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SUMMER/FALL 2013 ALUMNI MAGAZINE Walking the Talk Dr. Jonas Nguh shares how a simple act can lead to a commitment to volunteerism The Art of Making Contact Insights on Leadership Jonathan Kozol Learn Networking Secrets How Three Alumni Inspire On Creating a ‘Sense of Joy’ From Successful Alumni Their Teams in the Classroom LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT SUMMER/FALL 2013 CONTENTS ALUMNI MAGAZINE Volume 8, Number 2 Summer/Fall 2013 ALUMNI MAGAZINE EDITORIAL BOARD Paula Singer Dear Alumni, CHAIR, WALDEN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jonathan Kaplan ••• THE BEST LEADERS CREATE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, LAUREATE ONLINE EDUCATION CLARITY. When everyone in an organization Cynthia Baum, Ph.D. understands the mission, everyone moves PRESIDENT, WALDEN UNIVERSITY CHANGEMAKERS in the same direction. Linda Leftrict CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, You will find examples of alumni who are LAUREATE GLOBAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES 2 BEYOND THE DEGREE successful leaders in this issue: Turn to our Christian Schindler Integrating peace into journalism DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, LAUREATE ONLINE new column, Leading by Example, on page EDUCATION GLOBAL MARKETING 4 INSIGHTS 6, to start. There, three alumni share their Emily Demarco Build a writing career experiences and explain how thoughtful EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS, WALDEN UNIVERSITY 5 WHY I REFER leadership not only benefits their employees, but also benefits their professional growth. Valescia Lee-Collick Becoming a nursing leader DIRECTOR, ALUMNI RELATIONS, 20 26 32 You will also find inspiration in the feature on Dr. Jonas Nguh on page 26. Whether he saw WALDEN UNIVERSITY 6 LEADING BY EXAMPLE a need in his work as a nurse or as a faculty member, he stepped up to create a solution, Insights on leadership ultimately organizing team trips to Alaska, Kenya, Sudan, and South Africa to provide EDITORIAL AND DESIGN Features vaccines and supplies. Eric Brosch 8 MEET A FUTURE GRADUATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MARKETING SERVICES 20 The Art of Making Contact Starting a hospice in Belize These examples remind us that leadership is about creating continuous change—change Claire Blome Alumni share their secrets to networking—online and in person EDITOR that will benefit you, your organization, and, most importantly, the lives of people in your 9 MEET THE FACULTY Stacey Phinney 26 community. I urge you to look for synergies and embrace change. Walking the Talk Adapting lessons from the military DIRECTOR, CREATIVE SERVICES Dr. Jonas Nguh ’13 shares how volunteering can become an integral part of your life Finally, I am proud to tell you that Walden was recently granted reaffirmation of Donna Thomas 10 LIFELONG LEARNERS GRAPHIC DESIGN Learning as a student and a teacher accreditation for 10 years by The Higher Learning Commission. This is a mark of the 32 Bringing Honor to Education CONTRIBUTORS: Words of wisdom from one of the most respected voices on public education strength of our programs and our university. In fact, the reviewers specifically recognized Amy DerBedrosian, Camille LeFevre, 12 OVERHEARD Christine Van Dusen in the United States and commented that Walden operates with the utmost integrity and that its faculty, staff, Sound bites from Walden Walden is published by the Walden students, administrators, and alumni clearly understand, support, and embrace its unique University Alumni Association. 12 HOW IT PAID OFF mission of effecting positive social change through innovative and purposeful academic The views expressed herein are those of From physician to public health servant programs that serve students extremely well. the authors and do not necessarily reflect NEWS & NOTES official Walden University policy. 13 FROM THE FIELD Our reaccreditation would not have been possible without the support of our entire A SAFE HAVEN FOR FOSTER CHILDREN 35 Oral healthcare in Tanzania community. Thank you for being such an important part of our institution. INQUIRIES A CLINIC IN THE CLOUD 36 Alumni Relations: [email protected] ATTEND WORLD-CLASS FORUMS 38 14 MAKING A DIFFERENCE 1-877-235-3561 WALDEN RECEIVES REACCREDITATION 38 Find your path to volunteerism Re-enrollment: www.WaldenU.edu/apply Sincerely, 1-866-492-5336 ON MY NIGHTSTAND 39 16 CONNECTIONS Transcripts: [email protected] ACCOLADES 43 Cultivating lasting relationships 1-800-925-3368 ONE DEGREE, MANY CAREERS 46 ISSN number 1557-5578 PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE 47 18 BEYOND BORDERS © Walden University 2013 Cynthia G. Baum, Ph.D. HOW I DID IT 48 www.WaldenU.edu/magazine Empowering women in Ghana Cover image: WALDENU.EDU 1-877-235-3561 © Robert Karpa/Masterfile WALDENU.EDU 1-877-235-3561 1 CHANGE MAKERS CHANGE MAKERS BEYOND THE DEGREE ” It’s important that journalists appreciate their role in peace-building and conflict resolution.” “Peace is not typically an ingredient of news,” says Ekwo, a appetite for freedom of expression, and changing demographics Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration alumnus. “Journalism of media audiences in the United States provide unique training and practice do not seem to recognize peace opportunities for diaspora media to initiate change. Transnational as newsworthy.” journalism has the potential to put pressure on despots to So Ekwo set out to change that—on an international scale. change behavior and adapt to internationally accepted norms of In 2011, he created the Diaspora Media Initiative as part of the governance.” Center for Media and Peace Initiatives, a nonprofit he co-founded The one-week program features networking, panels, and in 2005. field trips to meet American journalists in newspaper, radio, “I was able to develop this idea while completing my Ph.D.,” and television newsrooms in the New York City area. During the says Ekwo, now a professor of public affairs and administration institute, attendees live in the dormitories at Rutgers. Communicating Peace at Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration As part of the six-month certificate program, writers from in Newark, N.J., and the author of three books on mass media. across the diaspora learn to assess government efficiency and “Some of the courses I took at Walden also exposed me to spot corruption, work with bureaucrats and public agencies, and Zef Nikkola Zef international work effectively within a growing democracy. The four courses— perspectives on each running five weeks—are offered online to make them a wide range of accessible to journalists with busy schedules and in different Dr. Uchenna Ekwo ’11 is teaching journalists around the world disciplines that time zones. how to integrate messages of peace into their reports were useful in So far the Diaspora Media Initiative has trained editors, putting together producers, photographers, reporters, and civil society leaders on By Christine Van Dusen this program.” four continents and in 19 countries, ranging from China and India The Diaspora to Mexico, Poland, Kenya, and Haiti. Media Initiative “It’s important that journalists appreciate their role in ••• WAR CORRESPONDENTS ARE PRESENT at almost every international conflict, aims to under- peace-building and conflict resolution in a world characterized reporting on the violence, the disputes, and the ravages of battle. But where are the peace Images Kozyrev/Getty Yuri © stand the shifting by intolerance, political paralysis, and a clash of civilizations,” correspondents? landscape of Ekwo says. “The program will bring about lasting, visible change That’s the question that nagged at Dr. Uchenna Ekwo ’11 during his 18 years as a communication across dispersed populations on five continents, in how news is reported.” journalist in Nigeria. He saw the influence the media had on debates, conflicts, and in particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. To that end, the initiative burgeoning democracies and knew that journalists could do more to shape the conversation has partnered with Rutgers to host a weeklong institute and a and promote peace. six-month certificate program for international journalists. Tell us about your career by emailing [email protected]. “Media plays a crucial role in the construction of migrant identities,” Ekwo says. “The influence of technology, increased 2 WALDENU.EDU 1-877-235-3561 WALDENU.EDU 1-877-235-3561 3 CHANGE MAKERS CHANGE MAKERS a mission, whether they’re writing biography, fiction, or WHY I REFER scientific research. My mission is to effect social change through fiction, to raise awareness of social injustices, Building and to prompt people to become engaged. If you have a Accepting a Role as long-term purpose for writing, you’ll never run out of a Writing things to write about. a Leader 2 BE DISCIPLINED. Writing is part of my day-to-day life. Most writers work every day improving their craft. Schedule NAME: Dr. Maureen Kroning ’13 it like you would any other appointment or goal. Plan for it, Career DEGREES EARNED: Master of make the time, and set goals. When you write each day, Science in Nursing (MSN) and take notes or work on revising what you did the day before INSIGHTS Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) if the blank page is too intimidating. Above all else, write. AS TOLD TO CAMILLE LEFEVRE CURRENT JOB: Associate 3 FIND AND CULTIVATE YOUR AUDIENCE. Getting professor at Nyack College in ••• WHETHER HE WAS WORKING AS A the word out about your work no longer happens only Nyack, N.Y., and nursing supervisor at Good Samaritan Regional Medical JOURNALIST, serving in the military, analyzing through reviews in magazines or newspapers. You need to Center in Suffern, N.Y. economic and political trends for an international proactively identify and reach your audiences in a variety of HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT WALDEN? I was working at an acute care bank, or teaching at Mercy College in Dobbs ways. E-books generate communities of readers. Book clubs hospital when I was offered a nurse manager position on a busy unit, Ferry, N.Y., Dr. James Thomas Milton has always are always seeking new material.