Michael Clark
After completing my degree from Mississippi State University, I realized the benefits of advanced education and was compelled to continue my education. I chose a subject-specific area that would complement 20 years of military service. I began researching highly demanded careers in hopes of discovering a profession which I could transition into and remain relevant upon entering the civilian workforce. My military experience is compiled of logistics, process efficiency, safety, environmental, human resources, marketing, and the list goes on. Unknowingly, I had most pieces of the operations management puzzle, and the Master of Science in Operations Management program would be my guide on how to organize and put them together.
Learning principles and philosophies pertaining to Operations Management was interesting, but what I found most enjoyable was interacting with the other students and learning about everyone’s different perspectives or experiences with concepts. For instance, during OMGT 5253, Leadership Principles, (a hybrid class – I believe all online courses should develop this model) the class had the ability to openly communicate leadership concepts and approaches to various situations and why one reason was chosen over another. Hearing the viewpoints being taught was engaging because it was real-world encounters, coupled with authentic reactions from individuals, that led to an outcome that could be measured, which added value to the material being taught.
Each course had weeks that were “smooth sailing” and others that were more challenging. However, through each class I appreciated dedicated professors who expected the highest quality work to be submitted and held students accountable. This taught me the importance of communication through writing. Having the ability to put words on paper and illustrate fundamentals or concepts being explained is essential in any business to define goals, identify problems, and form solutions.
As I inch closer toward military retirement, this program will give me a competitive edge when I trade my camouflage uniform in for slacks and a dress shirt….or Carhartts and a hard hat. Nonetheless, I am grateful for having the opportunity and want to give a big Thank You to my wife, Liz, who encouraged me to “just take one more class” and the professors who returned my assignments with more red ink than humanly possible.