TODAY news - Nov. 21, 2002

Thursday, November 21, 2002 TODAY

Loma Linda University news

Office of student affairs presents December chapel programs

Pamela Rathbun, MA

Loma Linda University chapel programs for the month of December will feature a speaker from Loma Linda University.

Pamela Rathbun, MA, is the featured speaker for the chapel program on December 4.

Ms. Rathbun is a graduate of the clinical ministry program offered through the Graduate School. Currently, she is assistant campus chaplain for Loma Linda University.

Loma Linda University chapel programs are sponsored by the office of student affairs and are held in the University Church of Seventh-day Adventists on the Loma Linda campus. Programs are held every Wednesday from 8:10 to 9:00 a.m.

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LLU Foundation helps Solusi University in Zimbabwe, Africa

In June, 2001, Loma Linda University Foundation received a request for assistance from Solusi University, a fully-accredited private university in Zimbabwe, Africa, affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Solusi University had an enrollment of more than 900 students, but very few working computers. University administration was considering canceling some computer courses because of the lack of resources. LLU Foundation decided to accept the challenge and provide a solution for Solusi University. The Foundation began to gather and refurbish many outdated computers which they had collected throughout the years.

Information technology departments around Loma Linda University were also contacted for assistance. LLU Foundation network manager Joe Njoloma, MBA, offered to go to Solusi University and assist with the installation and configuration of a new network system.

Donated computers, peripherals, and networking equipment were collected from the School of Allied Health Professions, the School of Medicine, LLU purchasing department, MicroSystem Support, and Foundation Network Administration. The equipment was then tested, cataloged, and sorted, ready for packaging.

Loma Linda University purchasing department donated boxes and packaging materials, while LLU printing services donated more packaging supplies, the use of their truck, and the use of their warehouse space and equipment. These generous donations made it possible for the foundation network administration staff to do a professional job of packaging all the computer equipment for the long sea voyage to Africa.

When everything was packed and ready to go, the consignment was picked up by a General Conference transportation department truck and taken to San Francisco where it was loaded into a container for shipment to Africa. The container would take as many as seven weeks to arrive in Zimbabwe.

The All Nations African Seventh-day Adventist Church, Highland, assisted by paying for part of the shipping cost of the 40-foot container to Zimbabwe.

After the shipment arrived in Zimbabwe, Mr. Njoloma left for Africa in June and spent some time at Solusi University diagnosing existing network issues, redesigning the network infrastructure to maximize throughput, installing servers and equipment, and improving network performance and security. Mr. Njoloma also trained the IT staff at Solusi in installation and maintenance of the network equipment, and returned to Loma Linda two weeks later.

In all, 56 desktop computers and two servers were donated to Solusi University, along with scanners, printers, cables, software, extra parts, and a pallet full of various computer components.

The foundation network administration would like to thank the following for all their generous help, donations, and support:

School of Allied Health Professions
Purchasing department
School of Medicine
MicroSystem support
LLU Foundation
Printing Services
All Nations African Seventh-day Adventist Church, Highland

Solusi University is well-recognized in Zimbabwe, and has a substantial population of non-Zimbabwean African students from around the continent. It follows the American semester timetable and 4.0=A grading scale. The university has a school of business as well as a school of arts and sciences and offers both BA and MA degrees.

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Who’s Who recognizes Loma Linda University Foundation network manager Joe Burton Njoloma

Mr. Njoloma

In April, 2002, the International Who’s Who of Information Technology, a specific industrial category of the International Who’s Who Historical Society, recognized Joe Burton Njoloma, MBA, network manager for Loma Linda University Foundation.

Mr. Njoloma was honored for his demonstrated knowledge, expertise, and achievements, and continued outstanding contribution to the information technology industry.

As network manager, Mr. Njoloma is responsible for maintaining the Foundation’s technological and e-commerce infrastructure. Applying timely and relevant technical expertise, he coordinates the activities of personnel engaged in information technology maintenance, ensuring the proficiency and critical security of all network systems, databases, and proprietary systems that constitute the LLU Foundation’s business and information systems infrastructure. Mr. Njoloma is also responsible for integrating innovative software programs and hardware technologies, developing and implementing timely and strategic business and information technology solutions, performing intricate system diagnostics, upgrades, configurations, and repairs. In addition, Mr. Njoloma performs the critical duties of system administration and network support, guaranteeing that end users have appropriate access to relevant information on the internet, intranets, and immediate access to technical assistance.

Mr. Njoloma received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Andrews University. He then completed his MBA in information systems at California State University. Mr. Njoloma also holds a postgraduate diploma in network engineering from Capella University. Perpetually seeking to expand his professional horizons, Mr. Njoloma holds several network engineering and information technology certifications and maintains professional relationships with a number of industry associations.

The International Who’s Who of Information Technology recognizes achievers who have made their mark in information technology in all areas of business. The mission of the International Who’s Who of Information Technology is to recognize successful information technology professionals by listing them among their peers and to provide a forum that introduces them to one another, thus enabling them to further expand their success. There are more than 80,000 Who’s Who members in more than 150 countries.

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Faculty Notes

Carlos A. Casiano, PhD, assistant professor, department of biochemistry and microbiology, Center for Molecular Biology and Gene Therapy, was a speaker at the 6th Dresden Symposium of Autoantibodies held in Dresden, Germany, September 4 to 7, 2002. Dr. Casiano discussed his latest research on the cleavage of nuclear autoantigens during apoptotic cell death and its implications for systemic autoimmunity. Dr. Casiano also co-chaired the session on induction of autoantibodies and was a member of the international advisory committee of this symposium. He presented a seminar on the same topic at the German Cancer Center, Heidelberg, on September 9, 2002.

Chuck Dart, MBA, was named director of marketing and recruitment for the School of Allied Health Professions. Mr. Dart graduated in 1976 from Southwestern Adventist College (now Southwestern Adventist University) in Keene, Texas, with a BBA in office administration. For 15 years, he was a teacher and/or principal at several academies. He joined the staff of La Sierra University, Riverside, as director of enrollment services in 1991. While at La Sierra University, Mr. Dart earned his MBA. In 1999, he moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan, to become director of enrollment services at Andrews University. His goal for the School of Allied Health Professions is to continue attracting quality students to the school’s programs by assessing the needs of each department and setting strategies and goals.

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Thursday, November 21, 2002 TODAY