Timothy McCartney, Ph.D., associate professor of management at the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, has a hidden talent: cooking. And not only can he cook, but he can cook well. So well that “The Bahamas in Colour” 2010 calendar featured McCartney as Chef of The Year for his peas and grits seabreeze recipe.
McCartney’s rise to culinary fame came from his upbringing in the Bahamas. He learned to cook from his mother during his teen years. As her first boy to survive after six miscarriages, his mother kept him in the house many Sundays to teach him how to cook while his younger brothers went to Sunday school. At first, he felt obligated to stay, but soon he began to like it. Now, he refers to cooking as a method of self-renewal.
McCartney also started his psychology career in the Bahamas. He has also studied in the United States, Switzerland, Jamaica, England and France. He received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Strasbourg in France, making him the first Bahamian to receive a doctorate in psychology.
In 1967, the Bahamian government elected him Minister of Health. In this position, McCartney created innovative programs like “Mental Health Week” that developed the profession of psychology and promoted health in the country.
In 1969, McCartney was awarded the prestigious the Sir Victor Sassoon Golden Heart Award for his contributions to the Bahamian community. A year later he was honored with the Gold Medal of Excellence from DINABRAS and the International Population and Reproductive Council, two Brazilian-American organizations.
McCartney served as a visiting faculty for NSU’s Student Educational Center in the Bahamas since 1973. McCartney’s relationship with the university evolved in 1993, when he retired from government work and committed himself entirely to academia as an adjunct professor. McCartney said it was a wise commitment.
“The best decision I’ve ever made has been to come over here to teach and get away from the hassles, frustrations and politics that are found everywhere, but are more evident in small island communities,” he said. “When I teach, it’s like I go through a metamorphosis, and I always find myself advising students to challenge their professors intellectually and not just remember theories from a text.”
Proof that he had made a wise decision came in the form of recognition in the field. In 1998 and 1999, he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship and, in 2008, the school awarded him the Professor of the Year Award.
In July 2010 he was honored in a Florida senatorial proclamation issued by Senator Frederica S. Wilson for his dedication to the betterment of society. In 1999, McCartney received the key to the city of Miami-Dade from the Office of the Mayor.
In addition to his work as a professor, McCartney has worked as a clinical psychologist, an organizational development consultant, an advisor, a trainer and a facilitator of many national and international courses and presentations.
The year 2001 was a difficult one for McCartney: his youngest son died of cancer.
McCartney has been married for 48 years to his wife, Pauline. He has four children.
“In 2001, we experienced nine consecutive losses of family and friends. At some point, I didn’t have any tears left,” said McCartney. “But I believe that our faith has helped Pauline and I cope with these tragedies.”
McCartney describes himself as a spiritually-minded, creative and kind individual.
“I am always thinking outside the box, and I love people,” he said. “But if someone has a problem with me, I don’t own that problem, the other person does.”
In 2002, he was recognized as “Health Hero” by the Pan American Health Organization of the United Nations at their 100th anniversary celebration.
He used these attributes to continue to progress despite the challenges of 2001.
In 2007, McCartney was the first professor to become an endowed chair of the business school. He received the Dr. Paul Hersey Chair in Leadership and Organizational Behavior established by Paul Hersey, Ph.D.
“I am honored and flattered, yet humbled by it [the award],” he said. “I think that I was born to give service; my religious belief system tells me so.”
That sentiment is felt by walking in McCartney’s office. One step into it, and it is impossible to leave empty handed. He warmly invites visitors into his world, filled with memories captured in each picture that sits on his corner desk.
The multiple awards hanging on his wall or the filing cabinet that contains old newspaper articles and copies of his work paint you the picture of a man proud of his heritage, his family and above all grateful to be able to serve.
