My tax lady is an EA (enrolled agent). My dentist is a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery). My reproductive health specialist is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The organists and choir directors I hang out with are certified as Fellows or Associates by the American Guild of Organists.
Credentials are important because they allow a profession or field to set standards and they allow individuals to demonstrate competence by meeting or exceeding these standards.
As a tenured college professor, I've earned my credentials over a long and sometimes grueling career path. I respect those who have earned credentials in whatever field they've chosen, and I expect the people I deal with to possess the appropriate credentials. That's why I just about lost it when I read this article in today's Albany [NY] Times Union. Follow for more.
According to the article, Harold W. Vadney III, running for the office of town justice in New Baltimore [a town about 20 miles south of Albany], claimed to possess credentials he had not earned.
Harold W. Vadney III, who is a professional translator, listed the bogus credentials in certifying translations of documents sent to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. He falsely claimed to have a master's degree and to be a member of two prestigious London-based organizations related to his work.
The Times Union has posted on its website two pdf documents--Vadney's online resume and a copy of his signature as it appears on a document. The resume lists a bunch of schools attended, but doesn't name an actual degree. The signature contains "Dct. Med." and "MA"
According to the Times Union, Vadney justifies the use of "MA":
Vadney said he completed all the course work for the degree, which he said was in German, but never took a final exam. He said it was his "presumption" that he could list the degree because he had learned the material.
As someone who votes in a yearly faculty meeting to award degrees to candidates, who deals with seniors who are "one credit short", and who knows lots of grad students who are "ABD", I can't imagine anyone in good conscience claiming a degree without having a diploma in hand. Just because I've probably watched every episode of Law and Order doesn't mean I can claim a J.D., even though I "learned the material."
He describes the use of "Dct. Med.":
"It means nothing," Vadney said. "If somebody wants to read something into it, be my guest."
People who have earned credentials like to wear them proudly, like notches on a belt or deer antlers mounted in a rec room. Nobody put initials after his or her name without wanting others to assume that they imply some kind of credential or special qualification. The use of "Dct. Med.", which is extremely close to some type of medical degree, is highly disingenuous.
The newspaper has also found other discrepancies regarding Vadney's supposed membership in a learned British society and the awarding of an Army Commendation Medal--later revoked--when he was in the service. The paper has also stated that Vadney falsified information about his educational credentials on translator web sites; he claimed he had a Ph.D. The Times Union claims that in the online photo of Vadney, his white lab coat has "Dr." embroidered on it, but I couldn't see that. I think anyone wearing a white lab coat in a photo, absent a medical degree, is fraudulent--like wearing too many stripes on your sleeve in the military.
I conducted a number of web searches for info on Vadney, and found that his profile remains on www.translatorscafe.com but does no longer exist at www.proz.com. His business website, www.transcomminternational.com, says "forbidden". His campaign website, vadney4justice, says "content blocked".
Here's the money quote from the article:
Joshua Ehrlich, an elections lawyer in Albany, said it is technically not illegal for a candidate to run for office on false claims. He said, however, that misrepresentation of credentials would cause problems for any elected official.
"You don't do that," Ehrlich said. "Judges are held to a higher standard."
One would hope that those who deign to represent us in public office would aspire to something a little higher than "technically not illegal". I know Bush, Rove, etc. have not been very good role models in this regard. I would like to know how Mr. Vadney is going to dig himself out of this manure heap.