Dr. Antonia Arnold-McFarland, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, 1996

Dr. Antonia Arnold-McFarland is a multi-facetted community advocate who enjoys  inspiring hope and positive change in others via her involvement in the community. She works full-time as a technical professional who manages and leads quality engineering projects, programs and process improvements. She also enjoys coaching others on career development, project management and problem-solving methods. In her spare time “Toni” or “Dr. Toni” as she is  known, applies these same skills as she serves the community in various  capacities. Her Christian faith is the foundation that enables her to have hope and vision to help and lead others. 

Toni is originally from Spartanburg, SC where she was raised by educators, along with her two siblings. She received a B.S in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in African American Studies (1996) from N. C. State University, Raleigh, NC while already working full time as a manufacturing engineer. As a mid-career professional, she earned an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix Raleigh Campus (2007). Her engineering experience, project work and successful exam performance earned her the Six Sigma Black Belt  Certification (American Society for Quality, 2008). This is a certification in quality that applies statistical problem-solving methods to minimize defects and achieve process control. She combined her passion and profession together when she received her Doctor of Ministry in Creative Arts from the Graduate Theological Foundation of Mishawaka, IN (2016). Her doctoral research concentrated on the African American Worship Experience. It leveraged quantitative and qualitative research methods for problem-solving and improvement in music and arts ministry in the Black Church. 

Toni has worked full time for Deere and Company since 1998. She recently took on an exciting new assignment as an Analytics Lead in Quality Engineering. This team is a part of Factory Engineering at John Deere Turf Care located in Fuquay-Varina, NC. In addition, she is also a recent author, lecturer and scholar in music and arts of the African American Worship Experience. She leverages this research along with her academic studies, cultural undergirding  in African American History and lived experiences to bring diverse and inclusive perspectives to her corporate and community involvement. Her belief is that diversity should matter to everyone. Society cannot afford to exclude any human potential that might bring life-changing solutions to the complex problems of today’s world.

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