Outstanding Recent Graduate Award 2009

2009 Recipients

Manisha Bharti, Bus '05 (MBA/MPH)
Manisha Bharti was a member of the first cohort in the MPH/MBA program.  In a very high performing group, she clearly stood out – because of her intellectual maturity and leadership ability.  When she finished her coursework in the program, she immediately went to work as a senior investigator for the UN Committee investigating Oil-for-Food Program in Iraq.  When the work of that committee concluded, Manisha joined Family Health International, a $400+ million NGO focused on the prevention, care, support, and treatment of HIV and AIDS in 65 countries.  In three years, she has been promoted from director for resource development and external relations to the senior director for external relations to her current position as vice president for planning, development, and communications. In this role as a member of FHI's Executive Team, Manisha oversees FHI's knowledge management initiative, advises on unrestricted funds investment, facilitates change management processes within an outside the organization, and develops business strategy. In addition to her regular professional responsibilities, she has given back to JHU. She has participated in many events at the School of Public Health, speaking to current students about the opportunities that their degrees will allow.  In addition, she has sponsored MPH/MBA and MPH students as inters at FHI, and has coordinated FHI's role as a "client" for Capstone team projects in the MPH/MBA and MBA in Medical Services Management programs. Top

Achamyeles K. Debela, SPH '07
Achamyeles Debela was born and raised in Ethiopia attended Addis Ababa University School of Medicine completing her residency in Pediatrics. As a member of the Ethiopian Armed Forces, she was appointed both head of the Outpatient Department at the Air Force Hospital and of the Department of Pediatrics at the Armed Forces Hospital.  Six years later she was appointed deputy medical director of the Armed Forces General Hospital.  After five years in this position, Achamyeles became associate dean of the Armed Forces Teaching Hospital.  In 2006, she was selected as a DeBeer's African Health Scholar to study for her master in public health degree at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  After receiving her degree, she was appointed dean of the Defense Health Science College and vice commandant of the Defense Health Science College in Ethiopia.  As dean, she oversees the activities of 750 students enrolled in three degree and five diploma programs.  Achamyeles reports having been galvanized by her year in the MPH program: she actively changing the teaching and management approach of the college based to a large degree on her experiences at the Bloomberg School of Public health faculty involved in PEPFAR supported HIV activities. Top

Felix C. Hell, Peab '07 (AD), '08 (MM)
The 23 year old German organ virtuoso Felix Hell has already performed more than 550 recitals in his native Germany, in addition to his concerts abroad, in countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Latvia, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Russia, and the USA, where he performed more than 400 recitals in 44 states. His performances have been broadcast including a 90 minute solo recital, by PIPEDREAMS of Minnesota Public Radio (host: Michael Barone), as well as by radio stations of Germany, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and by the BBC in Great Britain. He was featured on American and German TV. His discography includes eight CDs and career milestones include the performances of the entire organ work of Johann Sebastian Bach both in the USA and Germany in 2006 and 2007.  Felix was born in Frankenthal/Pfalz, Germany, took his first piano lesson at the age of seven, followed by his first organ lesson shortly after his eighth birthday in 1993. In 1994, he participated in the German competition for young musicians Jugend musiziertï, and was awarded with two First Prizes in organ playing, following by First Prizes in 1996 (piano solo), 1997 (organ solo) and 1999 (piano solo). In September 1999, he enrolled at The Juilliard School, New York, where he had been awarded a merit-based full tuition scholarship. In September 2001, Felix Hell was admitted to The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Dr. John Weaver and Alan Morrison. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in May 2004 at the age of 18 and became the youngest Organ Major ever to graduate from Curtis. He went on for graduate studies under the guidance of Professor Donald Sutherland, at the Peabody Conservatory, where he received his Artist Diploma degree in May 2007and completed his studies with the Master of Music degree in 2008. He is a member of the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the German Gesellschaft der Orgelfreunde and the Organ Society of Sydney. He is Organ Artist Associate of St. Peters Lutheran Church in Manhattan, New York City, Distinguished Organist in Residence to the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and very recently he was appointed as Organ Instructor at the Sunderman Conservatory, also in Gettysburg. Top

Zara Husain, Ed '08 (MS)
Zara Husain is a tireless advocate for the deaf and other disabled citizens of Pakistan, her native country. Born with severe hearing loss in both ears, Zara's early education was hampered by a lack of opportunities, technology, and acceptance within her own country. Despite facing physical challenges and societal stigmas, Zara excelled. She eventually moved to the U.S. with her family and graduated from high school a year early. She then returned to Pakistan to attend college and graduate school, becoming the first deaf person to earn a graduate degree from the University of the Punjab in the school's 121-year history. As the top student in her class, she was also awarded a gold medal and 100,000 rupees (about $1,500). She married and moved to the U.S., and continued her education— never letting go of her goal of working with the Higher Education Commission in Pakistan to ensure that those with disabilities get a quality education. In July 2008, after graduating from Johns Hopkins with a master's degree in special education technology, she established a school for the deaf in Lahore, Pakistan, in the speech clinic her mother opened in 2001. With its incorporation of assistive technologies and computer software and hardware to help students learn, the school serves as a model for all Pakistani educators, offering them a vision of how technology can be used to help people with all kinds of disabilities. Top

Bryan McMillan, Bus '00, '02 (MBA)
In the last six years Bryan McMillan has been an exceptional ambassador for Johns Hopkins and the Carey Business School serving in a multitude of leadership volunteer roles. He has made strong contributions to the Business School and the University through his ideas, follow-through and energy. Bryan earned his BS in 2000 and his MBA in 2002. Currently he works for Northrop Grumman, where he is clearly a rising star; promoted several times in the last two years, but it is in his selfless service to the University where he truly shines. Bryan is a former member of the Alumni Council and was a member of the Executive Committee from 2003 to 2007. He chaired the Awards and Nominations Committee and served as a member of the Alumni Council's Policy and Long Range Planning Committee. Currently he is serving as the inaugural Chair for the new Carey Business School Dean's Alumni Advisory Board as well as serving in the following roles for Delta Sigma Pi, Johns Hopkins' business honorary fraternity: Trustee, Leadership Foundation, the Chairman of the 2009 GCC Host Committee and President Emeritus, Board of Directors, Baltimore Alumni Chapter. It is impossible to imagine how Bryan has time for all of these activities, his work and his family—but somehow he finds a way to manage it all with a grace and humility that is unusual. He very rarely says no, especially not to Hopkins, and is always willing to support a new idea, take on a project or lead a group with a positive attitude which is infectious and sets an example to others. Bryan has shared his talent and supported the University financially because he cares deeply about the institution. He often says that he believes that Johns Hopkins and the Carey Business School launched him and his career and that he has a responsibility to give back. Much of what Bryan has given in service to the University has been in formal ways, through committees and councils but he also spends a great deal of time supporting Johns Hopkins informally, sharing his story and experiences and the great value the institution has to offer so many in so many different ways. Top