards when the San Diego
Society for Human Resource Management
and the San Diego Union-Tribune
recognized National with a Workplace
Excellence Award for being one of the
region’s best places to work. It was the
second time in less than a year that the
University had received such an award.
Previously, National was recognized for
its commitment to employees when the
University received a Sacramento
Workplace Excellence Leader Award.
Other awards received by National
University in the past year include:
•
A President’s Award from the Sacramento
Black Chamber of Commerce
•
A Classroom of the Future Award
for Innovations in Education
•
A Women Together Angel Award for
“ongoing partnership, generosity and
commitment to helping homeless and
battered women and their children
in need.”
In 2005, National University was
invited to be one of six institutions of
higher education featured in the book
Quality and Performance Excellence in
Higher Education: Baldrige on Campus.
For more information about National
University’s awards, visit www.nu.edu/
About/NewsandEvents/Awards.html.
7
Our alumni are everywhere
“I’ve been everywhere, man”
The late Johnny Cash may not have been a National University graduate,
but lately it seems that he may very well have been singing about them.
8
VISION MAGAZINE
Indeed, with the number of graduates increasing by almost
4,600 this year, there will soon be more than 100,000 National
University alumni making their mark in business, education,
technology, healthcare, law enforcement, government, military,
media, and nonprofit organizations around the world.
Not only are there more National University alumni than
ever, but they are also assuming more high profile positions.
National University alumni are making their mark in visible
and highly challenging roles that are helping to redefine the
value and quality of our graduates.
Following are six profiles of people you may have heard about
but didn’t necessarily realize were fellow National University
alumni. These distinguished men and women were recognized
at a special event in April. You can view the photos from the
event on page 22. Additionally, you will find other prominent
alumni listed in Vision magazine’s list of “35 Alumni to Watch
in 2006.” For every one listed, there are certainly dozens more
we couldn’t profile in this issue. If you would like to recommend
an alum for future recognition, please contact the alumni relations
department at National University at (858) 642-8111.
9
Alumni are everyw
10
VISION MAGAZINE
where
Rob Dean
From depression to substance abuse, one in four Americans is
impacted by mental and psychological conditions each year.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 46
million people annually visit a doctor’s office seeking help for
a mental disorder. The good news is that with access to quality
professional care, the majority can be cured, treated, or learn
to manage their condition.
National University alumnus Rob Dean
has been promoting good mental health for
more than 25 years.
He started as a manager at the Vista Hill
Foundation’s Mesa Vista Hospital in 1979,
supervising a 15-bed inpatient and outpatient
chemical dependency program before
becoming the director of recreation therapy.
In 1986, he became an administrator at
Vista Hill’s Los Niños Education Center, a
multi-site facility for the developmentally
disabled. Two years later, he became a
member of the executive management
team at Mesa Vista Hospital.
Of course, managing an entire hospital
entails greater responsibility than directing
a 15-bed program. That is why Dean
pursued a Master of Arts in Management
from National University. It provided him
with the education he needed to match his
experience, without requiring him to leave
the workplace or put his career on hold.
“I was a full-time working adult, so
National University was a logical choice
for me,” says Dean, who completed his
degree in 1988, the same year he began
directing an entire healthcare system.
When Mesa Vista became a member of
Sharp HealthCare, he was named chief
operating officer, assuming administrative
responsibilities for all operational aspects
of San Diego’s largest, full-service
behavioral health facility. In 2000, Dean
was promoted to senior vice president of
operations at Vista Hill, overseeing clinical
and service operations for the nonprofit
organization. A year later, he assumed an
additional role as chief executive officer of
the Stein Education Center, a multi-site
facility providing special education and
training services to the developmentally
disabled. In 2004, he was named president
and chief operating officer of Vista Hill,
assuming responsibility for three divisions
and nine centers.
Thanks to the mental health services
provided by Vista Hill, children are
overcoming their behavioral problems and
increasing their school attendance. Teens
are decreasing their levels of anger and
building better relationships with their
parents while strengthening their selfesteem. Disabled adults are transitioning to
less restrictive levels of care as they learn
to participate at greater levels within the
community. And former substance abusers
are reuniting with their families and
contributing to society.
“I decided very early on that I would
commit myself to a field in which I could
make a difference,” says Dean.
Investing in his education helped Dean
rise to the top of his organization, and his
leadership has played a key role in Vista
Hill’s success. He serves as an inspiration
to others who aspire to excel in the field of
mental health, including current National
University students pursuing degrees in
management, psychology, nursing, or
healthcare administration.
11
Alumni are everyw
12
VISION MAGAZINE
where
Marti Emerald
From a 39 percent increase in reported telemarketing scams
to a 12 percent rise in Internet fraud, customer rip-offs are
increasing at an alarming rate, according to the National
Consumers League. Factor in bogus sweepstakes and
scholarships, as well as unscrupulous loan and credit card
offers, and losses across the nation last year totaled close to
$19 million.
As a consumer advocate, National
University alumna Marti Emerald has been
defending the public from con artists and
crooks for more than 20 years. Beginning
her broadcasting career in 1978 as a
freelance reporter for the Associated Press
Radio Network in Washington, D.C., she
later worked for radio stations throughout
the West Coast before settling in San
Diego as a reporter for KSDO radio.
In 1985, Emerald joined the broadcast
team at KGTV Channel 10 News in San
Diego. She has been at the station since
then, serving as an investigative reporter,
exposing scams and protecting consumers.
Emerald has become trusted nationally
for her role as a champion of the everyday
consumer. She is one of San Diego’s most
visible broadcasters and is actively
involved in various neighborhood groups.
Emerald’s professional dedication and
integrity have earned her more than 100
awards for journalistic excellence,
including recognition from the National
Press Club; four Golden Mike awards;
13 Emmy Awards; and induction into the
Silver Circle from the National Association
of Television Arts and Sciences.
She also has received accolades for her
community service, including recognition
as San Diego Woman of the Year from the
National Association of Women Business
Owners; a Living Legacy Award from the
Women’s International Center; a Better
Living Award from the San Diego
Healthcare Association; a Director’s Award
for Excellence from the Area Agency on
Aging; and an Indian Arrow Leadership
Award from the Barona, Sycuan and Viejas
tribes in recognition of support and
advocacy of Native American interests.
But to her, a job well done is its own
reward.
“I know at the end of each day, I’ve
accomplished something,” says Emerald.
“Not just for myself, but for somebody out
there who has turned to Channel 10 for help.”
Emerald earned a Bachelor of Science in
Liberal Studies from National University in
2005, completing her classes while
balancing her profession and family.
“I left college years ago to pursue my
career, and it always dogged me. It was
always something I wanted to finish,” says
Emerald, who now aspires to go to law school.
As an advocate of the average shopper,
Emerald has learned a lot about consumer
laws and regulations. Thanks to her
reports, consumers enjoy greater awareness
of unethical or illegal practices in the
marketplace, and numerous scam artists
have been exposed or brought to justice.
Additionally, through her efforts in the
community, she has helped various charitable
enterprises raise millions of dollars.
Emerald’s professional, personal and
academic achievements have also inspired
her 13-year-old daughter to continue her
education after high school.
Says Emerald, “Now she knows that
college isn’t an option. It’s something we
do, no matter how old we are.”
13
Alumni are everyw
14
VISION MAGAZINE
where
Adolfo Gonzales
National City is San Diego County’s second-oldest city, with a
wealth of heritage, ethnic diversity, and community pride.
However, more than 40 percent of the city’s 55,000 residents
are foreign-born, creating cultural and language barriers that
often hinder effective law enforcement.
As National City searched for a new
police chief in 2004, each applicant realized
the unique challenges that he or she would
face. An estimated 12 youth gangs operate
within the city’s approximately nine square
miles. To address crime at its roots, the new
chief would have to reach out in order to
help its citizens assimilate. The chief also
would have to engage in partnerships to
positively impact youth and steer them
toward responsible, productive lives.
National University alumnus Adolfo
Gonzales was selected from a pool of 27
applicants to serve in this role. Like many
of the citizens of National City, Chief
Gonzales moved to the United States when
he was a child. He grew up in San Diego
County’s South Bay region and has a
personal knowledge of the streets that he is
now charged with protecting.
Chief Gonzales joined the National City
Police Department with over 25 years of
law enforcement experience, starting as a
reserve officer in the San Diego Police
Department in 1978. A strong advocate
for community policing that embraces
partnerships, collaboration, problem
solving, crime prevention, and education,
he was hired full-time a year later.
A role model for lifelong learning,
Chief Gonzales continued his education
well beyond the police academy. In 1986,
he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Public Administration from National
University. He went on to pursue master’s
and doctoral degrees, and in 1996 was
recruited by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to serve as an executive
fellow. In 2001, SDPD named him
assistant chief of police.
“Education in law enforcement was
once viewed as a liability,” says Gonzales.
“Today, it sets the tone for my department.
Two out of five lieutenants are working on
their master’s degrees, and I have sergeants
working on their master’s.”
In National City, one of Chief
Gonzales’ first priorities was to address the
fact that no one in his radio control room
could speak Spanish or Tagalog (a
common Filipino dialect). So the chief
began hiring bilingual dispatchers. He was
also committed to recruiting new police
officers from National City or neighboring
communities. He wanted more men and
women who shared his background: firstgeneration Americans who grew up in the
area and had a vested interest in building a
better life for the people who live there.
“Community involvement is very
important to me. It always has been,”
emphasizes Gonzales. Consequently, he
has introduced young citizens to a
mentoring program called “San Diego
Teen Choice,” and has worked with local
car clubs to identify and promote positive
role models. He helped to establish
Pueblos Unidos, a faith-based coalition of
volunteers working at the grassroots level
to reduce violence in National City’s
neighborhoods. Gonzales also serves on
the Board of Governors for the Jackie
Robinson YMCA and truly enjoys the
positive impact of his community work.
“Some of my employees ask me,
‘Chief, how come every time we see you,
you’re always smiling?’ I tell them that
I’m smiling because I am excited about
coming to work every day.”
Apparently, it shows.
15
Alumni are everyw
16
VISION MAGAZINE
where
Sammantha McDonald
Breast cancer is the second-most common form of cancer and
the second-leading cause of cancer death among women.
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2006,
approximately 213,000 women in the United States will be
diagnosed with this invasive disease. Currently there are two
million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.
National University alumna Sammantha
McDonald has been leading the fight
against breast cancer for almost a decade.
She has survived her own diagnosis for
10 years, which coincides with the 10th
anniversary of the first Susan G. Komen
Foundation Race for the Cure event in San
Diego. McDonald participated in the initial
race before she was diagnosed, as well as
every race since, employing a lifetime’s
worth of dedication, education, and
personal experience to eradicate a disease
that will likely claim more than 41,000
lives this year.
A self-described “lifelong volunteer,”
McDonald’s first community experience
was in kindergarten. She went door-to-door
on behalf of the March of Dimes, collecting
money to help a classmate with polio.
That experience served her later in life
as a 34-year employee of Sempra Energy
Utilities and SDG&E.
As manager of community relations,
she was responsible for outreach and
partnerships, a speakers’ bureau, education
programs, and employee organizations and
volunteer programs.
Enhancing her natural abilities with a
commitment to higher education,
McDonald attended National University,
earning a Bachelor of Business
Administration in 1980 and a Master of
Business Administration in 1983.
The lessons she learned in the
workplace and classroom served her well
when her life took a dramatic turn.
Surviving breast cancer gave her life a new
purpose and direction, and her commitment
to help fight the disease became an intense
passion. She grew more involved with the
Susan G. Komen Foundation, volunteering
to raise awareness about the organization
and to raise money to help save other
women’s lives.
“When I was diagnosed, like most
people, I made a deal with God, saying ‘If
you get me through this, I promise to give
back,’” says McDonald.
Today, McDonald serves on the Board
of the San Diego Affiliate of the Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and is
currently the president and 2006 chair for
the local Race for the Cure.
Over the past six years, she has
personally raised more than $150,000 in
pledge money for the race and the annual
breast cancer three-day walk.
“I’m still a survivor 10 years later, and I
am making good on my promise,” she adds.
McDonald currently serves on the board
of Volunteer San Diego. She also is the
past chairperson of Community Volunteer
Connection, a council of corporate
volunteer organizations through the
Volunteer Center of San Diego County.
Her community involvement is
instrumental in making the Race for the
Cure event a perennial success.
She also serves as an important role
model to other MBAs who wish to apply
their business and management skills as
volunteers in the nonprofit arena.
“Giving back feels so great. It is more
satisfying than one could ever imagine,”
says McDonald.
17
Alumni are everyw
18
VISION MAGAZINE
where
Jeff Olivero
Mira Mesa is the largest community in San Diego, home to
approximately 80,000 residents. With numerous parks and
recreational facilities, Mira Mesa’s suburban amenities make
it particularly appealing to families. The most important draw,
however, may be the quality of its high school.
Mira Mesa High School is a National
Blue Ribbon School, meeting the rigorous
standards set forth by the U.S. Department
of Education. It also is a 2005 California
Distinguished School, making it one the
state’s most well-rounded public schools.
Last year, half of Mira Mesa High’s
seniors took an advanced placement
course, and close to 93 percent passed both
portions of the California High School Exit
Exam. Moreover, the high school’s
Academic Performance Index (API) score
rose by 22 points. For these reasons and
more, the Board of Education presented
the school with an Exemplary Award for
facilitating a model partnership program
with local businesses and community
members.
National University alumnus Jeff
Olivero is the principal of Mira Mesa High
School, the second-largest high school in
the San Diego Unified School District. He
is familiar with both the region and the
responsibilities of running a high school.
Olivero’s father was the former principal
of Poway High School, located just north
of Mira Mesa.
Both Poway and Mira Mesa have grown
significantly since then, but the small-town
values that Olivero learned while growing
up still hold true. No matter how large the
community or high school becomes,
according to Olivero, integrity is still
important, and so is valuing people and
treating them with honesty.
“Certainly, my father had a huge
influence on me. I learned a lot from
him, and by working as a custodian
at his school during spring break,”
says Olivero.
Olivero also learned a great deal from
his passion for sports. Although the fivefoot-seven defensive back participated on
the football team in high school and junior
college, he confesses that he wasn’t an
elite player.
Still, he gave his best effort.
“I discovered that underachievers can
overcome their deficiencies through
discipline, dedication, and hard work,”
says Olivero.
As a football coach at Serra High School,
Olivero took great pride in the betterment
of his students, emphasizing the value of
effort over natural talent and ability.
Investing in his own personal growth,
he pursued a Master of Science degree in
Educational Administration at National
University, where his father once taught
as an adjunct faculty member. Olivero
graduated in 1995 and later became a
vice principal at Mira Mesa, before being
named principal a little over two years ago.
In addition to its outstanding academic
achievement, Mira Mesa is a highly
competitive school in athletics. Olivero
gives the credit to the students, insisting
that the school’s strength rests with its
young people. As principal, he has two
objectives for his students: a short-term
goal of going to college; and a long-term
goal to give something back to their
communities.
Says Olivero, “When I find out that
a student is being accepted into one of
the many fine universities or colleges
around the country, I feel really positive
about that.”
19
Alumni are everyw
20
VISION MAGAZINE
where
Jerry Sanders
For the past two years the City of San Diego has weathered a
flurry of legal, financial, and political crises. The previous
mayor announced his resignation less than five months after
being elected to a second term; two city councilmen were
convicted on corruption charges; and a federal grand jury
indicted the former head and three former trustees of the
pension system on conspiracy and fraud charges.
In dire need of strong, principled
leadership, the citizens of America’s
seventh-largest city went to the polls last
November and elected National University
alumnus Jerry Sanders as mayor by a
resounding margin. In doing so, they
selected San Diego’s former Chief of
Police and a man who has earned a welldeserved reputation for turning around
troubled organizations.
Sworn in as San Diego’s mayor on
December 5, 2005, Sanders returned to the
city he previously served for 26 years. It
was during his rise through the SDPD
ranks that he enrolled at National
University. He earned a Bachelor of Public
Administration degree in 1988, which
provided him with the impetus to advance
to the top of his profession.
“National University was great because
it fit my work schedule perfectly,” says
Sanders.
Sanders was originally appointed Chief
of SDPD in 1993. During his six-year
tenure, he and his department gained
national recognition for a groundbreaking
approach to community policing and
neighborhood outreach. Working closely
with the communities they served, the
members of his department saw the crime
rate decrease by more than 40 percent.
In 1999, Sanders left the police
department to become president and CEO
of the United Way of San Diego County at
a time when the agency was under serious
criticism for mismanagement. Under his
leadership, the local United Way
dramatically increased its fundraising,
decreased overhead, and regained
its credibility.
Three years later, after getting both the
SDPD and local United Way pointed in the
right direction, Sanders was appointed to
the board of the San Diego and Imperial
Counties Chapters of the American Red
Cross. Similar to his stints with SDPD and
United Way, his appointment came at a
difficult time. He joined the American Red
Cross in the aftermath of a controversy
concerning the organization’s response to
the tragic Cedar Fire. Characteristically,
he played a key role in overseeing a
striking turnaround.
As San Diego’s political leader, Sanders
may be taking on his greatest challenge
yet. In his first State of the City address on
January 12, he said that City Hall “faces
the most serious financial, organizational,
and ethical crisis in its history.”
As mayor, Sanders will confront the
issues head on, just as he has in the past.
“San Diegans are craving for someone
to tell it to them straight, for their mayor to
tell them the whole truth, what happened,
why it happened, and how it will be fixed,”
said Sanders. “People in government have
invented the fancy word ‘transparency’ to
describe this concept. But all it really means
is telling the truth – being open and honest.
And that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
It sounds like San Diego found the right
person for the job.
21
THE
2006
DISTINGUISHED
ALUMNI AWARDS
DINNER
More than 200 people attended
as National University honored
six recipients on April 25, 2006
in the Fairway Pavilion at the
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines.
Each recipient was presented
with an award by a dean from
the University’s five schools and
one college.
22
VISION MAGAZINE
Providing New
Opportunities
for Alumni
Involvement
What if we could provide you the
opportunity to meet and network with
CEOs, CIOs, small business leaders,
educators, officials and community leaders
who have something in common with you?
What if you had access to distinguished
alumni and the numerous resources of
National University? Well, now you can.
We invite outstanding National University
alumni and friends to join us as we launch
the President’s Associates, a distinguished
professional networking group.
With an annual contribution of $500 or
more, you will receive many unique benefits
while helping to enrich the lives of our
students and build a stronger University.
As a member of the President’s
Associates, you will receive:
Complimentary invitations to alumni
“Reconnect” events
A complimentary invitation to the annual
Distinguished Alumni Awards event
An exclusive invitation to the Distinguished
Alumni Awards event VIP reception
Access to National University’s online library
at no cost
Invitations to premier National University events
Recognition on the National University
Cyber Wall of Donors
A President’s Associates Newsletter and
other special communications
A free National University windbreaker or shirt
Please visit
™
The University of Values
www.nu.edu/community/development.html
1 . 8 0 0 . N AT. U N I V
2006
ALUMNI
SURVEY
Summary profile
of respondents:
85 percent attended other
institutions of higher education before
attending National University.
73 percent did not attend any other
institutions of higher education after
attending National University.
On average, they have had 12 years of
prior work experience when they began
their studies at National University.
59 percent had received a master’s
degree from National University, and 30
percent received a bachelor’s degree.
24 percent of respondents
studied teacher education; 20
percent studied business and
8 percent studied social sciences.
Over half have had contact with
National University since they graduated.
24
VISION MAGAZINE
Alumni hold a special place
in the list of any university’s
constituents. That is certainly
true for National University,
which this year surpassed the
100,000 mark for the number
of men and women who have
earned a degree or who
completed their credential
program at National since it
first opened its doors in 1971.
In an effort to gauge awareness of the
services the University provides for its
alumni, National commissioned an alumni
survey earlier this year. The results of the
survey will directly impact which services
the University offers and develops to better
assist its alumni in the future.
According to the survey, the most
sought after alumni service is job
placement, especially for the most recent
graduates. Half (49 percent) of all alumni
selected job placement when asked which
services they would be interested in having
the Office of Alumni Relations develop
and offer. As a result, the National
University Career and Assessment Center
held a career fair in May at San Diego’s
Spectrum Academic Center and is planning
similar fairs in the future.
Just over half of the alumni surveyed
(51.6 percent) report that they have had
at least some contact with National
University since graduating. Overall,
66.5 percent of alumni were interested in
reconnecting with the University. A sizable
portion of alumni indicated interest in
mentoring a current student and
participating in a panel discussion for a
course related to their position or industry.
Alumni also showed interest in attending
networking events with National faculty
or alumni, as well as participating in
community service activities sponsored
by the University. Furthermore, alumni
showed an interest in attending functions
such as theater productions, concerts,
sporting events and a degree-related
speaker series with fellow National
University graduates.
Based on the survey data, the University
plans to initiate more reconnect events. The
University is considering the enhancement
of mentoring opportunities and has engaged
with the Career Assessment Center to
strengthen job placement services. Focus
groups are also being held with alumni to
gain more specific feedback.
The vast majority of alumni (84.3
percent) agreed that their career success is
greater as a result of their National
University degree (see Chart 1). When
asked what prompted alumni to enroll at
National, the overriding reason was
convenience. Over three-quarters (75.9
percent) said that they would recommend
the University to others, and two-thirds
(66.1 percent) said that if they had to do it
over again, they would attend National
(see Chart 2). Three-quarters (74.9
percent) of alumni are now working in
their field of study, and had an average of
12.3 years of work experience before
attending National University.
Newswire, a twice-monthly electronic
alumni newsletter, is the communications
piece most-widely recognized by alumni.
Nearly three-quarters of alumni
respondents (72.9 percent) had seen or
read Newswire in the 12 months prior to
the survey. Other communications efforts
that were recognized were the television
commercials featuring National University
System Chancellor and National
University President Jerry C. Lee (20.9
percent), and the radio spots which aired
on National Public Radio during traffic
reports (19.2 percent).
National University has long been
committed to providing the highest level
of service to the students who grace its
classrooms. Now, with the knowledge
learned through the 2006 Alumni Survey,
the University will be able to extend that
level of service to the men and women
who have earned their graduate and
undergraduate degrees and teaching
certificates from California’s secondlargest, private, nonprofit institution of
higher learning.
No response 1.6%
No response 1.6%
1.6%
No response
No 14.1%
No 14.1%
No 14.1%
Yes 84.3%
Yes 84.3%
Yes 84.3%
Chart 1
Do you feel/believe that your career success is greater as a result of your National
University degree?
I would recommend National to others
75.9 %
I would recommend National to others
75.9 %
If I had to do it over again, I would attend National
66.1 %
recommend
National
to others
75.9
%
If I had to doIitwould
over again,
I would
attend National
66.1
%
I would choose National to pursue another degree
44.8 %
IfI Iwould
had tochoose
do it over
again,toI pursue
would attend
National
anotherNational
degree
44.8 % 66.1 %
I would return to National for Extended Learning
41.9 %
I would
choose
to pursue
anotherLearning
degree
44.8%%
I would
returnNational
to National
for Extended
41.9
I am interested in Extended Learning opportunities online at National
30.8 %
I wouldLearning
return to opportunities
National for Extended
Learning
I am interested in Extended
online at National
30.841.9
% %
No response
8.8 %
I am interested in Extended Learning opportunities onlineNo
at response
National
30.8
8.8 %%
No response
8.8 %
Percent of respondents
Percent of respondents
Chart 2
Percent of respondents
Please select the statements regarding your education and experience at National
with which
you agree.
Job placement services
Job placement
services
Onsite library
privileges
Job placement
services
Onsite
library
privileges
Mentorship program with professionals in your field
Onsite library
privileges
Mentorship program with professionals
your field
Careerinprofile
inventory
49.0 %
49.0 %
33.8 %
49.0 %
33.8 %
32.3 %
33.8%%
32.3
27.5 %
Mentorship program with professionals
in your
field
32.3
%
Career profile
inventory
27.5
%
No response
23.1 %
Career profile
inventory
No
response
27.5
%
23.1
%
Group travel with National alumni
16.5 %
No response
Group travel with National
alumni Other16.523.1
% 4.9%%
Group travel with National alumni
Other
16.5
%
4.9 %
Other
4.9 %
Percent of respondents
Percent of respondents
Chart 3
Percent of respondents
Please indicate which of the following services you would be interested in having the Office of
Alumni Relations develop and offer.
25
The
National
University
Institute
for Wellness
and Peak
Performance
Take a commitment to employee wellness, couple it with an institutional
dedication to focusing on the future of education, and the result is a
remarkable new entity that may revolutionize health awareness in the
same manner that National University transformed higher education.
26
VISION MAGAZINE
The National University Institute for
Wellness and Peak Performance (IWPP)
was established in 2005 to engage in the
research and dissemination of information
regarding peak performance ideologies and
practices related to wellness, sports
competition, and organizational issues.
The roots of the IWPP can be found in
National’s commitment to the health and
welfare of its employees. Several years
ago, the University began offering
employees programs and services
promoting physical and mental well-being.
The services were initiated by National
University System Chancellor and
National University President Jerry C. Lee,
who like many athletes, coaches, sports
psychologists, and business leaders around
the world, has long been captivated by
the complementary concepts of wellness
and peak performance.
Beginning with its bimonthly electronic
magazine iTHRIVE, the IWPP will share the
latest findings regarding personal wellness
27
In the future, the IWPP
has plans to produce
additional products
which promote
healthy lifestyles.
and peak performance as they relate to
business, sports, and organizational
development. Sample topics covered in
recent editions of iTHRIVE include:
achieving work-life balance; reaching and
maintaining “The Zone” on the golf course;
developing peak performance habits in the
workplace; and boosting brain power
through a healthy diet.
28
VISION MAGAZINE
Two other IWPP initiatives focusing on
youth health-related issues include the San
Diego 6 television show and The Healthy
Reader podcasts.
On San Diego 6, which will air on ITV
Channel 16, six students ages 9-12 and a
young mentor will stress the importance of
active and healthy lifestyles. The San
Diego 6 will visit numerous destinations,
including world-renowned golf courses;
gardens where experts grow their own
fruits and vegetables; and famous
restaurants where chefs prepare delicious
and healthy meals. Other outings may
include visits with players and coaches from
local sports teams; receiving golf tips from
PGA pros; visiting world-class athletes at
the San Diego Olympic Training Center; or
trips to one of the region’s many museums.
Augmenting the San Diego 6 will be the
The Healthy Reader, a series of podcasts
concentrating on youth fitness and nutrition.
The Healthy Reader will include a host and
feature children as guests. The content will
reflect the California State Standards in
health that are mandated for a third grade
education. Additionally, students will be
encouraged to download the podcasts and
listen to them as part of their school’s health
and wellness curriculum.
In the future, the IWPP has plans to
produce additional products which promote
healthy lifestyles.
The genesis of the IWPP came from the
University’s commitment to employee
wellness.
Among the first programs for National’s
employees were a series of health lectures
and screenings, with topics ranging from
preventing skin, prostate, and breast cancer;
sports medicine; heart disease; and insulin
resistance. Similarly, the health screenings
covered preventive dermatology, body fat
testing, blood pressure and sugar, and
prostate and breast exams.
Today, health related services available
to University employees include flu and
pneumonia shots, Pilates and yoga classes,
and a fitness center.
National’s health and wellness offerings
have been a driving factor behind the
University receiving multiple employeenominated awards over the past few years,
including a San Diego Society of Human
Resource Management Workplace
Excellence Award and a Sacramento
Workplace Excellence Leader Award.
The University also has been selected
by the Employers Group and San Diego
Magazine as a semi-finalist in the 2006
San Diego’s Best Workplaces contest.
Like the original concept of National
University – an institution devoted to
the educational needs of non-traditional
learners – the notion of a University
institute focused on issues related to
peak performance is “outside the box.”
Although there are sports psychologists,
organizational development consultants,
and wellness experts who are thriving at
various organizations around the world,
there are few education entities devoted
solely to exploring the many facets of peak
performance. The IWPP has become such
an entity focusing entirely on gathering
research, disseminating findings, and
promoting the applications of a concept
that has been around for many years,
but whose time for legitimacy has just
emerged.
With wellness predicted to become a $1
trillion industry by 2010, the establishment
of the IWPP comes at a critical time.
Recent statistics foretell the emergence of
wellness, including the fact that 36 percent
of adults in the United States use some
form of Complementary and Alternative
Medicine (CAM). Additionally, there will
be an 87 percent increase in the age group
made up of 50 to 69 year-olds by 2015,
and the education and health services
sectors are projected to grow by 31 percent
in the next 10 years.
“These trends offer unlimited
opportunity for the National University
Institute for Wellness and Peak Performance
to participate as a major player in the
convergence of the education sector with
the health and wellness sectors,” said
Chancellor Lee.
For more information, visit
http://iwpp.nusystem.org/.
29
30
VISION MAGAZINE
The New School
of Media and
Communication
Imagine Johann Gutenberg e-mailing a message to
Alexander Graham Bell, who then calls Guglielmo
Marconi on his cell phone. Marconi broadcasts the
message to Philo T. Farnsworth, who transmits the satellite
data to Harold Rosen. Rosen podcasts the message to
Dave Winer, who then writes a letter to Gutenberg.
If the inventors of the printing press,
telephone, radio, television, satellite
transmissions, and the electronic
distribution of audio and video files
could all communicate, they would likely
marvel at modern media convergence.
Such a fictional collaboration serves
to illustrate how each historic figure’s
contribution has been joined into a
complex network of multimedia. Indeed
we live in an age when people make
movies with cell phones and share music
on handheld computers. Information
travels freely from broadband to satellite
radio, and just about anyone with the
desire these days can produce a
commercially viable film or report news
on his or her own blog site.
In response to this proliferation and
integration of technology and innovation,
National University System Chancellor
and National University President Jerry C.
Lee last year launched the School of
Media and Communication to educate
students in cutting-edge technologies and
equip them to meet the enormous growth
that is projected in related industries.
31
“I think there is going to be a lot of
excitement about your new School
of Media and Communication.
I would love to recommend a
program like that to some of my
colleagues in the newsroom.”
- Marc Bailey
Fox 6 San Diego News Anchor
32
VISION MAGAZINE
The School of Media and Communication
is already addressing the accelerated
employment trends predicted by the U.S.
Department of Labor. The Bureau of
Labor Statistics has forecast dramatic
opportunities in Internet publishing and
broadcasting, with steadily increasing
demand for broadcast technicians, computer
specialists, writers, editors, directors and
producers that will range between 30 and
50 percent well into the next decade.
National University’s convenient,
accelerated learning format will attract
students interested in pursuing
undergraduate and graduate degrees in
digital film-making, digital television
production and engineering, journalism,
public relations, and video gaming.
“National University has created an
accessible, state-of-the-art, comprehensive
education in advanced media and
communication technologies,” said
Chancellor Lee. His vision, coupled with
the core values that have driven the
University’s success over the past 35
years, are already drawing enthusiasm
and praise from alumni within the media.
Marc Bailey, morning news anchor for
San Diego’s Fox Network affiliate, XETV
Channel 6, found National University’s
format accommodating when he was a
policeman pursuing his bachelor’s degree
in business administration. As a seasoned
veteran in broadcast journalism, he sees
the same need for educating the young
people in his profession.
“Many get their start in entry-level jobs
or as interns, and continue their education
while working full time,” said Bailey.
“I think there is going to be a lot of
excitement about your new School of
Media and Communication. I would love
to recommend a program like that to some
of my colleagues in the newsroom.”
Debra Schneiger, Dean of the School
of Media and Communication, says her
programs and projects will focus on
evolving technologies and disciplines,
such as digital filmmaking and integrated
multimedia, as well as on traditional
media, like journalism and speech
communication, with a key focus on
convergence media.
“There is a growing emphasis upon
collaboration between these different
disciplines,” says Dean Schneiger, a former
communications executive who previously
served as Associate Dean in the School of
Media Arts at Columbia College in Chicago.
Certainly, Gutenberg, Graham Bell,
and Marconi would be amazed at the
plethora of emerging media in the Digital
Age. Nevertheless, even if there are an
overwhelming number of communications
channels today, Dean Schneiger says
the fundamental job in media and
communication is still the same.
“Telling stories is the basis for all
we do.”
33
Reaching
out to
online
alumni
National University helped establish online
learning in higher education. Now it is ready
to blaze a new trail in online alumni relations.
34
VISION MAGAZINE
35
How important is a
university’s relationship
with its alumni? Well, such
connections often play a
vital role in networking and
company hiring practices.
Alumni relations are an important aspect
of post-college life. They play a vital role in
networking and determining which
company will employ a graduate. According
to a Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive
Business-School Survey, nearly two-thirds
of corporate recruiters say an alumni link is
very or somewhat important in their
decision about which schools to visit.
Alumni have traditionally ranked among
a college or university’s most important
constituents. Institutions such as National
University, which appeal largely to working
adults, often face challenges in building
strong bonds with these non-traditional
alumni. With the dramatic growth in online
learning, the challenge has become even
greater. Many graduates of online programs
perceive alumni networking as a desirable
but unrealistic luxury.
“I would have preferred going the
traditional route because of the networking
potential,” says Steven Etheridge, who
earned his Global MBA degree from
National University in 2001 by attending
mostly online classes while serving in the
Navy. “Don’t get me wrong. I am very
grateful that National provided me with the
opportunity, but my options toward
earning a degree were limited.” Etheridge
36
VISION MAGAZINE
statements hold true for a growing number
of college and university alumni.
More than 2.3 million students are
presently enrolled in online courses in
higher education, according to the Sloan
Consortium, which issues an annual survey
on online education in the United States.
The current online enrollment growth rate is
18 percent above last year’s numbers, and
more than ten times the figure originally
projected by the National Center for
Education Statistics several years earlier.
As more students earn their degrees
online, will they have to trade traditional
alumni benefits for increased access? How
are institutions such as National University
responding to technologically driven trends
that threaten to disrupt alumni relations as
we know them? Will they be able to offer
equal alumni opportunities to online
graduates? The experts aren’t exactly sure
yet, but there are several promising
developments.
“Certainly there are all kinds of online
tools that are being developed to keep in
touch with alumni,” says Keith Brant,
Chair of the Council for Advancement and
Support of Education’s Commission on
Alumni Relations and Executive Director
of the UCLA Alumni Association. Brant
cites several examples of this, including
online social networks, blog sites, and
virtual alumni directories.
“The trouble at this point is that all
these solutions are built upon the existing
paradigm of an on-campus experience,”
adds Brant.
National University has engaged
technology to connect with its online
alumni. Last fall it introduced its own
Online Alumni Community to provide chat
rooms, directories, and career services via
the Internet. The Alumni Relations
Department also produces Newswire, a
monthly electronic newsletter that connects
readers with fellow alumni.
“I feel very connected to my alma
mater,” says Sean Dunkley, who attended
classes online and earned his MBA from
National University in 2002. “I receive email, newsletters and can quickly access
the University website. National
University makes it easy to network and
keep my connections alive. By nature of
online and distance learning, the
networking is already in place.”
The key to building and maintaining
meaningful connections with online alumni
is integrating more than just the classroom
experience into online education,
according to Cynthia Larson-Daugherty,
Ed.D, president of Spectrum Pacific
Learning Company, an affiliate of the
National University System that is an
industry expert in designing and delivering
effective e-learning models.
“Life on campus has traditionally
revolved around the classroom,” says Dr.
Larson-Daugherty. “However, in the past
few years it is increasingly revolving
around virtual space as well.”
Dr. Larson-Daugherty emphasizes that
National University is setting the pace by
offering access to more than just the online
classroom. Its library, for example, offers
one of the largest electronic book
collections in higher education, and for a
small annual fee, alumni can access those
collections. In addition to an online
community for alumni, there is a virtual
student store where alumni can shop for
National University merchandise.
The federal government recognizes the
changing face of higher education, the
growing number of online students, and
the importance of alumni such as Stephen
Etheridge and Sean Dunkley. This past
March, Congress changed a law requiring
U.S. colleges and universities to deliver at
least half their courses on campus to
qualify for federal student aid. The White
House also supports lifting the restriction
on online education as a way to reach
nontraditional students.
“New paradigms in education,
technology and communication are
emerging at an unprecedented pace,” says
Maggie Watkins, vice president of
advancement and alumni relations for
National University.
As the number of National’s online
alumni grows, Watkins believes that the
community will be able to connect more
meaningfully with former classmates in
ways which will enhance professional
opportunities and the University’s
reputation well into the 21st Century.
“The ramifications for alumni relations
are endless. We are only limited by our
creativity and willingness to try something
new,” says Watkins.
37
35
Alumni to Watch in 2006
38
VISION MAGAZINE
5
As National University celebrates its 35th anniversary, Vision
magazine is marking the occasion by highlighting 35 alumni
whose accomplishments merit closer consideration. From an
Indonesian media mogul to a Grammy-nominated grammar
school teacher, the following pages feature an academically,
geographically, culturally, and professionally diverse collection
of movers and shakers who are likely to make further
impressions in their chosen fields. Whether working for the
Governor of California or Cisco Systems Inc., they all represent
the dedication, determination, and drive that are customary
among National University’s 100,000 alumni.
1
Kathleen Alexander
(MS Computer Science, 2004
MS Technology Management, 2005)
Lockheed Martin Recognizes Alumna:
Alexander was nominated for a corporate
leadership award from the Lockheed Martin
Corporation. She supervises 42 engineers as
Lockheed Martin’s Future Combat Systems
Level 1 Fusion Systems (FCS) Engineering
Integration and Test Manager. FCS, the
largest Army program in existence, aims to
deliver networked manned and unmanned
ground and air vehicles, as well as sensors
and munitions. It also provides the soldiers
with the capability to track and target
remotely, share information, and ultimately
save human lives.
2
Levent Alkibay
(BBA, 1985 / MBA, 1987)
Building Better Beverage Solutions:
Alkibay is president of Beverage Solutions
Inc., a provider of route accounting
packages and mobile solutions for the beer
and soft drink direct-store-delivery
marketplace. He is also vice president of
GBG Inc., an industry-leading provider of
software solutions for direct-store-delivery.
The two companies merged in July 2004.
2
3
4
Sandhya Ashok
(MBA, 2000)
Saluted By Cisco Systems’ CEO:
Ashok, a senior program manager at Cisco
Systems, was recognized by CEO John
Chambers with a Cisco Achievement
Program Award. It was one of several she
has earned for exceptional contributions,
including customer service, innovation,
and teamwork while working for the
leading supplier of networking equipment
and management for the Internet.
39
4
7
Jim Bartell
(MPA, 1979)
Public Affairs Veteran Founds PR Firm:
Bartell recently founded his own public
relations firm, Bartell & Associates, in San
Diego. A former managing director and
senior vice president of the San Diego
office of global public relations company
Porter Novelli, Bartell has 30 years of
experience in public affairs, serving as a
staff member for a state assemblyman, chief
of staff to a San Diego city councilman, and
a U.S. congressman. He also formerly
served for 22 years as city councilman and
mayor of Santee, California.
5
6
8
Steve Bestolarides
(MBA, 1985)
Harley Davidson Dealership Manager:
Bestolarides, a motorcycle enthusiast, is the
general manager for Harley Davidson of
Stockton. He is also a city councilman,
representing the 1st district. Among the
committees he sits on are Water, Community
Improvement, and Crime Prevention.
8
© copyright Rolex Awards for Enterprise
Photographer: Marc Latzel.
(BS, Liberal Studies, 2003
MS, School Psychology, 2006)
CIO for a Titan in Telecom Tech:
Bose was recently named vice president
and chief information officer of
40
VISION MAGAZINE
(BS, Computer Science, 1987)
Helping Students Reach for the Stars:
Clark is a 2005 Microsoft Education
Award Laureate. As project manager/
director of the Telescopes in Education
(TIE) Foundation at the Mt. Wilson
Institute in Los Angeles, he provides free
remote access to telescopes to K-12
students and educators around the world.
For his work in promoting astronomy,
Clark has received the 1996 NASA
Exceptional Achievement Medal, the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Award for
Excellence, and the JPL NOVA Award.
Appropriately, he has an asteroid named
in his honor.
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Maryam Davodi-Far
(Master of Healthcare
Administration, 1998)
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Arijit Bose
(MS, Software Engineering, 1988)
Gilbert Clark
Turning Visual Arts into Good Medicine:
Davodi-Far is founder and executive
director/CEO of the Cancer Coping
Center, a nonprofit agency in San Diego
that utilizes the visual arts to help cancer
patients through the healing process.
Formerly a CEO for a community clinic
in San Diego, Davodi-Far’s experience
also includes leadership in managing
diverse programs, and collaborating
with other agencies, businesses, and
private citizens. In February she received
the 10 News Leadership Award from
KGTV-Channel 10.
Gary Blakey
Saving Suicidal Teens in Bakersfield:
Blakey is a recovery specialist with the
Kern County Mental Health Department’s
mobile evaluation team in Bakersfield.
He handles up to five calls per day, many
involving suicidal teens. He once spent
two hours convincing a young woman
to surrender her knife while ten police
officers stood by. She finally did and was
taken for medical treatment and evaluation.
With proper treatment, lives are saved, and
that’s what fuels Blakey’s passion for his job.
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networking equipment maker UTStarcom,
Inc., a world leader in telecommunications
technology. Bose was previously chief
information officer at computer hardware
company 3Com Corp.
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Cameron Durckel
(BA, Behavioral
Science, 1988)
Governor’s Main Man in San Diego:
Durckel has served for more than two
years as director of the San Diego office
for California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger. A seasoned government
professional with a record of public service
that spans 15 years, Durckel previously
served as chief of staff for San Diego
County Supervisor Ron Roberts. He has
also served as district director for a U.S.
congressman and as appointments secretary
for a San Diego mayor.
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Scharmela Edwards
(Credential, 2005)
Rescuing High School Dropouts:
Edwards was named 2005 Employee of
the Year for SIATech (Schools for Integrated
Academics and Technologies), a public
charter high school serving close to
3,200 students at 15 campuses nationwide,
including locations in, Los Angeles, San
Bernardino, San Jose, and Sacramento.
Since 1998, more than 4,000 of its students
have been converted from “dropouts” into
graduates; it has been recognized by the
California School Board Association with
a coveted Golden Bell Award.
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Robert W. Ferguson, Jr.
(MA, Management 2000)
West Virginia’s Key Manager:
Ferguson was appointed as cabinet
secretary of the West Virginia Department
of Administration in 2005 by Gov. Joe
Manchin III. He oversees several
divisions for “the Mountain State,”
including, finance, purchasing and
personnel, information services, and
communications. One of Ferguson’s
major initiatives is to utilize Internet
technology for purchasing.
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Ronald Fish
(BS, Mathematics, 2005)
Graduate Enters Aerospace Engineering:
While the average undergraduate still has
two more years of college to complete,
22-year-old Fish has completed his
undergraduate degree and is now
employed in aerospace engineering with
Maxim Systems, Inc. His instructor, Dr.
John Wilson, helped Fish to get his job.
Fish is currently pursuing his master’s
degree in wireless communications
at National.
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Nancy Fish Liburd
(M.Ed., 1999)
Grammy Nominated Teacher:
Liburd attended the Grammy Awards
on February 8, as an official nominee
representing Third World Band, the longest
running self-contained group in Jamaican
music history. Their album, “Black Gold &
Green,” was in the running for Album of
the Year in the Reggae category. It was the
group’s tenth Grammy Award nomination.
Liburd, who goes by the stage name of
Anna Fisher, is an accomplished oboe
player who performs with leading
recording artists when she isn’t teaching
first grade at Wilton Place Elementary
School in Los Angeles.
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Angela R. Fitzgerald
(MA, Counseling
Psychology, 2003)
Serving Crime Victims in Redding:
Fitzgerald was hired last year as the
program director for the Shasta County
District Attorney’s Victim Witness
Assistance Center. She ensures that crime
victims’ rights are upheld and actively
participates in various programs such as the
Domestic Violence Coordinating Council,
MADD, the Child Abuse Prevention
Council, Child Sexual Assault Prosecution,
and the Sexual Assault Review Team.
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La’Tonda Hardy-Davis
(MA, Counseling
Psychology, 1988)
Beating Chemical Dependency:
Hardy-Davis is a founder and primary
therapist at The Garden Institute, Inc., a
nonprofit counseling center located in
Orange County that specializes in assisting
couples, children, and adults with chemical
dependency issues in Orange, Los Angeles,
and Riverside Counties. It was approved as
an internship site for National University
students in December 2005.
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Michal Anderson
Jacob (MBA, 1992)
Keeping Public Television in the Black:
Jacob’s is vice president of administration
and chief financial officer of KCTS, the
public television station in Seattle,
Washington. She oversees station revenues
of close to $22 million for the fifth-mostwatched television station in the country,
serving more than 2 million viewers weekly.
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Melanie K. Jacobson
(MA, Teaching, 2005)
Dancing Her Way to Acclaim:
Jacobson is an award-winning choreographer
who co-owns a Los Angeles-based murder
mystery dinner theater called “Table Top
Capers.” When she isn’t teaching first grade
at Loyola Village Elementary, an acclaimed
performing arts magnet school in the Los
Angeles Unified School District, she judges
dance competitions across the nation and
performs in musical productions. Recently
she portrayed the title role in “Evita.”
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Dean Lane
(MBA, 1979)
Chronicling the Best Practices of CIOs:
Lane has been named CEO of VariTrak.
VISION MAGAZINE
(MPA, 2004)
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(MBA, 1988)
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Larry Lees
Rising to the Top in Shasta County:
Lees was hired as the chief administrative
officer (CAO) for Shasta County after
graduating with 22 other government
employees from National University’s first
Master of Public Administration cohort
program in Redding in November 2004.
The CAO is responsible for the operation
and administration of County offices,
departments, and special districts under the
jurisdiction of the board of supervisors.
Homa Khamsi
Outstanding UC Berkeley Administrator:
Khamsi is a recipient of the University of
California, Berkeley’s “Excellence in
Management” Award. The award was
developed to formally recognize the best
managers and supervisors on campus.
Recipients are nominated by their
respective staffs for outstanding
administrative skills and presented
with their awards by Chancellor Robert
Birgeneau. Khamsi is associate director of
administration at the Labor Occupational
Health Program at its School of Public
Health.
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A former CIO at Allied-Signal, Morton
Thiokol and Plantronics, he has also
published a book, CIO Wisdom: Best
Practices from Silicon Valley. Proceeds
from the book go to the CIO Scholarship
Fund, set up by a group of Silicon Valley
CIOs to provide tuition to underprivileged
students pursuing a career in IT.
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Anthony A. Lopez
(BA, Multimedia Arts,
2000/ MS, Instructional
Technology, 2005)
Capturing the Battlefield in Photos:
Chief Warrant Officer-2 Lopez serves as
officer-in-charge of a combat camera unit
headquartered at Marine Corps Base
Camp Pendleton. In addition to working
on the battlefield in Iraq, CWO Lopez
and his unit handle administrative
photography, shoot official events,
and chronicle accidents, disasters, and
investigations.
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Sandra McBrayer
(Credential, 1988)
Champion for After-School Programs:
McBrayer is chief executive officer of
Children’s Initiative, a nonprofit agency
that works to improve the well-being of
children and youth in San Diego County.
The former U.S. Teacher of the Year has
run the agency since 1996, and has proven
skillful at securing government funding
for vital after-school programs.
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Margaret Mims
(MPA, 2005)
Leading Woman in Law Enforcement:
Mims is assistant sheriff for Fresno
County, helping to oversee law
enforcement for a population of close
to 870,000. As the first female deputy
to reach numerous ranks within her
department, she is a recipient of the
“Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award”
from the National Center for Women in
Policing. Sheriff Mims is also an adjunct
faculty member, sharing her 25 years
of experience with a younger generation
of peace officers.
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Suzanne Moreno
(M.Ed., 2000)
Mentoring At-Risk Students:
Moreno is founding president/CEO of
Encourage Tomorrow, a nonprofit
organization that evolved from a 1994
initiative to assist ten Hispanic female
students residing in a Fresno housing
project. The broad educational group
offers mentoring, tutoring, after school,
and summer programs to 1,000 at-risk
youth and their families. For her efforts,
Moreno was awarded the Outstanding
Leadership Award from California
Assemblyman Juan Arambula last year.
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Lam Nguyen
(MS, Telecommunications
Systems Management,1996)
Voice for the Vietnamese Community:
Nguyen is president of San Jose-based
Win Visions and producer and host of
weekend radio programs for KVVN 1430
AM, a Vietnamese language station
serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Last
year he was selected to serve on Wells
Fargo Bank’s Community Advisory Board
for the Greater Bay Area. He is also a
recipient of the “Father of the Year Award”
presented by City of San Jose and the
Immigrant Resettlement & Cultural
Center, Inc.
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Maria Ravera
(GMBA, 2003)
Sales Executive of the Year:
Ravera was named by the Newspaper
Association of America as the 2006
Circulation Sales Executive of the Year
for newspapers with a circulation of
150,000 or more. She has been working
with the Sacramento Bee since 1995.
Ravera wrote her master’s thesis on the
federal “Do Not Call” law that went
into effect the year she earned her
master’s degree.
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Jack Reed
(M.Ed., 2004)
Heroic Teacher Saves Colleague:
Reed was named “Citizen of the Week”
by KNX1070 news radio in Los Angeles,
and was also nominated by the station
for “Man of the Year 2005” for saving
the life of a fellow San Bernardino City
Unified School District teacher on April
15, 2005. While the two were on lunch
break, an out-of-control automobile
drove up on the sidewalk. Reed shoved
his colleague to safety before he was
struck and thrown 40 feet. He was
hospitalized for over a month and
still faces reconstructive surgeries
to repair numerous broken bones in
his face.
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Zak Ruvalcaba
(MS, Instructional
Technology, 2000)
Dreamweaver Expert Publishes Book:
Ruvalcaba is founder and president of
Module Media, a media development and
training firm in San Diego. He teaches
and gives design lectures on various
technologies and tools, including
Dreamweaver, Flash, and ASP.NET,
for the San Diego Community College
District. In 2005 he published a technical
book, Macromedia Dreamweaver 8
Unleashed.
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Tyler Sassaman
(CRED MA, 2001)
Teacher Receives Harvard Scholarship:
Sassaman was selected as a member of the
Harvard Graduate School of Education’s
class of 2005 and received a merit-based
$15,000 Leadership in Education Award.
He was a member of the School Leadership
program, and focused on the development
of Expeditionary Learning schools. Sassaman
taught 4th and 5th grade for five years in
the East Bay area near San Jose, and was
also an instructor for Outward Bound
during the summer.
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Aaron Taylor
(Credential, 2005)
From ABCs to Xs and Os:
Taylor figured he would be teaching
elementary school students about reading,
writing, and arithmetic. Instead he ended
up teaching television viewers about
college football. The former offensive
lineman for Notre Dame, the Green Bay
Packers, and San Diego Chargers was an
in-studio college football analyst for ABC
Sports. This year, he established the Aaron
Taylor IMPACT Fund, which will benefit
numerous charities, including the Boys to
Men Mentoring Network and the “6 to 6
Extended School Day Program.” To learn
more, log on to www.atimpactfund.org.
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Rose TijerinaSwearingen
(BA, 1988 MS, 1990)
Psychologist Promotes Sobriety:
Tijerina-Swearingen is a psychologist and
author. After working at the Betty Ford
Clinic as a counselor for 10 years, she
founded the Life’s Journey Center in Palm
Springs, California in 1996. The treatment
facility, specializing in addiction recovery,
provides a holistic approach to treatment
with alternative solutions for recovery. In
2005 she published Life’s Journey: Making
Sobriety a Way of Life.
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VISION MAGAZINE
33
Erick Tohir
(MBA, 1993)
Media Mogul Praised for Integrity:
Tohir has emerged as a media mogul in
Indonesia. The International Herald
Tribune recognized Tohir recently for
taking Republika, a money-losing
newspaper, and increasing sales 70
percent within five years. Today it is
ranked third in Indonesia in circulation.
Tohir, whose company also owns
magazines, television and radio stations,
and advertising and film production
firms, is winning praise for fighting
corruption in the Indonesian business place.
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Penelope “Penny”
Wilkes
(MFA, Creative Writing, 2005)
Humor and Animal Behavior Writer:
Wilkes teaches creative writing and
conducts seminars on creativity, humor,
and problem-solving. Her articles on
animal behavior and humor have appeared
in a variety of publications. Wilkes other
writing credits include a collection of short
stories and award-winning poetry.
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Brent Wilsey
(BBA, 1983 / MBA, 1986)
Sharing Investment Tips on TV:
Wilsey provides listeners with advice on
stocks and mutual funds as host of “The
Smart Investing Show,” airing Saturday
mornings on KFMB AM760 radio in San
Diego. His weekly column can be read every
Monday in the San Diego Daily Transcript.
Brent is also the Local 8 Financial Advisor
on KFMB Channel 8 News.
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