Student Stories - Cliff Brown

No one in Cliff Brown’s family ever completed more than a year of vocational school; so earning his MBA in Project Management with a perfect grade point average this year was a personal triumph for this retired Chief Petty Officer. He said his education, combined with his military experience and attitude, now gives him a competitive edge in the market.

This native of a small farming community in northwest Kansas initially followed some of his family members’ educational path after high school by heading to a voc-tech school in Goodland. With credentials in computer data processing but not the experience to land a job, Brown said he was out of money and patience when he decided to join the military. He went to see the Air Force recruiter, but the man was at dinner so Brown ended up visiting the Navy recruiter. The rest, as they say, is history.

Brown decided to go into nuclear power training and submarines. Little did he know he would make a career out of the Navy. Over the years, the service enabled the studious Brown to continue his education in various technical areas and rating classes, including graduating from the elite Nuclear Power Training Course.

“Always desiring to be a leader and to acquire as much knowledge as possible about my surroundings, I often sought new challenges and assignments,” said Brown, who was awarded many letters of appreciation and commendation, as well as the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal during his years in service.

Having completed all in-rate classes, Brown began to look outside of the Navy for additional training challenges. An associate degree in business was his next step. He also began taking many CLEP tests with the goal of pursing higher college degrees—far beyond what anyone in his family achieved.

Driven by knowledge and a desire to contribute to his Charleston, SC, community, he attended many American Red Cross courses and became Shelter Coordinator responsible for the operation of 24 shelters during Hurricane Floyd and coordinated the response for the assistance for the delivery of three babies during the storm. He then turned his attention to a bachelor’s degree in business administration, which he earned in 2002.

After his retirement from the Navy, he worked at a Chemical Weapons Disposal Facility at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. His diligence and leadership landed him a post in the training department, where he taught theory and operation. Following a change in contracts, he now teaches the same information to disposal facility supporting vendors.

Married to wife Susana for more than 20 years, the couple has three sons: 22 years old, 17 years old and 14 years old. Brown said that while he worked on his master’s degree at JIU, he and his two youngest sons often sat at the table each night to do homework together. Like their proud father, the boys are straight A students and seek outside activities, such as National Honor Society and Beta Club.

Here is an interview with Brown, who graduates this summer:

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA in Project Management?

It was really based on a personal goal. Again, no one in my family has graduated from more than a one year vocational school. Primarily, I wanted to increase my knowledge of business operations and this was a fun way to do it. My specific job specification has limited advancement opportunities, so anything that I can do to open the door to other opportunities is a benefit. Project Management seems like the best fit for me.

Why did you choose JIU?

JIU offered many opportunities for my specific learning situation. When I started looking for schools that offered the MBA program, I looked for a school that had the proper credentials and was not one of the fly-by-nights that are advertised on television. While the Internet provides many certified schools to choose from, JIU allowed me to complete my courses without having to travel to the actual school for testing purposes at the end of every semester which would have added a large cost to my overall expenses. While JIU may not yet enjoy the household name that schools such as University of Texas, Kansas State, Ohio State or Harvard, the quality of the education that I received was very competitive. My current job requires a lot of traveling, and it was nice to be able to take my courses with me so that I could go to school right from my hotel room.

You are currently in the Navy Active Fleet Reserve – how does/did that impact your professional career and your studies at JIU?

When I tell potential employers that I am retired Navy and that I was in the Nuclear Power Program, they know my capabilities. The Nuclear Power School is basically a four-year college degree shortened into six months, so not every student that enters will graduate. Employers who know of the program understand that I am a person that can pick up new information rapidly. Being a Chief Petty Officer means that I have the leadership ability to reach goals under demanding circumstances and do so with a variety of skill levels. The Navy has good training courses, from classroom style to self-improvement manuals. Most of these classes teach the student information that will help him to do his assigned task. Only a small number of courses taught the student how his job affected others around him. The military person was taught how to do the job and complete the administrative records in order to meet operational deadlines. In contrast, this MBA degree taught me more or the “big picture” information of coordinating activities between organizations, the value of making the right business budget decisions, and how to pull assets from a pool of resources. When combined with the military experience and attitude, this “real world” approach can mold some great leaders.

What was the highlight of your time at JIU?

From the excellent administrative support to the high quality instructors that kept things in perspective and made learning interesting, it is difficult to determine any one specific highlight, but one would be the professionalism and respect of all parties involved in my education.

How would you rate the quality interaction between your classmates and your professors?

Outstanding. Throughout the classes, many different external events occurred, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, California fires, flooding, deaths in the family and other distractions. Throughout all of these, the students and staff pulled together with words of encouragement, concern, sympathy, condolences, and assistance. During many of the classes, some of the students were taking their first online class and therefore did not really understand the technology and assignments. Other students provided guidance whenever possible to ensure that no student was left behind. Instructors provided real-life scenarios and then let the students work through to reach conclusions with other students through on-line discussions. These types of classes turned out to be the best and most fun classes.

How were you able to apply what you learned at JIU on the job and/or in your life?

Taking courses at JIU has an advantage over traditional classroom settings. In traditional classrooms, many of the students are from the same geographical area and therefore have many of the same thoughts on politics, shopping, business practices and so on. Taking online courses was advantageous because students are from across the country and around the world. Some professors and students were doing extensive global traveling while keeping the class moving forward. Students provided information from ongoing work in Middle East countries. Military personnel added their perspective on crisis management. Besides the great learning experience, these classes also allowed the student to do some networking for potential future jobs and services.

In what ways do you see your career/life changing as a result of your education?

First and foremost, I have achieved a long time goal—completing a college degree! This proves to me that I can achieve any challenge as long as I have the determination. This degree, along with my Navy career memories, is something that no one will ever be able to take away from me. One cannot go through five years of higher education and learn nothing! Second, I will have to find another hobby or interest to fill the many hours required for this degree. Third, I believe that today’s working person does not stay as long at his current employer as in the past. We are a more mobile generation. Obtaining my MBA while continuing to work should prove to any future employer that I am dedicated to self-improvement and hopefully I can become a terrific asset to their organization. This degree will open new doors that hold a variety of jobs waiting for me.