BD scholar bestowed on Dr John Lee legacy Award

Bangladeshi academic Dr. Russell Mahmud Jewel has been selected for the prestigious Dr. John Lee Legacy of Leadership Award after earning a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree from Westcliff University in California, United States.

Dr. Jewel, founder and former president of the Bangladeshi International Students Association (BISAAC) in California, was chosen for the award from among 661 graduates representing nearly 96 countries, recognizing his academic excellence, research contributions, leadership, and community service.

Speaking before the award presentation, Westcliff University President Dr. Anthony Lee highlighted Dr. Jewel’s outstanding academic achievements, research accomplishments, leadership qualities, and commitment to social service. He explained that these qualities distinguished Dr. Jewel as the recipient of this year’s honor.

Dr. Jewel said he is overwhelmed by the recognition.”I was truly speechless. The feeling was beyond words,” he said.

Before the ceremony, Dr. Jewel was greeted in the university’s Green Room, where senior university officials and faculty members expressed their admiration by requesting selfies with him. He described the experience as a meaningful recognition of his years of hard work and perseverance.

Originally from a remote village in Chandpur, Dr. Jewel overcame significant challenges to earn three postgraduate degrees in Bangladesh. After serving in Bangladesh Customs for eight years, he moved to the United States in 2022 to pursue higher education.

His doctoral research focused on the application of artificial intelligence in the public sector, particularly customs administration, where he developed an innovative model aimed at improving operational efficiency.

As founder of BISAAC, Dr. Jewel has brought together nearly 2,000 Bangladeshi students from 38 universities across California on a single platform. He currently serves in leadership roles in several expatriate and community organizations and is actively involved in promoting youth leadership development.

Dr. Jewel has published 16 research papers in the fields of artificial intelligence, machine learning, public health, and digital transformation. His scholarly work has received more than 370 citations, further strengthening his reputation as an emerging international researcher.