Finished Ahead Of, Ahead Schedule: A Story of Unintentional Thirst for Knowledge.
In 2015 after I experienced a layoff, I enrolled in a doctoral program in Petroleum Engineering at CSM, a semester later, I got a job and ran very far away from the school with determination never to go back to school.
And I was doing right by that determination until 2017 when my village people forced me back to school due to boredom living in Indiana. After Indiana (which was a very good experience), I reaffirmed my dedication to stay far away from anything school again. I was doing great until the spring of 2022, when my village people prevailed again.
I got accepted into Liberty University’s Business School to pursue a doctorate in Strategic Management. According to my acceptance letter, my expected graduation date is May 2026 if I stay on course.
But I don’t stay on course, that’s regular – I stay ahead of course.
Having completed an MBA in Strategic Management, I was able to breeze through my 45 credit hours of course work like a rocket and jumped into research work.
And by end of January 2025, my chair signaled that i may be able to graduate a year ahead – this spring, and went ahead to schedule my committee defense for April 8, 2025.
I suspended sleep and went on steroids to put my almost 2 years of research work together.
In another twist of event, on Wednesday the 12th, having secured the last signature from my review committee, my Chair told me that there is a spot-on Feb 17th if I can be ready to present my work but no pressure. But I unintentionally like pressure so I jumped on it – again, ahead of the initial schedule.
Fast forward to this morning the 17th, after 45 mins of presentation and another 45 mins of questions and answer, my chair, Dr. John Obradovich led my committee to say: “Congratulations Dr. Nwaiwu, you have done a lot of work here and I’m glad to be part of it. ”..
It was at that point that I knew that nwa Dee Mike has done it again, and unintentionally.
Allow me therefore, my friends, to re-introduce to you:
Dr. Macmichael Kelechi Nwaiwu, P.E, MBA. (opara Dee Mike and mpa Mike).
Here are my academic credentials:
BEng, Petroleum Engineering (Second Class upper division with honors) – Federal University of Technology, Owerri Nigeria. 2009
MSc, Petroleum Engineering (summa cum laude) – University of Houston -Main, Houston TX. 2013
MBA, Strategic Management (summa cum laude) – Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, Bloomington IN. 2019
Doctorate, Strategic Management – Liberty University, Lynchburg VA. 2025
Major Licenses/Certs:
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Professional Engineer (PE) – Licensed in the states of Texas and Indiana
Project Management Professional (PMP) – Global credential of PMI
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) – IAASC
Certificates and transcripts and classmates dey for all these achievements. No BAT thing for here.
My village people whispered to me as soon as i finished my defense that i will make a good lawyer and i immediately screamed the blood of Jesus in rebuke. Umunnem, agazim agugbu onwem?
But I know how they operate, ha piaram guru ga. I am therefore waiving my rights and empowering all of you to physically restrain me until i cannot move if you see me near a school again as a student… Lol
Outside of joke (even though I’m incapable of seriousness), I do not take these achievements for granted. I am very thankful to all those that have inspired my desire to thirst for knowledge especially my family, friends, mentors and mentees.
On May 8th 2025, at the Liberty University arena, i will be raising my scrolls to you all. Please accept this as my formal invitation to join my commencement at Lynchburg, VA on the above date.
I dedicate this one to the memories of my parents, Michael and Bernadette Nwaiwu and to my Godfather, Osi Opara.
His Love endures,
Engr. Dr. Macmichael Nwaiwu.
