WAU Awards Three Honorary Doctorates at its 104th Commencement Ceremony

Takoma Park, MD (May 16, 2019) Washington Adventist University (WAU) recently celebrated its 104th Commencement Ceremony and awarded three Honorary Doctorates for service to the community, and the University.  The honorees were Michelle Dunkle,  Education Program Specialist for Maryland, Humane Letters for Distinguished Service; Dr. Asefa Mekonnen, Pulmonologist, Humane Letters for Distinguished Service; and Pastor Charles Tapp, Senior Pastor at Sligo Church and Adjunct professor at WAU, Humane Letters for Exemplary Service.

Michelle Dunkle, partnered with WAU in a rigorous review of its Education Department and committed to working with the university to help meet the state requirements. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. Formerly, she was a Program Approval Specialist and Council for Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP) liaison for ten colleges and universities, and Coordinator of Alternative Preparation Programs for the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) before transitioning to Goucher.

“I can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to work with WAU,” expressed Dunkle. It’s amazing what a few people who want to do something and have a passion and a commitment can do.”

Dr. Asefa Mekonnen received his medical degree from Addis Ababa University Faculty of Medicine. He currently works in Rockville, Maryland as a pulmonologist where he specializes in Pulmonary Diseases and Sleep Medicine and is currently Director of the Premier Sleep Disorders Center and Partner at Rockville Internal Medicine Group. In 2018 Dr. Mekonnen and his wife Dr. Belen Tesfaye were honored at WAU’s 6th Visionaries Gala with an award for Excellence in Patient-Centered Medical Care thanks to their philanthropic work on education and healthcare to under-served communities.

“This honor is a reminder for me to partner and expand the vision of WAU,” said Dr. Mekonnen “In the coming few years you will see the footprint of your university nurturing the students in my home country, Ethiopia.”

Over the past 37 years, Pastor Charles Tapp has served in the Inter- American Division, the Northeastern, South Central and the Potomac Conferences of Seventh-day Adventists. He celebrated his tenth anniversary at Sligo Adventist Church in January of this year.Pastor Tapp has also worked in the field of radio and television broadcasting as an announcer, voiceover artist, producer, and host of several programs. In addition to his work in media, Pastor Tapp has served as an instructor on the campuses of several Adventist colleges and universities, including Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica and Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. He has served at WAU as an adjunct professor for 20 years, teaching his signature class, “Fundamentals of Prayer.”

“The words of an old preacher once said that I’ve seen God do so much with so little for so long,” shared Pastor Tapp. “I now know he can do anything with me. Little becomes much when you place it in God’s hands.”

Media Contacts:
Emeraude Victorin
news@wau.edu
301-576-0193