Biltmore Who's Who News and Events

Kathy Novik-Layer

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Kathy Novik-Layer as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2011.

Kathy Novik-Layer, Platinum Technician at Hyundai, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Kathy Novik-Layer’s commitment to excellence in Automotive.

Novik-Layer, who studied at the Automotive Training Center from 1997-99, graduated from CHUBB Computer School with honors in 2004, is a certified platinum technician through Hyundai with a lifetime worth of experience in the field. 

At the early age of seventeen, Novik-Layer remembers working on her father’s car and enjoying every minute of it.  Now a technician for one of the largest car companies in the world, she helps diagnose cars with a Global Diagnostic System, as well as small jobs like changing tires and doing engine and transmission work for customers.

“My parents taught me that when I do something to give it my best,” Novik-Layer said.  “Your work speaks for itself and it cannot be taking away no matter how hard someone may try.”

Hoping to someday pay it forward and teach, Novik-Layer wants to inspire more females to jump into the field and not be underestimated for their abilities.  She also hopes to continue in her education and possibly write a book.

Novik-Layer is certified in a number of different areas, including Hybrid for Hyundai, Landscaping, Corporate Protection Specialist, Leadership Development and Supervision, Platinum Skills Challenge, Entourage New Model and Technologies, KIA Motors America, OBD 2 Engine Management, Saturn Orientation at Spring Hill, Saturn Technical Training IA and Saturn Technical Training IIA.  She has been featured in numerous newspapers throughout her career, and has also received a Letter of Congratulations from State Representative William Adolph for making the first female platinum technician for Hyundai in her county. When Kathy isn’t busy working, she enjoys going motorcycle riding, landscaping and fishing.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Kathy Novik-Layer
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, December 30, 2011

Mehmet T. Aritan

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Mehmet T. Aritan as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2011.

Mehmet T. Aritan, Professor Emeritus, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Mehmet T. Aritan’s commitment to excellence in Higher Education.

Aritan, who holds a BA in Geography with a minor in Geology from the University of Nebraska, an MA in Geography from the University of Kentucky, and a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Kentucky, joined the Geography and Earth Science Department in 1979. 

Having dedicated thirty years to his field, Aritan retired at the close of the 2008-09 school year.  He has traveled extensively in many regions, four continents and twenty-five countries of the world as a student, tourist, observer and teacher.  His research included the regions of the Middle East, Central and South Asia and Africa.  Much of his research focused on socio-economic development and urbanization trends and disease ecology/medical geography of these regions.  Aritan taught courses in physical geography and world culture, including teaching assignments at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the University of Kentucky and Winona State University.

“I have always enjoyed being in the classroom, as a student and as a professor,” Aritan said about his very long and successful career in education.  “I had good fortune of having a handful heady and promising students as my advisees out of nearly ten thousand that I had in my classes.  In higher education we should aim to educate all in geography; a holistic science so to produce well rounded global citizens for our future.”

Aritan served as treasurer and past chairman of the West Lakes Division of the Association of American Geographers.  He also served on the advisory board to the International Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, as an advisor to the International Students’ Organization and was on the Board of Directors for the Riverland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.    He conducted a regional conference, numerous workshops and symposiums and also attended many international, national, regional and local conferences.  He published five articles, numerous chapters to books, software and book reviews in his field.  Aritan was also awarded with a Writing Emphasis Certification and was nominated for the Most Accessible Teacher Award.  He was also named an honorary citizen for the states of Nebraska and Kentucky.  When Mehmet isn’t busy, he enjoys watching soccer, travelling, playing poker and listening to music.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Mehmet T. Aritan
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, December 23, 2011

Jewel Sophia Younge

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Jewel Sophia Younge as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2011.

Jewel Sophia Younge, Professor at Olive-Harvey College, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Jewel Sophia Younge’s commitment to excellence in Education.

Younge, who holds a BA in English and Theater from Amherst College, an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago, and an MA in the Art of Teaching from Washington Univeristy of St. Louis, began teaching in the fall of 1996 after training as an America Reads tutor working at German Gerena Community School in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

Currently teaching Humanities and Composition, Younge has continuously contributed to the revival of the performing arts program, serving as founding chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department.  She also held a number of faculty administrative roles, most recently coordinating Level UP, a six week quick start program designed to improve the academic skills of our incoming students and eliminate or reduce their need for pre-college credit coursework.  She also served as a lobbyist for the renovation of the Bruce Cherry Theater.

“One of the most important aspects of my career preparation came when I served as a full-time volunteer for the Democratic Party during the election of 2000,” Younge explained.  “The skills I learned and practiced as a grass roots organizer have formed how I approach all aspects of my work.”

Having had a wonderful grandfather as a role model and positive influence all her life, Younge hopes to pursue other goals in the near future.  She would like to oversee a small children’s home, providing a safe home and strong educational platform for children in their early to late teens that live under the supervision of the foster care and adoption system.

Younge is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.  She has contributed to numerous publications and has written several books.  She has also written numerous play and films throughout her career and received numerous awards, including a Promise Play and Very Offensive Play Award, a James Baldwin Playwriting Award, the Edward Jones Prize, was awarded for He Ain’t Heavy: Chicago, received honorable mention for the Lamia Ink One-Page Play Competition, received an award for Everything Outlaws are Made Of, was named the National Novel Writing Month Winner and received an Outstanding Reference Source Award.  When Jewel isn’t busy working, she enjoys cooking and roller skating.

For more information, visit http://www.ccc.edu.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Jewel Sophia Younge
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, December 16, 2011

Bernard McPherson

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Bernard McPherson as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2011.

Bernard McPherson, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Hawaii Pacific University, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Bernard McPherson’s commitment to excellence in Education.

McPherson, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Dallas Baptist University and a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from the University of Hawaii, is also a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Nurse Practitioner Program.  He is a also a licensed women’s health nurse practitioner who began working in the healthcare field in 1983. 

After working in a medical-surgical unit, the emergency room and in obstetric nursing before becoming a nurse practitioner in 1998, McPherson now teaches undergraduate and nurse practitioner students at the University.

McPherson is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  He is the recipient of numerous awards, including a President’s Award in 1991 from President George Bush, a Best Clinical Breast Exam Award in 2001 and a President’s Challenge Gold Award from President Barack Obama in 2011.  He plans to work toward his doctorate degree in the very near future.  When Bernard isn’t busy working, he enjoys practicing Shaolin Kung Fu, where is currently a seventh degree black belt.

For more information, visit http://hpu.edu.

© 2007, Biltmore Who's Who
www.biltmorewhoswhoblog.com

Bernard McPherson
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, December 2, 2011