** Visit AAM's new website! http://www.africanassociation.org ** I am in Memphis due to my Mother's illness and am unable to check my emails frequently. As much as I regret this request, please remove my name & email address until I am able to return to Madison. Thank you, FABU >From: Alex Redd <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: "AAM (African Association of Madison)" ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: LIBERIAN GETS MASTER'S DEGREE IN MANAGEMENT >Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 11:47:55 -0500 > >** Visit AAM's new website! http://www.africanassociation.org ** > >Liberian Gets Master’s Degree In Management >By: Alex Redd >Madison, WI >December 16, 2003 > >The America dream for self-improvement has, for the most >part, been fruitful for most serious-minded Liberians in >the diaspora. Presumably, from the 90s through the new >millennium, many Liberians seeking refuge in the U.S. have >seized the moment to educate themselves in various >disciplines for brighter future. So is the case with a >Liberian, Carlos Wallace Smith Jr. of Brooklyn Park, >Minnesota who, on Saturday December 13, 2003, was a >recipient of a masters of arts degree in Management from >the College of St. Scolastica of Duluth, Minnesota. “ The >journey started in the Fall of 2002 and ended this Winter >of 2003 with no break in between” said the new graduate, >Carlos Smith, in high spirit and great delight during a >phone interview from his town home last Sunday morning. >Carlos sees his latest accomplishment as a one step >forward and a new beginning for pursuance of financial >security and happiness on all front. > >Widely known in Liberia as “DJ WALL” since the emergence >of Ducor Radio (DC101.1FM) in August 1995, the new >graduate toppled the airwaves of the radio station as a >popular figure for synthetically blending the mixture of >hip-hop, R&B and Rap music that cajoled many youthful >followers. He founded the United Artists With A Vision, a >social group designed to bring out the talent and dignity >in teenagers, who felt overshadowed by mundane maladies >as a result of the Liberian Civil War. “ He’s one of the >most intelligent human being I have ever come across”, >says Sylvia Henri, a former female co-worker at Ducor >Radio, who is currently working on similar master’s degree >but with a twist in public relations at the University of >Maryland. > >Asked if he senses a mismatch between his master’s degree >in management and his voracious appetite for a music >career as in the past in Liberia, Carlos replied “ I have >always been a mosaic person---music will be with me ’til I >die”. And, of course, this is true of Carlos. He is a >pianist at the Faith Chapel Evangelical Ministry in >Minnesota. This role “ brings me joy and attainment of my >faith with the Lord and, as well a strong association with >my pastor John Saah, who graciously welcomes me >wholeheartedly”. There is something more appealing to the >surname of Carlos , when it comes to the political >landscape in Liberia. > >His great grand father, James S. Smith, was Liberia’s Vice >President under President E.J. Roye. In addition, Carlos’s >great grand mother was a renowned Liberian lawyer. The new >graduate’s biological father, Carlos W. Smith Sr is >currently the secretary-general for the United Peoples’ >Party (UPP). “I have been swamped by family pressure all >these years to become a useful citizen” said the new >graduate with glee of hope for the future. It is Carlos’ >hope to return home as situation improves there to give a >face lift during the country reconstruction process, >particularly in human development. His master’s degree in >management is heavily based in human resources: labor >aspect of strategizing, organizing, planning, developing >and implementing coherent tasks in both private and public >sectors of society. Carlos’ father, a prominent Liberian >politician, had the fortune to sent his son to the >University of Liberia to obtain his undergraduate degree >in Economics before final arrival in the U.S. > >While his dad is in Liberia, the former radio broadcaster >at DC Radio in Monrovia, expressed his gratitude to the >entire family for their kind support; getting along with >seven brothers and two sisters in the U.S., except for one >who resides in Monrovia, Carlos is the first among his >siblings to obtain such higher education in the U.S. > >Upon arrival in the U.S in January 1999, Carlos >temporarily resettled in Trenton, New Jersey with his >biological mother, Eleanor Badio. While there, he quickly >obtained a diploma as an administrator in computer >networking following twelve months of intensive training >at Computer Solutions Institute of New Jersey. Sensing >greener pasture in the financial sector and, as well the >need to draw closer to other family members and friends, >he later moved to Minnesota. According to Carlos, his >step-mother, Margaret Juah Smith, whom he described as >“heartwarming and inspiring” welcomed him with open arms >in Brooklyn Center, MN. > >There, he started out as a licensed insurance producer >with Primerica in areas of life, health and accident >insurance for many clients. Following that, Carlos worked >at Well Fargo Bank as an Escrow Analyst before moving on >to his current position as a Retail Analyst at the >corporate office of U.S. Bank in Saint Paul, MN. Carlos is >an active member of the Midwest branch of the Association >of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA). > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, visit: > > http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/aam.html > >AAM Website: http://www.africanassociation.org >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________ Working moms: Find helpful tips here on managing kids, home, work — and yourself. http://special.msn.com/msnbc/workingmom.armx ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, visit: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/aam.html AAM Website: http://www.africanassociation.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------