NORCROSS, Ga. – Three Mercerians are among the “25 Most Influential Asian-Americans in Georgia” according to a list published by the Georgia Asian Times. Those who were named to the list in May and honored at an awards dinner July 18 included Sharon Lim Harle (BUS '86, '90), assistant vice president of alumni services and university special events at Mercer; Farooq Mughal (CLA '00), managing partner of MS Global Partners; and Bryan Ramos (LAW '99), principal of Ramos Law Firm and president of the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.
Harle holds a B.B.A. in management and an M.B.A. in marketing and international business from Mercer. In addition to her role with alumni services and university special events, she serves as a business faculty member specializing in marketing and international business. As a student at Mercer, she was chosen to receive the International Student Day Proclamation from then-mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young. She also served as a student ambassador and was the recipient of several outstanding student awards. Harle has also contributed to the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games and the Atlanta Asian Film Festival. In 2000, she became an ordained deacon at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Buckhead, the church's first Asian deacon in its 150-year history.
Mughal is a veteran political strategist and adviser who has worked on influential state and federal campaigns and advises lawmakers on legislative priorities and constituency outreach. In 2012, he was invited by President Barack Obama to the White House Iftar Dinner to honor the leadership of Muslim-Americans. His work in business and on various committees has earned him recognition from the White House, Congressman Mike Honda of California, Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota, former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, the Georgia Secretary of State and Georgia legislators. Mughal has received awards from Georgia Trend magazine and CNN and is the highest-ranking Muslim-American in Georgia politics and the highest-ranking Asian-American within the Democratic Party of Georgia.
Ramos is a workers' compensation trial lawyer with degrees from Florida State University and Mercer's Walter F. George School of Law. He opened the Ramos Law Firm in 2005 and was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine from 2010 through 2012. He has been selected to the Georgia Asian Times “25 Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia” list each of the past three years. He also serves as a special assistant to the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Atlanta in addition to his role with the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.
The bimonthly Georgia Asian Times, based in Norcross, released the list in May to coincide with Asian-American Pacific Islander Month.
“This year's 25 Most Influential Asian-Americans in Georgia offer a listing of individuals who made an impact in arts, business, government, politics, social work, education, judiciary and areas that influence every aspect of Georgians' daily life,” read the newspaper. “Some names are familiar as they continue to strive to make our community a better place to live. New faces are recognized for their effort and dedication to make a difference.”
The list was compiled by the publication's editorial staff as well as a selection committee of community, civic, media and professional organizations. The July awards dinner was held at Happy Valley Restaurant in Gwinnett County.
About Mercer University
Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,300 students in 12 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing, health professions, and continuing and professional studies – on campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah – and four regional academic centers across the state. The Mercer Health Sciences Center, launched July 1, 2012, includes the University's medical, nursing, health sciences and pharmacy schools. Mercer is affiliated with four teaching hospitals – Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. The University also has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. It operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. www.mercer.edu
