Newsletter

Dr. Layli Maparyan, UCL Co-Founder, Appointed 16th President of the University of Liberia

January 17, 2025
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For Immediate Release
January 14,2025

                         

For more information, please contact Hon. Cynthia L. Blandford
                                                                                                          at +1 678-612-2192 or cblandford@UCLiberia.com

 

UCL Co-Founder and Board Member Appointed as the 16th President of the University of Liberia

As President and Co-Founder of the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL), I am delighted to announce that the UCL Co-Founder and Board Member Dr. Layli Maparyan, wasappointed the 16th President of the University of Liberia (UL) on Friday, January 10, 2025,at the Fendall Campus, Louisiana, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia. On thissame occasion, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic ofLiberia, received the Doctor of Laws Degree (Honoris Causa).

I was honored to witness the inauguration of my friend and colleague Dr. Layli Maparyan, along with distinguishedGovernment of Liberia Officials and UL Board of Trustees including Hon. Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Minister of Education,Hon. Augustine K. Ngafuan, Minister of Finance & Development Planning, Hon. Senator Numene T.H. Bartekwa, UL BoardChair, and other UL Trustees, former Presidents of UL, students, faculty, faculty senate, alumni, staff, administrators, other University Presidents, and guests, who shared in this auspicious occasion. Professor Al-Hassan Conteh, PhD., former UL Acting President and 12th UL President, also gave his farewell address after passing the baton to the new President.

Dr. Maparyan’s inaugural address was inspiring and uplifting as she outlined her values as the incoming President of UL, with the “Five Es” to include Education, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Excellence, and Ethics. As the UCL President, I have personally witnessed these qualities in Dr. Maparyan firsthand and know that she will be an outstanding leader. As an alumna of UL (1975), I look forward to working with her to help bring UL up to international standards.

His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia and Visitor ofthe University of Liberia, appointed Dr. Layli Maparyan as the 16th President of the University of Liberia, founded in 1951, formerly Liberia College founded in 1862. This historic appointment follows the approval of the   University’s Board of Trustees inaccordance with the University of Liberia’s Charter.

In his letter of appointment, President Boakai expressed confidence in Dr. Maparyan’s ability, integrity, and extensive experience, emphasizing his trust that she would demonstrate these qualities in service to the University and the nation. Her selection followed a rigorous search process conducted by the University of Liberia Board of Trustees’ Search Committee, which identified her as a leading candidate for the position, so stated the Press Release from the Executive Mansion.

Dr. Maparyan holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University and an M.S. in Psychology from Penn State University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Philosophy (cum laude) from Spelman College. She has a distinguished academic career, having served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Georgia StateUniversity’s Women’s Studies Institute and Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia’s Department of Psychology and Institute for African American Studies.

Dr. Maparyan was the first post-war Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia in 2010. She has also been recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Citizen Award for Service to the Liberian Community (2009). Dr. Maparyan, who is married to a Liberian, will officially assume her duties as President on January 10, 2025, the day of her induction.

In December 2024, the UCL Board approved two new board members including Mr. Jerome Barnard, and Adem Sonii. Jerome received a Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA) from A. Romeo Horton College of Business & Public Administration, University of Liberia in 2017, a Master of Public Administration (MPA), McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California in 2024, and he is currently a PhD Candidate of Global Health Ethics, Duquesne University of the Catholic Holy Spirit, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jerome was also a recipient of the UCL scholarship program. Adem Sonii, of Atlanta, Georgia, received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology University of West Georgia and an MBA in Business Management from the University ofGeorgia in 2024. Adem was also instrumental in providing leadership to the UCL’s scholarship fundraising dinner and activities. We welcome these two outstanding young Liberians who will continue to make great contributions to theUCL.

UCL is dedicated to coordinating diverse academic efforts between Liberia and the global community. Since 2009,UCL has collaborated with students, university faculty, and other academic professionals to increase learning in Liberia and the United States. Honorable Blandford and Dr. Maparyan were instrumental in securing a :5 million, 5-year USAID grant to establish a Center of Excellence for Forestry, Biodiversity, and Conservation Leadershipand Green Enterprise Development (the FBC Center) at the University of Liberia Fendell Campus. Collaborating partners include the University of Georgia (UGA; lead institution), the University of Liberia (UL), the Forestry Training Institute (FTI), Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University (AAMU), Tuskegee University (TU), theWellesley Centers for Women (WCW) at Wellesley College, the University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Resilient Africa Network (RAN) in Uganda.

For more information on the UCL, please visit our website at www.UCLiberia.com.

Photo Credits: Matthew Jacobs

 

 

 

 

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2015-2020 UCL IMPACT AND OVERVIEW REPORT

February 5, 2021
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University-Consortium-for-Liberia-logo-FINAL

    2015 – 2020 UCL IMPACT AND OVERVIEW REPORT

Dear UCL Institutional Partners, Stakeholders, Sponsors, Alumni, and Friends: February 2021

On behalf of the UCL Board of Directors, I am pleased to present to you a 5-year High-Level Impact and Overview Report on the University Consortium for Liberia’s (UCL) Institutional Partners and “Where are They Now” UCL Alumni Student Success Stories.

We are proud to announce that we have 18 Institutional Partners who have provided leadership and support to Liberia over the past 6 or more years and for this, we are truly thankful.  As we look to the future together, we want to thank our partners, stakeholders, sponsors, alumni, and friends for their generous donations and sponsorships to help UCL scholars to further their educational dreams and goals. We are also pleased to announce that Dr. George T. French, President of Clark Atlanta University, will be joining our leadership team as the Honorary Chair, and Dr. Michael Best, Georgia Tech Professor with the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and School of Interactive Computing will serve as an advisor to the UCL on IT solutions, interactive computing, and e-learning.

As we embark on our fundraising goals for 2021-2022, during this difficult time of the Coronavirus pandemic, we hope that you will join us for some unique fundraising activities including our $.50 Cent Campaign, Virtual Auctions, and Special On-Line Events/Webinars to help raise funds to help support our UCL Scholarship Program.

We look forward to seeing you soon and please feel free to reach out to us at 404-565-1154 or by e-mail at cblandford@UCLiberia.com. You can also visit our website at www.UCLiberia.com for the latest information.

Wishing you a safe and prosperous New Year!

CB SIGNATURE

 

 

Cynthia L. Blandford

President and Board Chair

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Cuttington University Meet and Greet with UCL

February 15, 2020
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In January 2020, University Consortium for Liberia (UCL)  President & CEO, Cynthia Blandford visited Cuttington University and met with President Dr. Herman Browne, Dr. Charles Ford, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Ms. Precious M. Marshall-Feury, Associate Vice President. This meeting was to discuss a new educational partnership between the UCL in Atlanta, Georgia  and Cuttington University to provide Faculty and Student Exchange, Study Abroad and Experiential Learning.

Cuttington University is the newest member of the UCL making 18 Institutional Partners. Honorary Consul Blandford serves as President and Board Chair of the UCL.

Cuttington University_1Cuttington University_2

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UCL Scholarship Newsletter

June 17, 2018
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by UCL
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UNIVERSITY CONSORTIUM FOR LIBERIA SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA AND UCL DELEGATION MEETS WITH NEW MINISTER OF EDUCATION

Almost 150 students from the University of Liberia UL), African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), Stella Maris Polytechnic and other institutions of higher learning attended the first University Consortium for Liberia (UCL) Scholarship Workshop held at the UL Fendell Campus on May 22, 2018. The UCL was first established in 2009 in collaboration with Dr. Emmet Dennis, President of the University of Liberia and Cynthia Blandford, Honorary Consul General Republic of Liberia in Georgia.  UCL became a non-profit organization in 2015 and has 16 Institutional Partners. The UCL Scholarship is open to Liberian students and/or students of Liberian descent pursuing a post-secondary education at U.S. College or University.

UCL group photo

Group Photo with Workshop Participants

Two members of the UCL Board facilitated an information packed workshop to inform, educate and provide information on scholarships to Liberian students including Cynthia Blandford, Honorary Consul General Republic of Liberia, and President and Board Chair of the UCL along with Saki Golafale, UCL Treasurer, and UCL recipient pursuing a PhD. In chemistry at Clark Atlanta University.  Matilda Arhin, President of the Ghana International Chamber of Commerce, USA, and Consultant to the UCL, also presented 25 additional scholarship offerings to the students.  The UL host for the occasion was Dr. Mamawa Freeman-Moore, Director of the Honors Program at UL, representing Dr. Ophelia Weeks, President of UL.  Dr. Joseph Isaac, President of AMEU and UCL Institutional Partner, brought the welcome and greetings to students and faculty.

The purpose of the UCL Scholarship Workshop was to give an overview of the UCL Scholarship Guidelines and Application, review other U.S. Scholarship opportunities and to discuss the F1 Visa.  A lively discussion took place as students had questions regarding the 16 UCL partners institutions in the U.S. and challenges with the F1 visa. The UCL Scholarship Deadline has been extended until July 31, 2018. At the conclusion of the Workshop, the UCL Board presented Chemistry books, the Periodical Table and other educational materials to the UL Science Lab.

The UCL Delegation also attended the Ministry of Education 2018 National Education Summit in Kakata City, Margibi County. President George Manneh Weah officially launched the 2018-2028 plan at the Booker Washington Institute which carved out four main focal points; “curricular amendments, teacher development, school management and equipped infrastructure.  According to sources, the summit brought together over 300 education specialists, policymakers, parents, business and community leaders, teachers as well as others with interest in seeing Liberia’s education system succeed.

UCL delegation meets Minister of Education, Prof. Ansu Sonii

UCL delegation meets Minister of Education, Prof. Ansu Sonii

As a follow-on, the UCL Delegation also had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Education Professor Ansu D. Sonii, Sr. and to hear his vision one-on-one in his office.  The UCL President, Madame  Blandford, extended an invitation to Minister Sonii to be the guest speaker at the UCL Annual Scholarship event which will be held at Georgia State University later this year.

For more information on the UCL, Educational Scholarships and the F1 visa, please contact the UCL office at 404-565-1154 or at www.UCLiberia.com. Download UCL Scholarship Workshop Newsletter 2018

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