Maharishi University of Management held its 43rd graduation ceremony on June 23rd. 546 students from 49 countries received diplomas, including 62 undergraduates, 434 graduate students, and six doctoral students. Included in the total number of graduates were 50 students of the Maharishi Invincibility Institute in South Africa. They were awarded BA in management degrees by Dr. Chris Jones on behalf of the Board of MUM.

This year’s commencement speaker was Scott Gould, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Gould is a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation^®technique, a 26-year veteran of the Navy Reserves, and has held top positions in the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Dr. Gould has a long history of public service, including being a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and a fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Recently Dr. Gould has been working to make the Transcendental Meditation technique available to veterans who are suffering from alcohol and opiate addiction.

In his speech Dr. Gould offered a list of points on how to choose the right vocation. He said it is important to find something that involves one’s heart as well as something that aligns with one’s nature and talent. He also advised graduates to serve others and seek out new opportunities. “I want to invite you specifically to consider public service as a channel for your talent and creativity,” he said. “There is a great need for leaders in the public sector.”

Then he gave practical advice on how to succeed. He urged graduates to put others in front of themselves, express thanks and appreciation, choose their boss wisely, seek out gaps in the work environment that they can fill with their unique skill set, and continue learning.

“Class of 2018, you have arrived, in my view, just in time to solve the problems that a generation ago you could not,” said Dr. Gould. “Engaged in the right vocation and armed with your MUM education, you have a chance to change the world and live a life worth living.”

Following his speech, Dr. Gould received MUM’s Doctor of Laws honorary degree from president John Hagelin.

Watch the video of the graduation ceremony here.

MUM student Carlton Ellis is the first student from the island country of Jamaica to attend the Computer Professionals program. Carlton holds a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Montego Bay Community College and has over ten years’ experience working as a programmer.

In 2017 Carlton saw a Facebook ad for MUM’s ComPro program. He had been looking for a scholarship abroad to earn a master’s degree and gain some international work experience. He was attracted to MUM’s program because he was able to defer his tuition payment until after he secures an internship with a U.S. company.

Carlton had never heard about the Transcendental Meditation^® program, but after extensive online research he decided to give it a try. He applied to MUM and arrived in August 2017.

“Before coming here, my blood pressure was continuously climbing to new highs, but it is normal now,” said Carlton. “I feel more refreshed when I meditate and more energetic. This is not just TM; it is the holistic life here at MUM.”

While taking the Science of Creative Intelligence^® course during his first month, Carlton became intrigued by the research on brain integration through the TM^® technique, and five months later he completed the TM-Sidhi^® program. “Before I learned TM I didn’t know I could meditate for even five minutes, but now I meditate two times a day for 20 minutes and it feels normal; it has been great,” he said.

Carlton feels his coursework and campus routine have helped him prepare for the demands of his new professional life. “You have to stay on track with your courses because of the block system; it’s training us how to focus and be on time,” he said. Carlton has been optimistic about finding an internship because he sees a lot of opportunities in the IT industry in the U.S. He was right, as he recently found a position as software developer with Meetings and Events International in Chicago, Illinois.

MBA student Merveille Djappi Tiani recently was named Most Outstanding Accounting Student at MUM by the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants. The MUM accounting faculty nominated him for the award based on his academic performance, professional behavior, and his ability to collaborate with others.

Merveille grew up in a small rural town in Cameroon and has always dreamed of achieving something big. In middle school he excelled in math and decided to become an accountant. Even though his parents wanted him to become a physician, he convinced them that he could be just as successful pursuing his dream.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and began working at a CPA firm. At the same time, he wanted to further his education, so he applied to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a global organization of professional accountants based in the United Kingdom. After years of studying and passing exams, he recently became a member.

When he heard about MUM from an alumnus, he decided to take the next step in his education and enrolled in the MBA in SAP accounting program. Merveille was pleasantly surprised by the receptive atmosphere on campus. “People are so friendly; it’s like family,” he said. “I feel like home. I am sure I am going to miss the environment.” He has also found the practice of the Transcendental Meditation^® technique beneficial. “TM helps you become calmer and be stress-free. It helps you to be you.”

Along with his classmates, Merveille participated in the Capstone online business simulation for graduate students, and his team finished in the top one percent. He recently completed his eight months of full-time study on campus and is currently looking for a fully-paid practical training internship in the Washington, D.C. area. At the same time, he is studying for the U.S. CPA exam and taking online classes in programming with the ultimate goal of becoming a financial analyst.

“Merveille is one of the very best students who has ever participated in the MBA program.” said Dr. Andrew Bargerstock, chair of the Department of Accounting, “He possesses a rare blend of exceptionally well-developed technical skills, an extraordinary passion for work in accounting and finance, a high level of commitment to achieve professional success, and a consistently pleasant style of interacting with people. I eagerly await how the next 5-10 years unfold for him.”