Justine M. Theer, Associate of Arts in Elementary Education (AAEE) ’09, creates a fanciful story about a boy who is forced to take action when Christmas is outlawed in The Backwards Town. With the help of a few friends, including a mysterious new girl, nine-year-old Johnny proves that when the stakes are high, anything is possible. The Backwards Town is an inspiration story geared toward children of all ages.

Justine M. Theer has been a soldier, a volunteer firefighter, a ranch hand, an author and this past August, she became mom to a beautiful baby daughter named Rose. Theer is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree.

The Backwards Town can be purchased at amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and will soon be available as an Amazon Kindle eBook.

In Start with Humility, Michael Comer, Doctor of Management of Organizational Leadership (DM) ’03,, explores the role of humility in leadership. Comer and co-author Dr. Merwyn Hayes discuss what humility is and what it is not, addressing the topic through the stories of five highly successful leaders who exemplify humility as the core of their leadership style. Start with Humility, is an excellent tool for leaders at all levels and types of organizations.

Dr. Michael Comer is a consulting partner with The Hayes Group International Inc., responsible for areas of organizational and team development, leadership assessment and development, executive coaching and training development and delivery. Comer has more than 25 years of consulting experience and his planning and team development sessions have helped senior-level leaders improve working relationships, productivity and effectively manage conflict.

Start with Humility, can be purchased at startwithhumility.com and amazon.com.

Washington

Snoqualmie
In his quest to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents, Brian Dickinson, Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in Technology Management (MBA/TM) ’03, recently ticked off a major milestone: Mt. Everest. Dickinson began his harrowing climb on May 11, returning safely in the wee hours of May 15. Throughout the four-day expedition, Dickinson had a few close calls to say the least. “I actually solo’d the mountain and then went blind on the summit. I had to descend alone and then ran out of oxygen, so it was pretty intense and I was lucky to survive,” he says.

Phoenix Focus first profiled Dickinson and his seven-summit goal in its January issue. Everest marks Dickinson’s fourth climbing expedition, many of which were paired with a charitable service project. Among them: gathering toys for orphans in Africa (Kilimanjaro) and St. Petersburg, Russia (Mt. Elbrus). Dickinson also leverages the attention he receives for climbing to raise awareness and funds for the AIDs Research Alliance. Dickinson is currently an instructor with University of Phoenix. “I’m not sure if any UOPX professors have [summited Mt. Everest] before,” he says, “… but they have now.”

Brian Dickinson, MBA/TM ’03, a few miles from Mt. Everest’s base camp on a hill called Kala Patthar.

Arizona

Glendale
Annette Reiley, Bachelor of Arts in Management (BAM) ’94, received a Fulbright Teacher Exchange scholarship to teach English at a university in Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico for the 2011/2012 school year. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix in 1994, Reiley obtained her teacher certification and Master of Arts degree in ESL/Bilingual Education. Prior to receiving the Fulbright Teacher Exchange scholarship, Reiley taught Spanish for 15 years at Independence High School in Glendale, Arizona.

Michigan

Auburn Hills
Lieutenant Casimir Miarka, Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSB/M) ’01, won the 2011 Jill Galihugh Outstanding Alumni Award. The award was developed in 2005 by Delta College’s Police Academy in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to showcase an academy graduate who has been a leader in the law enforcement community. Miarka, who oversees the patrol division in Auburn Hills, graduated from Delta’s Police Academy in 1990. This year, he graduated from the 244th session of the FBI National Academy. Miarka has been with the Auburn Hills Police Department since 1991 and has received 20 different departmental awards throughout his 20-year career.

Detroit
Rhonda Raheem, Master of Arts in Education/Elementary Teacher Education (MAED/TED-E) ’10, was named the Detroit Goodfellows Teacher of the Year. Raheem, a teacher at Carstens Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan, received the award based on an entry submitted by nine-year-old student Jenea Stroughter. In an essay explaining why her teacher was special, Stroughter wrote, “Mrs. Raheem loves us like her own kids. She reminds me of a butterfly. We have fun with her.” The Detroit Goodfellows work with public school teachers to identify needy children to receive gifts for Christmas. The contest is a show of appreciation for the teachers.

Maryland

Street
Amy B. Grover, Master of Business Administration (MBA) ’04, has joined H.P. White Laboratory Intertek as manager of Finance and Administration. Grover’s new responsibilities include a wide range of functions from managing the day-to-day activities of numerous departments to performing financial analysis.