DEAC Recognizes 2026 UMT Outstanding Graduate and Famous Alumni

ARLINGTON, Virginia, July 13, 2026

UMT is pleased to announce that Jose B Manlapaz and Jonathan McRoy were selected as UMT’s 2025 Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) Outstanding Graduate and Famous Alumni respectively. Each year, DEAC conducts its Outstanding Graduate and Famous Alumni programs to recognize the achievements of the millions who study at a distance today.

UMT's 2026 Outstanding Graduate

Jose B Manlapaz
Falls Church, VA
60 year old veteran...Proving it's never too late to finish what you start.

In 2023, Jose B. Manlapaz, 60, fulfilled a promise decades in the making by earning his Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of Management and Technology. His journey, first kindled during his military service in the 1980’s, was patiently deferred before UMT's online program allowed him to bring his ambition full circle. This achievement proves that determination has no expiration date and that a soldier's discipline provides the perfect foundation for a business graduate.

For years, a dedicated Assistant Manager at a small medical office, his academic achievement immediately transformed his professional trajectory. Recognizing his newly formalized expertise, his supervisors promoted him, entrusting him with key project management initiatives to optimize office operations. He now plays a pivotal role in strategic improvements and is integral to plans for the practice's future expansion, demonstrating how perseverance can directly catalyze meaningful advancement.

Jose's vision for the future is one of integrated growth and streamlined leadership, a path made possible through the flexibility of online education at UMT. He is actively preparing by augmenting his recent degree with an Executive Certificate in Project Management and current enrollment in an Executive Certificate in Information Technology, both pursued through UMT's accessible platforms. He aims to implement an expanded network of offices, managed centrally to efficiently share resources and replicate best practices. With plans to subsequently pursue a Masters in Business Management, he will apply this cumulative knowledge to ensure a robust strategic framework that fuels sustainable expansion and elevates operational excellence across the entire organization

UMT's 2026 Famous Alumni

Jonathan McRoy
Wichita, KS
From online learning to executive leadership, education without limits.

Dr. Jonathan McRoy is a transformational executive leader with 20+ years of experience spanning military, nonprofit, corporate, and higher education environments. He currently serves as Vice President of Administration at Goodwill Industries of Kansas, providing executive oversight for enterprise functions including Human Resources, IT, payroll, talent development, and operations excellence. In this role, he leads organization-wide strategy and transformation initiatives supporting 750+ employees across more than 15 locations. His career includes senior leadership roles in the United States Air Force and organizational development leadership in the private sector. His recognitions include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and multiple civilian leadership honors. In 2025, he was recognized on the Black Leaders Worldwide: Top Leaders of 2025 list.

Today, Dr. McRoy serves as Vice President of Administration at Goodwill Industries of Kansas, where he leads enterprise-wide administrative operations and cross-functional transformation initiatives that strengthen governance, improve operational effectiveness, and support workforce success. His record includes leading large-scale organizational change, advancing performance and compliance systems, and earning recognition for leadership and service, including the Meritorious Service Medal and other professional honors.

“As a first-generation college graduate and the son of an immigrant parent from Jamaica, access to education changed the trajectory of my life. UMT was instrumental in providing an avenue for me to pursue my education while balancing the demands of military service and global deployments. The flexibility and relevance of the program allowed me to immediately apply what I was learning, helping me grow as a leader while continuing to serve. UMT didn’t just help me earn a degree—it helped prepare me to lead with purpose.”