Magnus Aghe’s impressive LinkedIn profile just got more impressive. He recently earned an M.S. in Data Science with a specialization in Artificial Intelligence Optimization and Machine Learning. Throughout the very rigorous program at National University, he earned all A’s except for one A minus and was chosen as one of 22 graduates university-wide to be inducted into the 2024 President’s Circle. His leadership was evident in his work and included his role as the team lead for the machine learning project analysis. Through all of this, he worked full-time at Amazon and freelanced as a business data analyst and data scientist as well. Today Aghe holds a bachelor’s degree, two master’s degrees, and some 23 IT-related certifications and licenses. In furthering his desire for research proficiency in the world of data science, he has commenced a PhD program in Data Science at National University. He may also launch his own company someday combining his flair for media, machine learning, and data analysis.

Nicholas “Nick” Ames looks like a strong and burley lumberjack, speaks with a melodious and joyfully optimistic voice, and has an uncanny ability to connect with little kids who somehow see him as a giant teddy bear. They can identify with his authenticity and genuine concern for them. Ames is a recent National University graduate of the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy where he graduated with a 4.0 and induction into the NU 2024 President’s Circle – a prestigious group of 22 exceptional graduates annually. Upon graduating he immediately enrolled in NU’s PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. He also teaches Jiu-Jitsu to toddlers and has a background in coaching and another master’s in sports psychology. Through a series of interesting life events these seemingly divergent and different interests have come together in a very interesting way and Ames will be doing his dissertation on the positive effects martial arts can have on children with Autism, something very personal to his family.

Ty Becerra is the Battalion Chief for Napa Fire. He has served his community as a firefighter for more than 25 years. The sports psychology choice might seem an unorthodox path for a veteran firefighter, but Becerra found distinct parallels between sports psychology and leading a team of firefighters. As Chief he needs his team to be cohesive and work together. He wants them at their best mentally and physically, and he wants to be the best leader possible. He discovered strategies and tactics while earning this degree that made him a better leader, father, and husband. And, he got promoted because of the strategies he was able to articulate and illustrate. Becerra will take a brief hiatus and then plans to enroll in National University’s Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy so that when he retires from firefighting, he can continue to lead in his professional community by opening a counseling practice. He plans to provide firefighters with skilled counseling grounded in the empathy their unique shared experiences bring so he can help promote mental health across the firefighting industry. His goal is to work to help keep those busy saving others safe in their own lives.

As a very young child, Kaitlyn Buckley first became aware of terrorism on September 11, 2001. She decided early in life she wanted to work in a helping profession and for her it was criminal justice. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the West Chester University of Pennsylvania and interned at the Philadelphia Police Department. She later worked as a social media investigative analyst and then moved more closely toward her niche as a Watch Officer for the Chester County Department of Emergency Services. Buckley seeks to understand chaos. She says whether it’s created by people or the environment she wants to go into situations of extreme disruption and bring order back from the chaos. She decided to pursue a graduate degree to enhance her career opportunities in emergency management and recently earned her M.S. in Homeland Security and Emergency Management with honors. The same week she found she was named the National University 2024 President’s Circle she also received the job offer of her dreams (pending the completion of Top-Secret Security Clearance) to work in counterterrorism.

For newly graduated doctoral student and 2024 National University President’s Circle inductee Dr. Haley Burton, the popular adage “Bloom where you are planted” rings true. Dr. Burton recently earned her PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in Financial Management. She is currently an assistant professor teaching upper-level Finance classes at Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas, her alma mater for her bachelor’s degree. “Growing up in Lubbock, there was never any question in our household about whether we would go to college,” said Burton. “We all knew we were going, and we all knew we were going to Lubbock Christian,” she smiles. “I think I’m the 20th member of my family to earn a bachelor’s degree there.” When the opportunity to teach there was offered to her pending her earning a master’s degree and PhD Haley jumped at the chance. Today she loves being part of her family’s legacy with the university and she loves seeing her students succeed.

Mark Cochran is the General Manager for a successful and scaling ship repair business based in San Diego. When the business was launched several years ago it was just Cochran and his business partner. At the time Cochran had just completed five years with the U.S. Marine Corps and had taken a class in underwater welding from National University’s workforce and technical courses portfolio. Today, his company has more than 120 employees and several locations. In the next year, they will be expanding to Hawaii, Florida, Washington, and Virginia. He also has a wife and two daughters. Amid this busy and successful life, he chose to be an example to his employees and return to school to earn an Associate of Science in Business. He wanted to show his team that learning never stops, and he wanted to increase his business acumen and best practices as he grows his organization. After graduating with commendations, he immediately enrolled in a bachelor’s degree and vowed that he would not stop until he earned his Master of Business Administration. He says he is learning much in his classes he can immediately apply to help grow and scale his business and be the best GM he can be, as well as leading by example for his employees.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in Biology with honors from De La Salle University in the Philippines in 2006, Delmar Colorina chose to continue his father’s legacy and enlisted with the U.S. Navy. As a Hospital Corpsman, he spent 11 years and 8 months assisting healthcare professionals in providing medical care to Navy and Marine Corps personnel. He was a Battlefield Corpsman with the Marine Corps, rendering emergency medical treatment including initial treatment in a combat environment. After leaving the Navy he held various positions with the Department of Defense including NMRTC (Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command) San Diego’s Assistant Site Lead for MHS GENESIS (Department of Defense’s version of Oracle Health/Cerner Millenium) Training. He also worked as a Federal Learning Leader for Oracle Health and was aligned to support the Electronic Health Record (EHR) modernization efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs where today he is playing a lead role in EHR implementation efforts. Colorina has three degrees from National University. He has earned a Bachelor of Science, in Healthcare Administration (2020 with a 3.98 GPA), a Master of Forensic Sciences with a Specialization in Investigation (2022 with a 3.76 GPA), and most recently a Master of Science in Health Informatics (2024 with a 3.97 GPA).

Dr. Latonya Dennis is an exceptionally capable technologist, program manager, entrepreneur, educator, strategist, and artificial intelligence expert. She also has a human-centered approach to work. She cares deeply about technology job loss due to the proliferation of robotics, artificial Intelligence, and automation and its impact on lower-skilled workers, potentially resulting in job loss, widening wage gaps, and the need for increased government support. To be clear, she is not a Luddite advocating to resist technology. She sees the ubiquity of AI in all aspects of our lives. She is a champion for learning and a champion for helping people. Dennis recently earned her PhD in Technology and Information Management with a Specialization in Computer Science, and she did it in just three years with a perfect 4.0, earning her induction into the prestigious 2024 National University President’s Circle. Her award-winning dissertation poster, “A Qualitative Study Evaluating the Crisis of Technology and Skilled Labor in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” is both a warning cry and a message of hope urging people to sit up and pay attention to technology trends. Her research and advocacy focus on the intersection of humanity and technology and how workers can best prepare themselves to succeed rather than become collateral damage in the acceleration of AI.

Travis Travis Dubose recently graduated from National University earning his BBA with a concentration in logistics and supply chain management. He landed a job in supply chain management right out of high school and loved it. After a transfer, he found another procurement job in manufacturing and liked it as well but hit the ceiling as far as upward job mobility without a college credential. He decided to take the leap and became an entrepreneur, opening his own successful business which he has run for more than 10 years. But running a business – especially one with an on-demand service – takes a toll on a person’s calendar and requires a lot of hours. He wanted to return to supply chain management, but he knew he simply could not get to where he wanted to be without a college degree. After testing the waters at a community college Travis Dubose took the plunge and enrolled in National University where he made the Dean’s list five out of five terms. His leadership and academic prowess earned him a coveted spot on the 2024 NU President’s Circle – one of only 22 exemplary graduates inducted yearly.

Mark Halushka is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles, both as a Human Resources Manager and Director. Driven by a profound belief in servant leadership, Mark is committed to paving a clear path for others, ensuring they have the necessary resources and guidance to thrive. His leadership philosophy is rooted in the idea of leading from behind—offering support, providing gentle encouragement, and being a safety net for those he mentors. Mark’s journey in Human Resources reached a pivotal moment when he decided to pursue a lifelong dream of earning a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management, a goal that had been set aside years earlier due to a family tragedy. Reflecting on the importance of timing, he asked himself, “If not now, then when?” This introspection fueled his determination, and he diligently completed his degree, graduating with a 3.9 GPA. His academic achievements include being named to the Dean’s List and earning membership in the Omega Lambda Nu Honor Society and the National Society for Leadership and Success. He is one of just 22 graduates inducted into the prestigious 2024 National University President’s Circle. Mark’s most recent professional role was as the Human Resources Director for Goodwill – Southern Los Angeles County, where he served 22 cities and communities. Now, he is continuing his career in the private sector as an HR Practitioner, bringing his extensive experience and passion for people-centric leadership to new challenges. In addition to his professional achievements, Mark is deeply involved in his community. A recent graduate of the Leadership Long Beach Institute’s class of 2024, he currently serves as the Board Chair of the Long Beach Chapter of the Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA). He is also a board member of the Cal State University Long Beach Human Resources Management Advisory Board and contributes his insights as a Family Advisory Council member for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board District 7.

Christa Hunt has been commended by her professors as someone who is a strong, caring advocate for students and their families. She recently earned her Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education at National University and spent much of her capstone project having the privilege of being able to observe parent-teacher conferences, work with all ages of students in the classroom as an aide and a sub, now soon I will begin student teaching. She researched the importance of fostering strong relationships with students and their families and built a toolbox including digital tool assessments, newsletter content, email content, and inclusive practices for working parents so they can participate from home among other tools for teachers to engage parents. Hunts interest in early childhood education came a bit by surprise rather than by design. At just 19 she married her boyfriend and immediately became the stepmother to a three-year-old girl. She realized she was at a loss to help her daughter with reading and language acquisition. She saw a degree in early childhood education and tried a few classes. The rest, as they say, is history. She found her calling and is excited about having a positive impact on the lives of all of the students who will pass through her classroom after she completes her current program of study – a Master in Education in Inspired Teaching and Learning.

Dr. Crystal Jones has served in the US Army for 26 years, first enlisting active duty as a paralegal specialist in 1998, then serving as enlisted in the US Army Reserves, and later serving in the US Army Reserves as a cadet until commissioning active duty as an Adjutant General Corps Officers in 2006. In civilian terms, she is a senior human resources officer. She is currently a lieutenant colonel who is serving as the Battalion Commander of the Kansas City Army Recruiting Battalion. She is responsible for leading and taking care of seven Army Recruiting Companies and 42 Army Recruiting Station, comprised of approximately 300 personnel that recruit throughout Kansas, Missouri, and Southern Illinois. Dr. Jones has held many different key civilian and military positions, proclaiming her #1 leadership role remains to be a role model for her three daughters. Her great passion is helping others achieve their ideal life. Her postpartum depression with her third daughter fueled her current passion and research for work-life harmony and work-fun balance for herself and others. Those postpartum experiences, lessons learned over the years, and her love for her daughters were the driving force for her to complete her PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, RETAIN Parental Leave Coach Certification, seeking as an Army recruiting battalion command, and be an advocate and agent of change in the military and civilian sectors. She has done extensive research and writing about the transformation process of evolving from a working woman to a working mom, weaving transition theory with identity and emotional intelligence research.

Dr. Amir Khalighi recently earned a Doctor of Health Administration, adding that to his Doctor of Medicine degree for double credentials. He has spent 22 years as a healthcare practitioner and administrator with a specialization in infectious disease. His recent DHA dissertation focused on the prevention of sharps injuries to healthcare workers – a problem that afflicts more than 385,000 healthcare professionals a year. He has developed a specific interest in healthcare administration and data analytics, a burgeoning field in the U.S. as machine learning becomes deeply embedded into integrated healthcare practices. He hopes to spend the future helping prepare healthcare professionals to be better managers while also keeping his keen focus on infection prevention and disease control.

Regina Manzano just completed her Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies. The payoff was almost instant. She got a raise at the law firm where she has more than a decade of legal experience. And, she found her place in her firm, which had been a bit nebulous as titles go because she also has a Juris Doctor degree but is not yet a practicing attorney. She had more knowledge, experience, and credentials than were needed to be a clerk, but less than an attorney. Today Manzano is a paralegal and the identity crisis she juggled at work is resolved. A U.S. Navy veteran, Manzano works full-time in a law firm while also juggling single parenthood with three children. Being the sole provider for her family she is grateful to have successfully completed the Paralegal degree which brings in extra income and security while she studies to sit for the Bar exam later this year. She is also happy that her children were able to see her studying so they will understand how much she values education.

Growing up, Toshana Martin-Smith knew that it would be a tough journey to reach her dream of attending a commencement ceremony to celebrate earning a bachelor’s degree. She made some great decisions along life’s pathway and when opportunity knocked, she opened the door. Today she is a skilled, top-performing human resource professional working for the U.S. Department of Defense as a Civil Servant serving the U.S. Navy. She has just retired from active duty with the U.S. Navy where she served for just over 7 years. And, not only did she graduate with honors while doing all of this, she did it while being a wife and mother of a young son. She has since been accepted into a graduate program and is working to earn her M.A. in Human Resource Management from American Military University.

S. K. Mc Kenna exemplifies leadership. He has been recognized by his professors for his academic prowess, his ability to grow from adversity, and his unwavering commitment to achieving his goals. During his service in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Paratrooper, he earned numerous commendations, including the Meritorious Service Medal. Mc Kenna graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA in his graduate studies and was honored as one of just 22 inductees into the prestigious 2024 President’s Circle. What stands out most prominently about Mc Kenna is his blend of hopeful optimism, passionate commitment to service, and his dedication to creating a positive impact on his community and society. He aspires to ensure that all individuals are seen, heard, and valued. While working full-time in public service and earning his degree, he has now embarked on a doctoral program in Psychology. Mc Kenna aims to leverage his PhD to engage in influential dialogues that drive positive societal change.

Dr. Theresa Melvin Roth was the first in her family to earn a college degree. Her bachelor’s was a liberal arts degree with fluency in Japanese, and a minor in computer science. From there, she was just getting started, and a graduate degree followed. Her degree pathway culminated in a Juris Doctor law degree with a specialization in data privacy. This could have been enough of an educational lifetime achievement but not for Dr. Roth. She is forever curious and tenacious, so it’s not a huge surprise she came back for a second doctoral degree and recently achieved a PhD in Data Science with a specialization in quantum machine learning. Her dissertation “Achieving Quantum Speed and Scale in Full Stack Quantum Computing Designs Using Quantum Machine Learning” earned her the university’s Dissertation of the Year award and a place on the 2024 National University President’s Circle. Her impressive career includes leading-edge roles with data analytics, data privacy, Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and high-performance computing including quantum computing. Her most recent role before enrolling in a doctorate program in data science was serving Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) as the Global Chief AI Solutions Architect. Today she is a leader in the quantum computing revolution, innovating with fascinating use cases.

Charles Mize, USMC, earned his associate degree in General Education while serving the Marines as a network administrator. Mize comes from a town in North Dakota where many go from high school into blue-collar jobs and he knew he wanted something different but wasn’t sure how to take his love of science and make a career of it. Upon graduation from high school, he joined the Marines and began his associate’s degree. His successful completion makes him the first in his family to be a college graduate and his professors spoke highly of both his character and his academic performance. He immediately re-enrolled and transferred those hours into a bachelor’s degree in biology where he now has junior standing. He will finish his bachelor’s degree about the same time he wraps his service and plans to enroll in optometry school. He says he always knew he wanted an exciting career where he could learn, help people, make a good living, and have fun, and he is excited to continue to make excellent progress toward his goal.

Pre-K or childcare centers are sometimes viewed more as babysitting places which does an injustice during these incredibly formative years. Teaching standards can vary from state to state and program to program. There needs to be a recognized baseline level of early childhood education teaching competency, nationwide.” Passionate about education as a tool for social justice, workforce development, and economic mobility, Dr. Mohamed recently added an Ed.D. in Education to her impressive resumé. Formerly a global marketing executive for the International Baccalaureate, Mohamed now has a lead role with the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington D.C. advocating for broad adoption of its Child Development Associate (CDA®) credential for early childhood teachers. She works tirelessly to advocate for teaching standards in early childhood and is especially focused on reaching previously underserved communities and populations to improve the quality of education children receive during the formative years of birth – age five. She also wants to provide door-opening career mobility to educators to have access to further their own education opportunities and careers in early childhood education.

Sabrina Randhawa recently graduated with honors from the School of Law at National University and was named to the prestigious 2024 President’s Circle among other accolades. She is the first in her family to earn a university degree, much less a doctorate. She sensed as a very young girl that she was born to be an attorney. She recalls watching Dateline with her family as a young child and her father saying she’d make a good attorney. She shadowed a family friend who was a criminal defense attorney while in high school. She took a slight detour and earned her baccalaureate in Clinical Psychology, another professional passion, but found she could not turn her back on what she felt was her calling. She entered the JFK School of Law with the normal self-doubts an adult learner has after being out of school and working. There had been several years between her graduating from California State University Sacramento and her entering NU. She had been working for a personal injury law firm and delayed her dream, including one false start. But this time she was ready and with a fierce commitment she brought the heart of a warrior to achieving her goal of successfully earning a Juris Doctor and did so with exceptional success, grit, determination, and an open mindset. She overcame tremendous hardships on the journey and never lost sight of her goal to earn her Juris Doctor so she could help people, especially those in her community. She recently sat for the Bar and looks forward to specializing in personal injury law.

Robin Timmons earned her LVN before COVID-19 hit and found herself working in the urgent care at Cedars Sinai as the first point of contact with COVID patients. Her mother had encouraged her to earn a BSN and become a registered nurse for many years, but Timmons had only committed to part of the journey before that. Working under the conditions of COVID showed her she had what it takes, and that she could be a nurse. After her beloved mother passed away, she realized that the way she wanted to honor her mother was to dig into their shared dream and vision for Timmons, and for her to work toward her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Enrolling in National University for the Associate of Science in Human Biology was step one and Timmons completed it with flying colors earning herself a place on the 2024 President’s Circle. She is excited about her future as a nurse and plans to return to Cedars Sinai specializing in either cardiac care or dementia care after she completes a BSN. She has grown in professional confidence and personal humility as she overcame many challenges while earning her degree.

Kira Wrobel can be defined in many ways. She’s a recent graduate of National University with a B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Science and a 3.6+ GPA, and one of 22 graduates across the entire university named to the 2024 President Circle. She is a U.S. Navy Reserves Electronics Technician, a military spouse, and a mom of a toddler. She formerly worked as a Behavioral Health Technician for the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, and before that, as a Psychiatric Technician for a hospital. Today, she sees her career path in clinical laboratory sciences and she’s passionate about it. “I’ve always been interested in having a positive impact on my community and I think being a clinical laboratory scientist will let me do that. Clinical lab work is one of the biggest parts of making healthcare decisions that people and their care providers turn to. It’s a determining factor in the kind of care they are going to receive and their path forward toward – or back to – wellness. I see being a good clinical laboratory scientist as a very important role in bettering healthcare outcomes for people,” she said.