Current occupation: Certified Public Accountant
What made you decide to pursue your degree as an adult?
I was raised by my grandparents and the importance of life-long learning was instilled in me beginning at a very young age. After watching my wife complete her Ph.D. and always wanting to complete my Ph.D. I was always very hesitant. It wasn’t until my wife encouraged me to do it that I finally stopped making excuses.
Why did you choose to study at Tiffin University?
Part of my reluctance to pursue my Ph.D. was the opportunity cost and what I would need to give up in order to complete my degree. In many traditional Ph.D. programs I would need to put my career on hold to be a full-time Ph.D. student. When I found the Ph.D. program at Tiffin University I felt a huge sense of relief as the flexible online/hybrid model allowed me to continue my professional career full-time and balance my family activities all while pursing my Ph.D. degree. I am grateful Tiffin University has developed the program to allow working professionals the opportunity to continue with their educational goals.
Describe your experience with the program, your cohort and faculty?
The coursework was definitely manageable and for me it was all about time management. As an accounting professional working full-time and a father of two young boys involved in many activities, I was very anxious about the time commitment. The use of technology and the flexible online courses combined with weekend residencies were outstanding. I was able to settle into a routine where I worked my full-time job during the day, remained actively involved in sports and other activities in the evenings with my boys, and then once they went to bed I would work at night during the week or on the weekends to complete my coursework. While I can honestly say this made for long days and nights, it is manageable and can be done! The key for me was to develop a routine and to stick with it.
The faculty are outstanding! While the goal is to further your education, they understand that life happens. The faculty are more than willing to work with students if they have questions, need extra help, or just need some additional time for a deadline due to work/life events. The key is to communicate with them upfront and they are more than willing to work with you. The faculty also provide tremendous guidance along the way from helping to identify a potential dissertation topic to ultimately completing your dissertation. The faculty are not only a resource, but also provide encouragement and guidance to help you attain your educational goal. I was very nervous entering the program but the faculty truly care about your success and are a great resource to help you along in your educational journey.
How did you juggle work, life, and going back to school? Any tips?
The key for me to balancing work, school and family commitments was a routine. Whether I was in the coursework phase or the dissertation phase of the program, the key was a steady, consistent routine. I did all of my work in the evenings after my family would go to bed. I would complete my readings for my courses on Monday and Tuesday, work on my postings or assignments usually on Wednesday and Thursday, and then focus on writing papers Friday and Saturday. Usually Sunday was the deadline for all of my assignments so I would slowly work on them throughout the week so I was not overwhelmed on the weekends. The key was to work on a little each night which allowed me to balance working full-time, coaching my boy’s sports teams, and attending family/other activities on the weekends. Setting a routine and sticking to it was key. You can do it!!
What kept you motivated to stay in the program?
My motivation was to show my boys the importance of an education and that with hard work anything is possible. I was able to stand up at the Ph.D. robing ceremony, in front of university faculty, staff and members of the Board of Directors and not only tell my boys, but also show them, that if you work hard great things happen.
What advice would you give to a prospective student who is thinking about going back to school?
Just do it! My wife finally told me after I spent years of talking about going back to school that it will never happen if I don’t just do it! If you don’t try you will never accomplish anything. Just work at it a little each day and I bet you will be surprised at what you can accomplish. My only regret is I didn’t try sooner!
TU’s motto is: Without risk there is no gain. Can you tell us about a time when you took a risk and what you gained from it?
By starting in the program I risked giving up time with my family and the costs associated with the program, however with a little planning it is possible to accomplish your goals. While the years went by fast, before I knew it I had completed my Ph.D. You can do it, the reward is worth the risk!