Archives: FXUA Faces

I have loved reading and learning about other cultures since I was a little girl. I have always wanted to travel the world and experience different cultures; however, financial limitations have never allowed me to accomplish that dream. My mother has always struggled in order to provide me the best education she could. She was able to send me to college in Brazil where I pursued two bachelor’s degrees in teaching and translation. Seeing all the effort my mother put towards my education made me work even harder to be an outstanding student. After graduating from college in Brazil, I thought it would a great idea for me to travel and gain some experience living abroad.

In 2009 I decided to come to the United States to work as a nanny. Pursuing a graduate degree was not really in my plans and returning to my home country was what I had in mind. However, that plan changed when I learned about FXUA and all the great opportunities and achievements I could accomplish if I continued my educational life as a FXUA student. Financially speaking, I knew pursuing an MBA degree would put my family and me on a very tight budget, but my mother never stopped supporting my dreams. It was after I started my first semester at FXUA that I learned about the scholarship programs and decided to apply. I was granted the Presidential Scholarship for the past year and it has helped my family tremendously. It is almost hard to put into words how much it means to me.

I see the field of marketing as a valuable preparation for many types of management careers. In the future, I intend to work my way up to become a marketing manager. It is my great desire to develop skills that will put me in charge of strategy within an organization. Being awarded a scholarship from FXUA makes me even more motivated to continue my studies, more committed to the whole process of learning new techniques, and even more honored to belong to the group of students at FXUA.

It is unbelievable how much a scholarship can impact a student’s life, and thankfully the FXUA Scholarship Program has impacted mine.

Suellen Basilio
Alumni, MBA in Marketing Management

I graduated last year from Rafik Hariri University in Lebanon with a bachelor’s degree in computer and communication engineering. While studying, I worked as an IT assistant.

I found FXUA while searching online for schools Washington, DC.  I chose to study for master’s degree at FXUA for several reasons: the course curriculum focused on my area of interest, a great location, and affordable tuition. What I really like about studying at FXUA is getting to know students from many different countries and hearing their different perspectives on things.

After completing my first semester, I had the opportunity to do a two-month internship with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). I also received an on-campus job as a teaching assistant for the School of Computer Information Systems. I am currently working with the dean of the school to open an IEEE (Institution for Electric and Electronic Engineering) student branch. I am also serving as the president of the IT Club and the Merhaba Club.

My favorite thing about FXUA is the diversity of the professors, students, and staff. They are from all over the world. The professors are always up-to-date with the latest developments in technology and teaching. Also, they always support us as students to seek opportunities and accomplish our goals.

After I graduate, I plan to do a one year internship in the US and then start a PhD program. Earning a degree from the US will not only empower my future career in my home country but also will give me credibility around the world since earning a degree from American university is highly recognized around the world.  I believe it will open many job opportunities for me locally and globally. I would highly recommend FXUA for others. FXUA will help them find a better future.

Nadine Al Roz
Alumni, MS in Software Engineering

In the fall of 2015 I had the opportunity to start an internship for the Office of the County Executive in the Fairfax County Government in Fairfax, VA. I conducted research on program evaluations, grant opportunities, and board items for county employees under the supervision of Fairfax County executives. After I was done with the research, I created webpages for the internal website of the department I worked for. Meanwhile, I attended many the Board of Directors and Board of Supervisors meetings.

My internship was a great opportunity for networking, which I took advantage of as much as I could. I was introduced to the county deputies and directors of the main departments, such as IT, budget and planning, etc. All the people I met in the office were so nice and pleasant. I also learned a lot about the overall work of the county and its procedures. My supervisor tried to make my internship meaningful and gave me motivation to do what I was doing. She was a perfect supervisor for as she allowed me to work independently, to figure out the task and how to accomplish it. At the same time, she was always ready to give advice and help. I am thankful for this opportunity and for Dr. Klara Bilgin, Dean of the School of Public and International Affairs at FXUA, who helped me to obtain this valuable internship

Oksana Zolotova
Alumni, MS in International Relations in Business

My courage to walk away from my city of Medellin, Colombia, with only a suitcase and dreams to fulfill, has made me the person I am today. Many of my dreams have been achieved at Fairfax University of America, and I want to share my history in order for you, the reader, to realize why I feel very proud of being a FXUA student.

In just over a year, FXUA exceeded my expectations in terms of academic programs, a diverse environment, scholarship opportunities, and on-campus employment. First of all, I have been a volunteer since I started at the university, and I have had so many fun experiences while volunteering. I have also acted as President of the Latin American Club, where I had the opportunity to work with an amazing team to create events, run fundraisers, and other participate in other activities, and I launched the Project Management Club. FXUA has also given me the chance to be the Student Recruitment and Marketing Assistant for South America, to help meet the educational needs of the continent’s people. Since the time I started at FXUA, I have also been awarded two separate scholarships for my undertakings – the Special Achievement and Student Activity scholarships.

As a current master student in the Project Management program, I am already a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It was a great satisfaction to have received this certification on a global level through FXUA. It is also a privilege for me to have worked alongside Dr. Stephen Onu day-by-day in this process. I really appreciated the information he provided and his instruction, mixed with his past experience, really added value to the training. My teammates and I can now manage projects successfully and have the encouragement to manage our professional career. Now, I am preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certificate from the hand of FXUA and its knowledgeable instructors.

My professional success is just beginning. I know that when I graduate, with a Master of Science in Project Management, I will not only hold a degree and a couple of certificates to reflect my qualifications, but I will also have the confidence and experience to assume leadership positions in a wide variety of project management capacities. Thank you, Fairfax University of America!

Maria Del Mar Garces, CAPM
Alumni, MBA in Project Management