Ambassador of the Month
Bernard Wheatley
Tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, etc.): My family entails my lovely wife, Loretta, and son, Bernard, Jr. My hobbies are Amateur Radio (Ham radio), snorkeling, music, reading and golf. I am a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). ACHE is the credentialing body for healthcare executives through a rigorous oral and written exam. I am a senior healthcare executive at a 359-bed facility located in Athens, Georgia and have served in this capacity for the past 16 years. I recently received the senior healthcare executive award for demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence and making significant contributions to the advancement of healthcare management excellence and the achievement of ACHE’s goals. I am a member of the Georgia Piedmont Plateau Regent’s Advisory Council, the National Association of Health Service Executives and the Georgia Association of Healthcare Executives. I am an avid volunteer and has served as a former Board member of the Athens Area Child Abuse Prevention Council, the American Red Cross, the Athens Tutorial Service and the Morton Theatre. I currently serve on the Board of the Northeast Georgia Boy Scout Executive Council as vice president for Scoutreach program. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn, New York; my Master’s degree in Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology.
Why did you choose Northcentral University?: NCU appealed to me, because despite my hectic schedule as a healthcare executive, I was able to modify my daily activities to take the necessary courses in a timely manner which greatly negated the day-to-day pressures.Dr. Martin L. King once said "The function of education is to teach one to think intensely and to think critically..intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education". I can positively state that NCU has helped me attain this goal.
What do you like most about Northcentral?: I enjoyed the learning environment and adaptability of timelines, deadlines in congruence with working schedules. My professors were caring, supportive and nurturing and took a keen interest in my subject matter. My chair, Dr. Lewis Mustard and my Committee Member, Dr. Leslie Miller and Dr. David Moody were supportive and I am forever thankful for their guidance.
What academic achievements are you proud of?: I am most proud of honing my quantitative, critical thinking and writing skills and my ability to take a concept and in the finale, present a meaningful dissertation. Also, the discipline I manifested and the sustained focus that helped me to produce a body of work that qualified to be published is an achievement I will long remember.
How have your skills improved since attending Northcentral?: My skills in attaining transformational leader style have greatly improved. My innovative and creative management abilities have equally been refined by attending NCU.
What is your main objective as an Ambassador?: My main objective is to share my positive experiences at NCU with future prospects. I would like to be able to say one day that I shed light in dark places so that future Students may see the light of their future by attending NCU.
