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Sabah, President/CEO

Is the founder of Sabah’s Global Enterprise, LLC (SGE)  and a non-profit organization that she named after her mother, The Doris A. Keith Foundation Inc.  She currently serves as the President and CEO of both organizations. She is also currently a full-time doctoral student and professor of Political Science; while devoting herself to building both organizations full-time.  

 

Prior to launching her businesses, Sabah worked as Program Manager in the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Clark Atlanta University. In her role as Program Manager she managed the university’s education abroad program, including the university’s yearly China Cultural Exchange Program. She traveled to multiple countries assisting with recruitment of international students for the university and processing documents for international students on F1 visas and their families. She has experience in obtaining and reviewing articulation agreements and memoranda of understanding with colleges, universities, and education abroad companies.

 

Additionally, she assisted international students with transitioning into American culture and society without forgetting their own. She offered services that were outside of her responsibilities as Program Manager, by assisting students with resume building, tutoring, and writing letters of recommendations for them. She also assisted international students with their quest for employment and internships, preparing for job interviews, and applying for postgraduate opportunities. She also assisted them with finding housing and transportation options. She has even gone as far as helping some of them locate halal markets, religious centers, and communities with which they identified.

 

Sabah has a deep passion for helping others, especially foreign nationals who are not privy to the same amenities as domestic nationals . While working in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, she noticed a need for an organization that catered to international students, immigrants, refugees, and asylees; an organization to assist them with their transition to a foreign country, as well as their growth and development. Sabah’s Global Enterprise was born out of that passion.

 

Sabah earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of South Alabama. After completing her Bachelor's degree, she relocated to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue a Master’s of Public Administration degree in International Administration and Development Management from Clark Atlanta University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Political Science with specialties in International Relations, African Politics, Public Administration, and U.S. Government and Policy. Sabah is also TEFL/TESOL certified. 

 

president@sabahsge.com

Dr. Ron Finnell, Chief Operating Officer

Served as Chair/Associate Professor of the Public Administration Department at Clark Atlanta University (CAU).  He also was Director of the Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy at CAU. In addition to his administrator and faculty roles at CAU, he served as Chair of the Faculty Assembly, and member of the University Senate and the Academic Council.  

 

Prior to his career in higher education, Dr. Finnell served in senior leadership positions at the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). At MSPB, he was a Senior Research Associate in the Office of Policy and Evaluation where he conducted evaluation studies of major systems and programs across the federal government to determine compliance with statutory merit principles promulgated by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.  At DHHS, he conducted evaluation studies of regional office programs across the United States. At ASTD, he conducted a nationwide study of diversity in the American workforce. Dr. Finnell has served on the Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation (COPRA) of the National Association of Schools of Public Administration and Affairs (NASPAA); as Chair and member of site visit teams for NASPAA institutions seeking initial accreditation or reaccreditation; as a member of the Executive Council of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA); and on various committees with ASPA.  His community service activities have included membership on the Citizens Review Board of DeKalb County (GA); the Social Equity Task Force of the Atlanta Beltline Authority; the Fulton County (GA) Task Force on Judicial Safety; the Atlanta Regional Commission Diversity Committee; the Public Policy Committee of the Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA; and the Georgia Law-Related Education Committee.  He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society as well as Pi Alpha Alpha, the national honor society for public administration and affairs.  In 2011, he was selected as educator of the year by the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA).

 

He also has served as a national and international consultant for numerous organizations in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors on issues of organizational effectiveness and equity.  He has conducted research and consulted in Ghana, Botswana, The U.S. Virgin Islands, and Austria. His current professional and research interests include social equity, community and economic development, and international administration and development.  He received the Doctorate and Master of public administration degrees from the University of Southern California, as well as a Master’s degree in legal studies from the Antioch School of Law, and a Bachelor’s degree in business and government from the University of Maryland.

coo@sabahsge.com

Dr. Fasil Cherenet, Director of Internationl Affairs (East Africa)

Is an Assistant Professor of Political Science in the Social Sciences Department at Georgia State University-Perimeter College. Dr. Cherenet has over fifteen years of teaching experience in the following areas: International Relations, Comparative Politics, African Politics, Global Issues, and American government and Politics. In additional to teaching at Georgia State University, He has taught at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College and Strayer University.

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Before joining Georgia State University, Dr. Cherenet worked as a Board President and Director for the Ethiopian Community Association in Atlanta, GA. During his tenure, he served as a Board member at the state level with the State of Georgia Immigrant HIV/AIDS Advisory board. Additionally, he served as a member of the African Resource Network; a national consortium of agencies working with new African migrants settled in the United States. He co-owned a commission agency that specialized in imports/exports to and from Ethiopia. He also co-owned a restaurant that specialized in Ethiopian cuisine.

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Dr. Cherenet has practical experience in grant writing, project management, and fundraising. He managed more than half a million dollars of a federally funded grant for the Ethiopian Community Association in Atlanta (ECAA), and designed and implemented a mentoring program for the ECAA in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta. Additionally he oversaw the  volunteer recruitment, training, and management for the ECAA.

Before coming to the United States, Dr. Cherenet worked at various public and private organizations in Ethiopia. Some of those organizations include the  Economic Commission for Africa, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Addis Ababa Master plan project, General Business Development Firm, and Ethiopian Airline.

 

Dr. Cherenet received his Ph.D. in Political Science and M.A. in International Affairs & Development from Clark Atlanta University; a certificate in Project Management from Georgia State University School of Business; and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Public Policy. He received his B.A in Political Science and International Relations and a Diploma in Library Science from Addis Ababa University.

 

Dr. Cherenet’s research interests include, but are not limited to, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Development and Social Change, and Nonprofit Management. His dissertation work focused on the role of the Ethiopian Diaspora in the Political Process in Ethiopia.

eastafrica@sabahsge.com

Ms. Kwanele Shishane, Director of International Affairs & Development (South Africa)

Ms. Kwanele Shishane is a Social Work PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town, Department of Social Development. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Social Work from UCT.

 

Kwanele Shishane is a recipient of various fellowships and awards including the United States Fulbright Visiting Researcher Fellowship - Clark Atlanta University, The John and Margarete Overbeek Merit Award, The National Research Foundation- grant holder linked scholarship, the Harry Crossley Research Fellowship, The NIHSS-SAHUDA Fellowship and a bursary from the Department of Social Development. Ms. Shishane has participated in different institutions as a researcher and/or teacher, those institutions include: Durban University of Technology (DST/NRF Research intern), and University of KwaZulu-Natal (adjunct lecturer teaching Social Work Theory and Field Practice, Social Policy and Legislation, and supervised fourth (4th) year research students).

 

Ms. Shishane has participated in research methods modules locally (South Africa) and internationally and is well vested in both qualitative and quantitative research. She has collaborated in research projects and presented at numerous conferences both locally and internationally. She is a member of the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP), South African Association for Institutional Research (SAAIR), South African Research & Innovation Management Association (SARIMA), National Association for Black Social Workers, Worldwide Universities Network, Golden key International honor society, Fulbright Alumni, and International Exchange Alumni. Ms Shishane’s current research focuses on mental health, recidivism and substance use. She is passionate about research, teaching and learning, and international collaboration in efforts to exchange knowledge to combat global issues. 

Dorothy Graves, Director of Academic Affairs

Is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Public Health as well as teaching certifications for English and English as a Second Language. She also volunteered as a test prep tutor in the Mobile County Public School System and worked as a Spanish teaching assistant and tutor for the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

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Dorothy earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in International Relations and Spanish from The University of South Alabama. While matriculating through her undergraduate degrees, Dorothy was an active member of the National Residence Hall Honorary Society, Tau Sigma National Honor Society, Honors Program Organization, and Circle K, a community service organization. In addition, she spent a semester studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. After graduating, she spent a year at George Washington University studying Latin American and Hemispheric studies and teaching high school Spanish.

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Dorothy also began helping other students prepare and submit essays, resumes, and additional required documents for undergraduate and graduate admissions, as well as scholarship opportunities. Her tutoring specialties include Spanish, test prep, Algebra I and II, Social Science, general study skills, and essay writing. Dorothy brings 10 years of academic writing and editing experience to the team and has worked with a range of students, from middle school to doctoral candidates. Dorothy understands that the admissions process can be overwhelming for students and families and uses her talents to help students find their niche and express themselves through writing.   

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Dorothy currently resides in Washington, DC where she is active in the academic community, serving as a private tutor and educational consultant. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, writing instruction, academic critiques and working with ESL students. Her international relations and extensive English background have prepared her to work with students of various backgrounds and polish their writing.

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In addition to her own academic pursuits and helping others, Dorothy takes advantage of the cultural exposure and opportunities in the DC area. A lifelong fan of learning, she enjoys attending events within the community, socializing and exploring new places.

advisement@sabahsge.com

Rae Clark, Special Assistant to the CEO & COO

Is currently a Logistics Specialist in the United States Navy. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, Ms. Clark worked as a Therapeutic Specialist in Pennsylvania. As a Therapeutic Specialist, she was responsible for assisting, uplifting, and teaching grade school children who were challenged with developmental disabilities. Those disabilities included, but were not limited to, Autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), sexual and physical abuse, and Asperger's syndrome. During Ms. Clark’s tenure as a Therapeutic Support Specialist, she realized she wanted to implement that same aid to a broader community of children and adults. She concluded that one way to aid a community that is often disenfranchised - community of foreign nationals - would be to join the United States Navy.  She felt that her career could expand on an international level, and believed that the military would afford her such opportunity.

 

As a Logistics Specialist, Ms. Clark is responsible for assisting her fellow sailors with everyday work essentials that fall within: logistics and supply management, purchasing/procurement, quality assurance, material handling and expediting, contract administration, and hazardous waste management. Ms. Clark is certified in weapons of various calibers, and undergoes annual certification to assure she is in compliance of being conscious and open to the many cultures that she is actively exposed to in her military role. This certification keeps her aware of the sensitivities individuals are born into and reminds her to avoid being judgmental, and to be open to those who are different. Ms. Clark truly loves learning about the various cultures and all things associated with them.

 

Her international work experience includes traveling to: Croatia, Dubai, Spain, and Greece. However, she distinctly highlights her work in Croatia as her most memorable thus far. While in Croatia, Ms. Clark, was responsible for arranging meetings between local community leaders and her United States Navy dignitaries.

 

Ms. Clark annually volunteers for Virginia’s Multicultural Caribbean Committee, as a way to stay connected to the international community. She earned her Bachelor’s of Art degree from the University of South Alabama in Political Science and Sociology.  Ms. Clark believes that her personal, educational, and military experiences has assisted in her development and growth, which contributes immensely to her openness and broad mindedness to the ever evolving world she lives in.

assistant@sabahsge.com

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