Apresentação, pelo Dr. Ken Yamada, de Almir Maia, agraciado com o "Prêmio Ken Yamada para Lideranças Notáveis" no dia 27 de maio de 2014 em Hiroshima, Japão.
2014 Ken Yamada IAMSCU
Distinguished Leadership Award
Dr. Almir de Souza Maia of Brazil
The Ken Yamada
Distinguished Leadership Award was created in 2011 by the lnternational
Association of Methodist-related Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Theological
Schools (IAMSCU), and the National Association of Schools, Colleges, and
Universities of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC) of the United States of
America, in recognition and appreciation of an outstanding educator who has
made significant contributions to the Worldwide Methodist Mission in Education.
The IAMSCU Board
of Directors unanimously approved the nomination at this 2014 International
Conference in Hiroshima, Japan. lt is the highest privilege and honor for me to
present The Ken Yamada Distinguished Leadership Award to: Dr. Almir de Souza
Maia of Brazil.
His deep
commitment, dedication, and involvement in worldwide Methodist Education, and
its cause, has manifested throughout his career. What he has done, and his
continuing work, is indeed extraordinary. lt is rather difficult for me to share
with you an extensive list of his accomplishments not only in Methodist
education, but also in State education in Brazil. I can only highlight a few of
his significant achievements tonight. First is that Dr. Maia is a member of the
IAMSCU founding Governing Board. His long tenure of serving on the Board has made
a significant difference in the growth of this association, together with
international exchange programs involving students, faculty, administration,
and the governing board. IAMSCU was established in 1991 with 100 Methodist
schools, colleges, universities, and theological seminaries. The Association
has grown to more than 700 institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America,
and North America; student enrollment is nearly one million. lt has become the largest
Protestant international network in the world.
Dr. Maia's
intentional endeavor to create a collaborative network in South America
generated tangible results such as high quality and dynamic leadership
development. His extensive and intensive research capacity created the IAMSCU
History and Archives. I am sure Dr. Maia would appreciate further inquiries about
IAMSCU.
ln celebration
of the 20th Anniversary of IAMSCU in 2011, Dr. Maia engaged in an extensive
research project and presented the first official IAMSCU History and Archives
at the 2011 IAMSCU Conference in Washington, D. C.
Second is that
Dr. Maia brought together all Methodist educational institutions in South
America and established the International Association of Methodist Educational
lnstitutions in Latin America. The Association has been functioning superbly well
to improve and strengthen its member institutions through mutual support and
technical assistance.
Third is that
Dr. Maia played a major role in designing and founding the first higher education institution for Minority AfroBrazilians.
He visited Clark-Atlanta University in the United States and understands the
missional importance of empowering racial minorities through higher education.
His pioneering spirit and determination led to founding the first higher
education institution, Zumbi dos Palmares College, in Sao Paulo in 2012. This
successful endeavor had a ,major impact for the civic and social lives of
minority persons in Brazil and South America. The College facilitates access to
higher education to minority persons. When you consider that 30% of the
population in Brazil is AfroBrazilian, increasing access to higher education
creates opportunities and empowers minorities, which helps the nations to
prosper and improve the quality of life.
Dr. Maia, I
offer my hearty congratulations on your being the 2014 recipient of the Ken
Yamada Distinguished Leadership Award.
President Ted
Brown and Executive Secretary Gerald Lord present this award.
Ken Yamada
May 27, 2014
