In order for each of us to sustain ourselves in today's workforce during this rapidly
changing technological era, it is necessary to maintain the appropriate educational
and experiential qualifications.
A PBA-MBA degree will give one a competitive edge.
Dr. Eassa founded the PBA-MBA program, the University's first graduate program, and it was launched in August 1989. In November 1997 the Rinker School of Business Association established the Dr. Joe J. Eassa, Jr. Endowed Scholarship in honor of Dr. Eassa, Professor of Graduate Business Studies, and the Alexander Proudfoot Skills Professor of Business. Since then, the income on the investment for this scholarship has been awarded to qualified MBA students.
He, now, is Professor Emeritus of Graduate Business Studies and the Alexander Proudfoot Skills Professor of Business.
Dr. Eassa was invited to join PBA in the 1970s as an adjunct professor. In January 1977 he accepted full-time employment. Since that time he has served as Assistant to the President, Acting Executive Vice President, Dean of Administrative and Financial Affairs, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, and Interim Dean of the Rinker School of Business.
He received the Ann Gold Distinguished Professor Award in 1988.
By invitation, he is included in the book, entitled, "Great Teachers We Have Known" (Sailfish Press).
Among his numerous accomplishments, here, he played a major role in the formation of the University’s annual American Free Enterprise Day; also, he served as a Professional Management Consultant for Philips Company for three years (Fortune 500); as Professional Management Consultant for nearly 35 local entrepreneurs, which included business, legal, dental entities; and is a past member of the Advisory Board for both Bethune-Cookman University and Florida Southern College. He was also interviewed as an integral one for the feature piece by the national television program Truth That Transforms to provide a Christian perspective that led to the ethical breakdown of the investment house collapses of 2008 as well as their precursors such as Enron and World.com (aired throughout the U.S. and abroad in 2011). He served as a Member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Management and Entrepreneurship, is a Sustaining Member of the Presidential Counselors (1984-2001), served as Co-Chairman of the Faculty-Staff Capital Campaign (1994), served as Chairman of the Faculty Gift's Division (1986), and since 1977 has served as Chairperson, Discussant, and Reviewer for the Leadership, Managerial Consultation, Management Education, and Management History divisions of the Academy of Management and as a Chairperson for the Organizational Behavior division of the Southern Management Association in 2011.
He also:
Was appointed and served as Chairperson for the (1) BUSINESS POLICY AND STRATEGY DIVISION, (2) MANAGEMENT CONSULTING DIVISION, AND (3) HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION at the 75th Academy of Management Annual Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on August 7-12, 2015.
Was appointed and served at the SOUTHERN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION 2015 CONFERENCE in the TradeWinds Island Resort, St. Petersburg, Florida, October 27-31, 2015 as the SESSION CHAIR for the following events:
STRATEGY DIVISION: ALL IN THE ATTITUDE: TMT COLLECTIVE NARCISSISM AND ITS IMPACT
INTERNATIONAL DIVISION: INTERNATIONALIZATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES
ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIVISION: OUTSTANDING ISSUES IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Was appointed and served at the 76th Annual Meeting of the ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT in Anaheim, California on August 5-9, 2016 as the SESSION CHAIRPERSON for the following events: (This is the premier conference of the world's top management scholars of which there will be over 10,000 scholars from 84 countries in attendance).
MANAGEMENT EDUCATION DIVISION: WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT DIVISION: SOCIAL ENTERPRISES IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXTS: Solving International Problems
PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT DIVISION: CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN SMART CITIES, SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND COLLABORATIVE URBAN FRAMEWORKS: Meaningfulness of Engagement
NEW APPROACHES TO INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE
UNDERSTANDING DETERMINANTS OF EFFECTIVE CHANGE AND FIRM PERFORMANCE.
DISTINCTIVE RECOGNITION AWARD:
On Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Dr. Eassa received the PRESIDENTIAL MEDALLION plaque in recognition of meritorious service to the Kingdom of God from Toccoa Falls College located in Toccoa, GA (founded in 1907); only one of ten such recipients in the 110 year history of this institution.
A native of West Palm Beach, Dr. Eassa in his early career served as:
The Dr. Joe J. Eassa, Jr. Scholarship is the largest scholarship for MBA students in the State of Florida created in honor of a College or University faculty member. Minimum requirements for the award of this scholarship are as follows:
Contributions to this scholarship fund are invested into Palm Beach Atlantic University's permanent endowment fund. The principal is retained and income from this investment is the total source of funds for the award of each scholarship.
Dr. Eassa in class with PBA students.
For each annual award ceremony for the awarding of this scholarship, principal speakers have included James Broadhead the former Chairperson of the Board of Florida Power and Light Company; David Hernandez the Founder and Chairperson of Liberty Power Company, which is the fastest growing Hispanic firm in the U.S.; Karl Watson, Jr., President of the U.S. Division of CEMEX; Robert Garvy, Chairperson of Intech, which is one of the most prominent investment management firms in the U.S.; Dennis A. Tito, Founder, CEO and Chairperson of Wilshire Associates, Inc. (tourist aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft); Diego Asencio, former U.S. Ambassador and President of Ascencio & Associates; Karl Watson, Sr. former President of Rinker Materials, Inc., and now consultant to Cemex; and on December 2, 2013 Kenneth R. Kennerly who is Executive Director for The Honda Classic, Senior Vice President and Director of the North America Event Group IMG Golf, a division of IMG Worldwide, Inc.; Alan Crowetz, President and CEO for InfoStream whose firm provides consultation to clients for computer and networking systems; also, design solutions and educate clients on alternatives, Mark Campbell, Chief Financial Officer for Family of Farms, and Paul Donahue, President and CEO Centerra Group, LLC.
Dr. Eassa believes when a student invests in the pursuit of a PBA-MBA degree, he or she is also investing in the assurance of one's future.
"In the total time horizon of one's career I am convinced the results of obtaining this degree are immeasurable," he says.
By contributing to the Joe J. Eassa, Jr. Scholarship Donation Fund, you too can invest in the careers of socially responsible and enterprising business leaders.
David Hernandez, CEO of Liberty Power and former student of Dr. Eassa, expresses his gratitude for the impact that Dr. Eassa has on both his professional and personal life for Dr. Eassa's retirement celebration in March 30, 2017.