Staff

Dr. Dang is the Founder and President of AUHS Foundation and is also the Founder of American University of Health Sciences. She gives tirelessly to the homeless, to families who are on the borderline, to youth programs, and to minority education because she was given much by the community and country that she now calls home.

As a child, Dr. Dang grew up in a war-torn Vietnam after the Vietnam War. Life was especially difficult when her father was military personnel from opposing political parties. Her life was fast-forwarded to running along the beach at night with her family, fleeing for their lives from the authorities to depart on a fishing boat with the hopes of finding a better life in America.

After 9 days on the open sea in a fishing boat with no compass for guidance, Dr. Dang and her family members were rescued and taken to the Hong Kong Refugee Camp. There, she stayed for 9 months before being sponsored to America.

When she and her family arrived in America in 1980, they had nothing but a dream. Adjusting to a new language and culture that was different from her own, Dr. Dang’s family finally settled and called Long Beach their home. Dr. Dang attended the California State University in Long Beach, founded her faith in God, and met a gentleman by the name of Gregory Johnson from the inner city of Baltimore who altered her life completely. They married in 1993.

In 1994, American University of Health Sciences (AUHS) was established. Dr. Dang and Pastor Gregory Johnson were and still are committed to building a health sciences university where people are given a second chance, and where success and appreciation for one’s existence can be nurtured.

In 2004, Dr. Dang established the AUHS Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit community-based research organization, in the hopes to advance knowledge and scholarly inquiry related to education in health sciences for the poor, underprivileged and underserved, and to promote the use of research to improve their educational and healthcare opportunities. Funded first by AUHS, the Foundation is committed to encouraging research that is related to education and public health for the underprivileged population and promoting the dissemination and practical application of research results.

Dr. Dang received an Honorable Doctorate Degree in Health Care Education from the St. Luke School of Medicine in Monrovia, Liberia. Dr. Dang is the wife and partner of Pastor Gregory Johnson and a proud mother of three to Gregory, Alexandria, and Temujin

Lieu Suss has a passion for research and is a health policy advocate. She has worked in the field of clinical research for over 5 years and has started her own clinical research management company advocating for minority inclusion in clinical trials. Ms. Suss has also been a key supporter of American University of Health Sciences, sitting on its Advisory Boards, planning community outreach projects, and providing funding and grants. She received both her B.A. degree in Psychology and Master’s in Public Health degree from UCLA. Ms. Suss currently volunteers and devotes her time as the Program Director of the AUHS Foundation by managing its outreach programs and grant submissions.

Pastor Gregory A. Johnson brings practical experience in operating an institution of higher education though his years of working consulting services as well as over 20 years of leadership in managing numerous eclectic private propriety schools, colleges and universities as Chief Operating Officer or Vice President.
As the Co-Founder of AUHS, his extensive experiences regarding the business management perspective in health care education and services are invaluable. This process has been augmented by creating successful startups of educational facilities and the enhancement of excellence in education both of which are ingrained in the mission and vision of AUHS.

Dr. Carol Ryan is an accomplished hands-on leader with more than 24 years of experience in higher education serving in executive, administrative, academic, and instructional capacities. She has been instrumental in developing and launching new academic programs, and has successfully lead numerous accreditation efforts with regional, national, and programmatic accrediting bodies. She was appointed by the AUHS Board of Trustees in 2017 to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Ryan is active in several professional organizations. She has served on numerous accreditation teams as an educational standards evaluator and subject matter expert for DEAC and was a member of the Research and Educational Standards sub-Committee and the Appeals Panel. She chairs WASC accreditation visits. Dr. Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University at Fullerton, a Master of Arts from Azusa Pacific University, and a PhD from Northcentral University.

Genevieve (Ivy) Javaluyas has been with the University for nearly fifteen years and serves the University and its students as the Director of Student Services. Ms. Javaluyas has actively assisted with the development of many student services policies and procedures and provided leadership related to her area of expertise in participating in institutional and programmatic regulatory approvals and accreditations. Ms. Javaluyas has more than fifteen years in administration and management experience in student services. Ms. Javaluyas holds a Baccalaureate degree in Mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science.