George Wayne Watkins, M.S.

G. Wayne Watkins, an alumnus of Middle Tennessee State University where he received his bachelor of science degree, is an information systems engineering/project management and business professional with more than 30 years experience in education, leadership and corporate environments. Currently, Mr. Watkins serves as the CEO of American International Cyber Institute and Cyber Education Center. He is also Chairman of the Board for the 50 plus year institutions—The City School of Detroit and The International School.

He has taught at the community college level, engaged in systems development, business development, project management, and client/customer relations and negotiations. Wayne worked on the EDS/General Motors account in Russelsheim, Germany as he and wife resided with their three children in Wiesbaden, Germany. He previously served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Center Academy- a Visions EDC, LLC managed public school academy. Additionally, Wayne has experience in the banking, automotive supply and insurance industries. On a quick side note, in the late 1970s he was an on-air radio personality in Tennessee, hosting his own radio program. In that capacity he was the first African American to host an evening and weekend on- air program for the Top 40’s station in Columbia, Tennessee.

Mr. Watkins is a member of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church and serves on the Deacon Board of the church. He has served as a mentor for the young men of the church, presenter in a revival workshop session on raising successful young men and presenter in the church’s Debutante and Chaama--Rites of Passage Program. Mr. Watkins has served as president of his fraternity—Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. chapter in Germany with outreach throughout the German and U.S. Department of Defense communities. Upon returning to the U.S. he was elected president of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Detroit chapter. During his tenure, he led the chapter to enhance its community service in particular raising the focus on guiding young men and boys to be socially responsible and academically focused. He conceived and established a group known as the Alpha Esquires, which is a male mentoring program for middle and high school students, that now boasts having a 100% high school graduation rate of its participants and to date a 97% college and university matriculation rate. He also led the chapter to provide significant financial and project support of the project which was a fraternity-wide initiative chaired by former General President Harry Johnson to build the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Project on The Mall in Washington, D.C. The culminating event was the 2011 dedication of the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial. Another concept developed under his leadership was the President’s Council, which is the convening of the former presidents of the chapter along with the current president; the council serves as an informative and mediating council for which he has served as the president.
Wayne has supported the Urban Stringz program—a local orchestra led by Cecelia Sharper—by highlighting participants through their performances at various venues. He also organized a summer music program focused on strings and vocal performance for students at an urban elementary/middle school where the free and reduced lunch rate is approximately 95% in order to provide students with skills in music theory, instrumental instruction, vocal performance and orchestra participation. Mr. Watkins is a 32nd degree Mason, Shriner and a member of the Elks; he serves the community including Meals on Wheels holiday support, equestrian squad and instruction for youth. He also served on the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Michigan District Committee and in that capacity developed the organization’s first website.