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David Garafola has been in higher education his entire career. His perspective on global education has dramatically changed with his introduction to developing an international university while serving as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Webster University. "I thought our developing a campuses around the world and providing educational opportunities really changed my perspectives on how were were serving our students. This was particularly true when we developed in under-served areas such as our campuses in Thailand." Providing educational opportunities to that region of the world was an eye-opening, mind-changing experience which changed my perspective on multi-cultural experiences, diversity and inclusiveness and how an educational experience can serve to really impact and transform the world.
Having developed several campuses in China was my first learning experience in global finance as it took several years of navigation and legal assistance to sort through the regulations and financial systems to allow for the university to operate and legally repatriate funds back into the United States. I became a source of information to many of my peers for years. I also did some consulting with Saint Louis University for a partnership campus so they could expand into an area just outside Mumbai, India and that seemed to solidify my reputation into global world of higher education. Regardless, it was only recently that I have seen how an entity can come together to really make an substantial impact in the world in a manner in which I believe is the real benefit of how how higher education institutions should benefit global education. .
I recently had a conversation with the person that is demonstrating extraordinary leadership and interest in global higher education that is about providing opportunity to those that would never have thought it was possible. He was the founder of an independent, international university in Chittagong, Bangladesh that is a new Asian University that is dedicated to women and is seeking to educate a new generation of leaders in Asia. This university was originally seeded with the support of the Gates Foundation and has been finding external support all over the globe so it may admit students solely on the basis of merit, regardless of their family’s income level. Nearly all students are on full scholarship with many as the first in their family to attend university. They find these talented students in the worst of areas under the most difficult of circumstances. In war-torn Iraq, where hope is diminished beyond any imagination. Currently, over 25% of this institution’s graduates are moving into elite university graduate level programs under scholarship opportunities. Many are returning to their home countries and serving in their government and in corporate leadership roles.
The Asian University for Women also offers two pre-collegiate bridge programs called Access Academy and Pathways for Promise, as well as a three-year undergraduate program based in the liberal arts and sciences. The university is committed to graduating generations of women leaders who will tackle their countries’ social, economic, and political issues while collaborating across cultural, ethnic, and religious lines. This university currently has more than 800 students enrolled from 15 countries across Asia and the Middle East and has asked me to work with them on a short-term, interim basis, to finalize a loan structure of $90 million with the World Bank, so that they can start the phase I development of the expansion of their physical academic and residential facilities within the campus property.
It is such and honor to be able to contribute to such a project that offers hope and dreams through the gift of educational opportunities to these women that are able to go forth with inspiration of making positive differences in this world. God Bless everyone involved in this lofty project. David Garafola
US stocks rose to end their best January performance in 30 years. Due to robust earnings and indications that the Federal Reserve will pause its rate increases.
The gain today was fueled by companies ranging from Facebook to GE. S&P 500 increased 0.9 percent to 2,704.10. Nasdaq rose 1.37 percent to 7,281.74. Dow Jones Industrial Average right below the flat line at 24,999.67. S&P gained 7.87 percent in January. Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 7.17 percent in total for this month.
The market was lifted in the final minutes of the session on Thursday as Donald Trump told the reporters in the Oval Office that he is hoping to make a deal with China before March. A translator also introduced a hopeful letter from the Chinese President Xi Jinping. Many investors are watching the ongoing moves of the US and China trade talks. And according to CNBC, they had received from two sources that US and Chinese officials are talking about scheduling a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.
Currencies on 10:40 pm
Euro fell 0.01 percent to $1.1447 per euro.
Japanese yen rose 0.02 percent to 108.91 per dollar.
British pound fell 0.08 percent to $1.3099 per pound.
Korean won rose 0.42 percent to 1,117.39 per dollar.
I have been a business officer in higher education involved in the successful transformation and turnaround of universities. I have developed an expertise for strategic planning that has successfully transformed organizations on an international basis. I am an exceptional strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to conceptualize vision, create added value, and communicate/motivate teams in executing tangible results. Experienced in real estate development and facilities construction and have completed a portfolio of approximately 175 major facilities projects with asset values exceeding $1 Billion.
