Senior Administration Program Directors SENIOR ADMINISTRATION President Senior Vice President Vice President for Asia-Pacific Business Programs Douglass Capogrossi, Ph.D. University President Dr. Capogrossi earned his Bachelors in Business Administration, his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and his Ph.D. in Adult and Continuing Education from Cornell University, where he completed an extensive dissertation investigating the effectiveness of the American education system. Dr. Capogrossi has administered a variety of formal and non-formal education programs including distance learning colleges, trade apprenticeships, work experience projects and on-the-job training within industry and the human services, distance learning training programs for industry, and adult job training through center-based programs. He holds permanent teaching credentials in commerce and social studies with special certification for the emotionally disturbed. Dr. Capogrossi has coordinated innovative community-based education and work-experience projects for troubled youth at public and private institutions, and has more than eight years experience developing and instructing innovative education programs for adult inmates in Hawaii correctional facilities. Dr. Capogrossi is an experienced community service administrator where his expertise rests primarily with creation of NGO corporate structures, program funding, and excellence of Board operation, as well as creation and implementation of a vide spectrum of government and nonprofit training and emergency services. Dr. Capogrossi has held top management positions in industry, serving as General Manager of Micrographic Systems, a medical camera-manufacturing firm in Santa Clara, California for a brief period in the early 1980s. He operated America Builders, a successful licensed general contracting firm in California. Dr. Capogrossi has extensive community volunteer experience. Among his more recent published scholarly papers, The Assurance of Academic Excellence among Nontraditional Universities, was published Journal of Higher Education in Europe. Return to Top Anthony Maranto, Ph.D. University Vice President Dr. Maranto currently serves as a senior environmental consultant and program manager for numerous clients at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration where he supports a wide range of projects across the National Geodetic Survey, the Coast Survey Development Laboratory, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, and the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, among others. Prior to his work with NOAA, Dr. Maranto provided scientific and program support to numerous organizations across the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army. In his twelve years of consulting for DoD, he oversaw research, management, and policy projects related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense; environmental compliance and health; natural and cultural resource management; land use management; and pollution prevention technologies. Dr. Maranto received his BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; his MA in Environmental Science from Goddard College; and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the Union Institute. As a researcher and educator, Dr. Maranto has a wide range of experiences and interests. He was formerly the Director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Radioecology Laboratory. Additionally, he has held posts in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and in the Department of Biology at Essex Community College in Baltimore. He currently serves as a member of the Planning Advisory Committee at Morgan State University and sits on the board of directors for two non-profit organizations; Kupenda for the Children (a charity that supports physically and mentally handicapped children in the developing work) and LEEK Mountain Preserve (an organization which provides conservation support and outdoor recreation opportunities to wounded US service members). Dr. Maranto is the founder and Chief Editor of the Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, presently in its twelfth year of publication. He has authored or co-authored over 50 publications and presentations on numerous topics including carcinogenic risk assessment, environmental management, radioecology, health physics, data quality control, and neurological receptor modeling. Ben Lee, Ph.D. Vice President for Asia-Pacific Business Programs Dr. Lee is founder and President of EDS Business School, Malaysia, established in 2002. EDS is recognized as an award winning premier training and executive development organization, satisfying a rapidly growing demand for skills development training among business owners, professionals, engineers, and executives in the Asia-Pacific Region. Under his direction, EDS currently operates executive development seminars and networking activities in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Hong Kong and USA, and is best known for providing state-of-the-art training in management principles and practices through his unique executive development seminar program (EDS™). Dr. Lee has taken the initiative in forming training associations with universities and colleges in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the USA and has provided leadership in establishment of an international open learning consortium in the Philippines, bringing schools together, expanding availability of educational opportunities, providing for capacity-building, and upgrading university and college teaching faculties toward earning higher academic qualifications. Dr. Lee is a leader and innovator in the emerging field of executive open learning. He has initiated successful gatherings of leaders from the corporate and business community, higher education, and NGO and public sectors at his popular EDS Residential CEO Program. This continuing education and regional networking activity is an on-going community service venture of EDS, initiate and sponsored by Dr. Lee. Dr. Ben Lee Email PROGRAM DIRECTORS Applied Psychology Business and Economic Development Ecological and Environmental Studies Education and Literacy Global Health and Wellness Sustainability Studies Transpersonal and Consciousness Studies Steven Cox, B.A., M.P.A., M.B.A., M.P.M., Ed.D., Ph.D Interim Director, Applied Psychology Dr. Cox holds degrees in Psychology (B.A.), Public Administration (M.P.A.), Business Administration (M.B.A.), Project Management (M.P.M.), Education (Ed.D.), and is completing a Ph.D. in Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology through Saybrook University. He earned a Ph.D. in Psychology (Transformational Linguistics) through Greenwich University. He is also a holds certifications as a Registered Counselor, Hypnotherapy Instructor and Trainer’s Trainer, Medical/Dental Hypnotherapist, Forensic Hypnotist, Registered Hypnotist, Reiki Master and Trainer, Neuro-linguistic Instructor and Trainer’s Trainer, Meta-Master Neuro-linguistic Practitioner, Holistic Healing Practitioner, Spiritual Healing Practitioner, Therapeutic Kinesiology, Pastoral Counselor, Metaphysical Practitioner, and Kabalah Practitioner and Teacher Certification. He holds ordinations as a Holistic Minister and Metaphysical Minister. His main emphasis continues to be Transformational Linguistics. His practice is based on the transformational aspects of language, belief systems, metaphors, motivational systems, and altered states of being – with an eye toward expanding consciousness and perception. Premkumar Rajagopal, BBA, MBA, Dip.Mgnt, Ph.D. Program Director, Graduate, Business and Economic Development Dr. Premkumar received his MBA from Northern University of Malaysia and his Ph.D.in Supply Chain Management from University of Science Malaysia. He served as Manufacturing Superintendent at Seagate Technology; Logistics Superintendent, Logistics Manager, and Head of Supply Network Planning, and Logistics Integrator at Intel Technology. Dr. Premkumar served as lecturer at Jabatan Veterinar Kluang, Institute Veterinar, EDS Advance Academy, Malaysia and MBA lecturer at University of Southern Queensland; University of Sunshine Coast; University of Nottingham Trend, UNITAR, USM and University of Midwest Missouri. Dr. Premkumar presented papers at the International Conference ICORD on operations research for development and International College on developing trends in logistics for Sedaya. Most recently, Dr. Premkumar's papers were accepted by the Asia Pacific Logistics Federation Conference; British Academy of Management; and Operation Research Society UK. Dr. Premkumar's teaching and consulting interests include corporate strategic management, organizational behavior and development, people management, and logistics and supply chain management. His current research interests include supply chain initiatives and trends in logistics (reverse logistics). Dr. Premkumar is a member of the Graduate Society at University of Science Malaysia. Harvey Menden, Ph.D. Porgram Director, Undergraduate, Business and Economic Development Dr. Menden is Director, Training and Organizational Development for a multi-billion dollar business. He previously held the position as a Senior Consultant for the Human Resources Organizational Capability Group at Amoco Corporation. He has provided services as either an employee or an external consultant to Fortune 500 companies such as The General Electric Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Black and Decker, Canada Life, and Little Tikes. He possesses extensive experience within Human Resources, Organizational Development, Organizational Behavior, International Business, and Adult Education. Dr. Menden is a member of the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and has previously served on the Atlanta chapter's board. He serves as adjunct faculty at Newport University. Dr. Menden received his Ph.D. in Business Education from International Institute for Advanced Studies, D.Min. from CBCS, an MBA from Newport University, and a BS in Political Science from the State University of New York. Anthony Maranto, Ph.D. Program Director, Ecological and Environmental Studies Dr. Maranto earned his Bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; his Masters in Environmental Science from Goddard College; and his Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the Union Institute. As a researcher, educator, and administrator, Dr. Maranto has a wide range of experiences and interests. He has held academic and administrative posts at several institutions including the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; the Department of Biology at Essex Community College in Baltimore; and the Environmental Science and Environmental Health Programs at Greenwich University, in Australia. Dr. Maranto formerly served as the Director of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Radioecology Laboratory, which is the state's primary ecological monitoring facility for regional nuclear power stations. During his tenure at the facility he directed all research and monitoring activities; managed support contracts and staff; oversaw the daily administrative operations of the laboratory; administered licensing and regulatory compliance requirements; and served as coordinator with a variety of local, state and federal agencies. Dr. Maranto is currently engaged as an environmental consultant and program manager for the U.S. Army Environmental Center located at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. The Center is the lead agency for the service's environmental programs and Dr. Maranto's current projects involve assisting the Army in managing nearly 6 billion dollars in active, non-restoration environmental projects. He is also deeply involved in developing innovative risk-based resource allocation strategies; parametric cost estimating models; strategic funding projections that take legislative changes into account; and corporate level decision tools for the management of Army programs. Dr. Maranto also serves as the Director of the Institute for Scientific Advisement, a scientific and educational consulting firm in Westminster, MD, where he manages both the technical and corporate aspects of the organization. Additionally, he holds the academic administrative posts of Dean for the College of Science and Technology, and Chair of the Environmental Science Program at Greenwich University, Norfolk Island, Australia. As a scientist and researcher, Dr. Maranto has published and presented over 30 technical papers and reports on numerous topics including environmental management, strategic planning, carcinogenic risk assessment, radioecology, health physics, data quality control, and neurological receptor modeling. LaWanna L. Blount, Ph.D. Program Director, Education and Literacy Dr. Blount has had a long career in education, and sociology. She was the founder and chair of the Master’s and Ph.D. Programs in Educational Administration and the Master’s Degree Program in Sociology at Greenwich University, a distance learning university of Norfolk Island, Australia. Previously she taught sociology at Connors State College, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and taught in the graduate program of Human Resource Management at Chapman University, Carlsbad, California. She taught at the Western Australian College of Advanced Education (Edith Cowan University), in Perth, Western Australia where she was also the founder and chair of the Master’s Degree Program in Educational Administration. She was a Research Officer and an Education Officer with the Technical Education Division in Perth, Western Australia, and an Associate Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Her early career was spent teaching in Venezuela and Libya for Exxon Corporation. Dr. Blount has written and published two family history/genealogy books titled: The History of the Blount Family, Bountiful, Utah: Family History Publishers, 2001 and The Leases and Related Famlies, Bountiful, Utah: Family History Publishers, 1998. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Lone Star Chapter of the Association. She has served as editor of the Muskogee County Genealogical Society Quarterly. She has presented papers and written many articles in education, educational administration, and genealogy. In 2006 she compiled Notable Women of Polk County, Texas, a book sponsored by the Polk County American Association of University Women (AAUW). In 2007, Dr. Blount was invited to participate in the "People to People" delegation to China of "Women in Higher Education". Dr. Blount’s BS in Education is from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. Her M.S. in Educational Administration and her Ph.D. in Higher Educational Administration and Sociology are from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. James O. Wear, Ph.D., CCE, CHSP, FASHE Program Director, Health and Wellness James O. Wear holds a B.S. (l959), M.S. (l960), and Ph.D. (l961) from the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR). He is Managing Director, Little Rock Employee Education Resource Center (LREERC), Department of Veterans Affairs. With the Department of Veterans Affairs, he is responsible for training of engineering and safety personnel in their 172 hospitals, which includes about 10,000 employees. Dr. Wear was Professor, Biomedical Instrumentation Technology, College of Health Related Professions, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Little Rock, AR) from 1972-2000. He is active in the American College of Clinical Engineering, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation and the American Society of Healthcare Engineering. Dr. Wear is a Certified Clinical Engineer and a Certified Health Care Safety Professional. He is a Fellow in the American Society of Healthcare Engineering. He has served on the Certification Board of Examiners for Biomedical Engineering Technician, Clinical Engineers, and Health Care Safety Professionals. Dr. Wear is a founder and co-chairman of the Commission for the Advancement of Healthcare technology Management in Asia (CAHTMA). This organization will develop certification programs and workshops in healthcare technology management for countries in Asia. Dr. Wear has written over 150 publications in national journals in Chemistry, Clinical and Biomedical Engineering, and Hospital Safety, twenty chapters in books and co-authored Clinical Engineering Manual, Introduction to Clinical Engineering, Hospital Safety Manual, BMET Handbook, Hospital Safety Handbook, Hospital Equipment Preventive Maintenance Manual, Nursing Home Equipment Preventive Maintenance Manual, and Hospital Engineering Manual. Dr. Wear has made over 200 presentations at regional, national and international meetings in Chemistry, Clinical and Biomedical Engineering, and Hospital Safety. He has lectured in workshops and courses in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia, Australia, Thailand, Brazil, Nepal, South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia. Many of these presentations have been for the World Health Organization with the American College of Clinical Engineering. Dr. Wear has taught a graduate course in Clinical Engineering Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Return to Top Douglass Capogrossi, Ph.D. Interim Director, Sustainability Studies Dr. Capogrossi earned his Bachelors in Business Administration, his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and his Ph.D. in Adult and Continuing Education from Cornell University, where he completed an extensive dissertation investigating the effectiveness of the American education system. Dr. Capogrossi has administered a variety of formal and non-formal education programs including distance learning colleges, trade apprenticeships, work experience projects and on-the-job training within industry and the human services, and adult job training through center-based programs. He facilitated development of the New York State Rural Literacy Initiative, a state-wide community-based project initiating adult literacy and community development ventures in the poorest of counties, funded by the Community and Rural Development Institute at Cornell University. He holds permanent teaching credentials in commerce and social studies with special certification to teach the emotionally disturbed. Dr. Capogrossi coordinated innovative community-based education projects for troubled students through private and public institutions, including the Board of Cooperative Educational Services in New York State. He also served as an Instructor with the Office of Continuing Education at Cornell University, where he developed and instructed distance learning courses in basic and corporate accounting for career track employees. Dr. Capogrossi is an experienced human service administrator, having worked as Executive Director with private community service organizations including South Valley Collective and The League, Assistant Director of Tompkins County Economic Opportunity Corporation, and Director of Planning with the Community Service Organization in California. Dr. Capogrossi has held top management positions in industry, serving as General Manager of Micrographic Systems, a medical camera-manufacturing firm in Santa Clara, California for a brief period in the early 1980s. He operated America Builders for a number of years, a successful licensed general contracting firm in California. Dr. Capogrossi has extensive community volunteer experience emphasizing implementation and development of nonprofit organizations, preparing founding documents and serving as an officer of the Board of Directors. He was instrumental in developing an international professional membership organization dedicated to the amelioration of major world problems, a community legal center serving moderate-income communities, a human service coalition, an emergency service corporation, and an athletic league. He has been a PTA officer, and a founding member of SOS, a membership group finding local funding for the public school classrooms. He also serves as Chairman of a local Voting Precinct. Dr. Capogrossi's most recently scholarly paper is titled: The Assurance of Academic Excellence among Nontraditional Universities. Steven Cox, B.A., M.P.A., M.B.A., M.P.M., Ed.D., Ph.D Program Director, Transpersonal Psychology Dr. Cox holds degrees in Psychology (B.A.), Public Administration (M.P.A.), Business Administration (M.B.A.), Project Management (M.P.M.), Education (Ed.D.), and is completing a Ph.D. in Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology through Saybrook University. He earned a Ph.D. in Psychology (Transformational Linguistics) through Greenwich University. He is also a holds certifications as a Registered Counselor, Hypnotherapy Instructor and Trainer’s Trainer, Medical/Dental Hypnotherapist, Forensic Hypnotist, Registered Hypnotist, Reiki Master and Trainer, Neuro-linguistic Instructor and Trainer’s Trainer, Meta-Master Neuro-linguistic Practitioner, Holistic Healing Practitioner, Spiritual Healing Practitioner, Therapeutic Kinesiology, Pastoral Counselor, Metaphysical Practitioner, and Kabalah Practitioner and Teacher Certification. He holds ordinations as a Holistic Minister and Metaphysical Minister. His main emphasis continues to be Transformational Linguistics. His practice is based on the transformational aspects of language, belief systems, metaphors, motivational systems, and altered states of being – with an eye toward expanding consciousness and perception. Return to Top