2 FEATS IN ONE -Joekai Caps Ph.D. Journey with Inspiring Convocation Speech

MONROVIA – Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Ph.D., is a trailblazer in Liberia’s Civil Service, exemplifying Adlerian leadership as he spearheads transformative reforms in the public sector. As the Director-General of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency, Dr. Joekai has been building a merit-based system that prioritizes dignity, fairness, and accountability. His commitment to creating a workplace culture that values every individual is a testament to his leadership philosophy. On November 2, Dr. Joekai graduated from Adler University’s Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program, marking a significant milestone in his academic journey. What’s more, he also served as the graduate speaker at the University’s commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre, where he shared his insights and experiences with his peers. As a respected leader and scholar, Dr. Joekai’s message help to inspire and motivate the graduating class as they embark on their own paths of service and leadership. The Analyst reports.

Josiah F. Joekai, Jr., coming out as a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology graduate, delivered a heartfelt and inspiring commencement address to the Adler University Class of 2025.

Standing rather proudly on the revered podium of the premier university, the Civil Service Agency director declared: “Today is a moment etched in time. It is a moment that reminds us that the power of perseverance, the beauty of purpose, and the unshakable force of hope can coalesce to produce something truly extraordinary.”

He extended greetings from the President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., to the audience and graduates, stating that the President “congratulates the Graduating Class and the entire Adler University family for their immeasurable contributions to the advancement of quality education, equity, and justice through your inclusive and flexible academic and social justice program.”

The graduate expressed gratitude to his family, particularly his wife, Joana, who he credited with providing unwavering support throughout his academic journey.

“You are the reason I’m standing here today,” Joekai said, acknowledging his wife’s strength and grace.

Joekai also paid tribute to his late father, BJ, and his mother-in-law, Theresa, whose values and sacrifices have shaped him into the person he is today, saying, “This degree is not mine alone; it is ours, a shared victory, across generations and geographies.”

In his address, Joekai urged the graduating class to stand tall and recognize their role as architects of change.

“You carry with you the responsibility to lead with purpose,” he said. “The world needs you. Not tomorrow. Now. It needs your courage in the face of injustice. Your empathy in the face of division. Your brilliance in the face of broken systems.”

Joekai encouraged the graduates to use their knowledge and skills to make a positive impact in the world. “Do not allow this degree to be a trophy on the wall. Let it be a tool in your hand. Let it be a torch you carry into dark corners. Let it be a voice you use when others are silenced,” he said.

The graduate also emphasized the importance of staying true to one’s values and principles.

 “Promise me this: Wherever you go from here, carry your story. Stand on your values. Keep your heart open. Do the hard things, not because they are easy or glamorous, but because they are right,” he implored.

Joekai congratulated the Class of 2025 and urged them to go forth boldly, wrapping what they’ve learned in purpose, and changing the world.

“Congratulations. God bless you all. Thank you!”  he exclaimed.

Pre-Graduation Profile Interview

In a build up to the graduation, where he was both a graduate and speaker, Joekai was granted an interview as a way of profiling him.

It rolls:

When Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Ph.D., steps into his office in Monrovia, Liberia, he is reminded of the immense responsibility that comes with serving his country.

“I’m guiding a workforce of more than 63,000 civil servants,” Dr. Joekai said. “These are teachers, health care workers, administrators, and many others whose daily work shapes the future of a nation.”

As director-general of Liberia’s Civil Service Agency, Dr. Joekai today is leading a sweeping effort to reform the public sector. Under his direction, the country of nearly 6 million in West Africa is embracing merit-based recruitment, professional development, and workplace culture transformation. These reforms to build a system grounded not only in efficiency, but also dignity, fairness, and accountability.

“To me, these are principles I gained from my four years at Adler University,” said Dr. Joekai, who this year completed the Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program. “I use them every day as I guide Liberia’s civil service transformation.”

“We are building systems that recognize every worker’s contribution,” he said. “We want to create workplace where every worker feel they belong, and that work-life balance are not just ideals, they are realities.”

The importance of transformational leadership and becoming agents of institutional change are among the things Dr. Joekai plans on share with his peers as this year’s graduate student speaker during the University’s Nov. 2 commencement ceremony at the Chicago Theatre.

“I started way down the ladder in public service,” he said. “I’ve written policy, built frameworks, and seen real change in people’s lives. The Ph.D. program at Adler was a refinement and confirmation of what I had been doing my whole life.”

A born public servant

When he was a teenager, Dr. Joekai said he remembers walking around his small village and questioning why buildings weren’t better maintained.

“I’d ask my late dad, ‘Why can’t people clean it up? Why can’t it get a new paint job? Or who should be clearing the brush on the roadside?’” Dr. Joekai said. “He would stop and look at me and ask me, ‘Why are all these things important to you?’ But he would then add, ‘Don’t just ask questions, do something about it.’”

For Dr. Joekai, that’s among one of his first memories when he took an interest in public service, specifically managing teams to help improve communities and those who reside in them.

Today, Dr. Joekai continues to believe that systems only work when they serve people.

In additional to his national leadership role, he chairs the Health and Public Service Network of Africa, where he is pioneering a continental framework to integrate health care professionals into civil service systems. It’s a model that is now being replicated across Africa.

Dr. Joekai is also board chairman of the President’s Young Professionals Program, Liberia’s premier pipeline for emerging government leaders.

“Everywhere I look, I see how policy, governance, and social systems affect real lives,” he said. “What I’ve learned at Adler about justice, human behavior, and organizational transformation isn’t theory. It’s fuel. It’s what helps me reform institutions and restore trust in public service.”

The journey to Adler

Prior to Adler, Dr. Joekai earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Political Science and Government from the University of Liberia. He had held several roles, including as executive director of the Liberia National Commission on Arms and director of Civic and Voter Education at the National Elections Commission.

Although he was already managing national and global projects in Liberia’s Civil Service, Dr. Joekai said he wanted to bolster his knowledge and training by searching for a doctoral program that could balance his professional life and family responsibilities.

It was 2021, and he knew the Covid-19 pandemic was going to make his goal even more demanding.

Then he discovered Adler’s Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology online program. It fit everything he was looking for. Not just the work-life balance but also a focus on leadership, governance, and workplace culture.

“There were nights when I’d be researching after a full day’s work, with my three boys running around, curious about what daddy was doing,” Dr. Joekai said with a smile. “But I was resilient, thanks to my family’s support. It wasn’t a straight path, but I knew it was possible.”

‘Architects of change’

Now at the end of his Adler journey, Dr. Joekai said he looks forward to celebrating this milestone in Chicago. He plans to bring several of his country’s flag and share them with attending family and friends, who will also watch him take the podium at Adler University’s commencement and offer some words of wisdom and encouragement to his fellow graduates.

“I will remind them that we are not just earning degrees,” he said. “We are architects of change. Whether in psychology, public service, health care, or education, our purpose is to make life better for others.”

For Dr. Joekia, commencement is not just an ending but a continuation of his life’s mission — to serve, lead, and inspire.

“Adler didn’t just teach me the science of managing people,” he said. “It taught me how to treat people with equity, with fairness, with love. Adler made me a better human being and a more compassionate leader.”