Serving those who serve their country is a pledge the WSU Online MBA programs make to their military-affiliated students.
“Whether we are supporting students as they advance in their military careers or as they transition to civilian roles, our mission and honor is to serve those who serve and their families,” says Cheryl Oliver, associate dean for professional programs.
Besides the services offered by the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs, the Online MBA programs hired Air Force veteran Matt Beer in 2018. In his job as military and veteran affairs manager, Beer works with military-affiliated students to ensure the Online MBA programs are responsive to their needs.
“WSU and the Carson College of Business remain committed to investing in military-affiliated students,” Beer says. “Through academic excellence, professional development, and building a strong community among veterans, we continue our commitment to support those who serve as they reach for their professional goals.”
The college’s Online MBA programs have graduated over 275 military-affiliated students including active-duty service members, veterans, spouses, and child dependents since 2013.
Here are stories of students currently in the programs.
Vladi Ivanova, Army
Active-Duty Capt. Vladi Ivanova, who is stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, was born in Bulgaria, and when she was nine years old, her family immigrated to Georgia. Over time, she answered the call to serve her country and joined the Army after college.
“Currently, I work in healthcare administration, and I wanted to make myself more marketable to civilian employers before I separate from the Army,” Ivanova says. “My MBA will allow me to pursue positions with greater responsibility and impact, especially when transitioning from healthcare into another field, such as marketing.”
Ivanova says a big draw to WSU’s Online MBA programs were the flexibility of the courses, and she attributes her success as a student to WSU’s understanding and support of the military experience.
“I was notified three times that I would be deploying to Guam to provide COVID relief, but each deployment was cancelled. Yet my academic advisor, Meghan Steinbeiss, provided excellent advice and understanding regarding my need for flexibility and my graduation date, which made me feel valued,” she says.
In addition, “taking one class at a time allows me to immerse myself completely in the subject instead of forcing me to attempt juggling multiple subjects, work, and my Army duties,” Ivanova says.
The best part of the programs, according to Ivanova, has been the support of the WSU Office of Veterans Affairs and specifically, Matt Beer, she says.
“Matt is helpful, professional, and really wants us to do well, similar to a commander who cares about his troops and is willing to do anything to help,” Ivanova says. “I have not heard of any other programs who have a dedicated individual like him.”
Leland Johnson, Navy
Born and raised in Texas, Leland Johnson joined the Navy with the goal of serving his country and going to college.
“I was influenced by the thought of serving my country for four years and having my college tuition paid for in full,” Johnson says. “However, I was able to see a few places on my first deployment on the USS Curts and decided to extend my time with the Navy.”
Johnson decided to pursue an MBA to expand his post-military career options. He eventually plans to work in operations management for a major global company, such as Amazon, FedEx, or UPS, and says his MBA from WSU will help make his goals a reality.
“I see my MBA positioning me to be competitive both within the military and after I retire and enter the civilian workforce,” he says. “This has been quite the experience, and if I had to do this all over again, I would choose WSU. I am a Coug through-and-through and would have it no other way.”
“The academic and professional support WSU provides for their military-affiliated students made this program the ideal fit for me,” Johnson adds. “Matt Beer and WSU have provided professional coaching, résumé writing support, and LinkedIn profile enhancement which has been second to none.”
Johnson also thanks and gives credit to his wife, mother, and his two sons for their understanding and support over the course of the past two years while he continues to serve his country and pursue his MBA.
Lindsey Bennett, Air Force
As the spouse of an active-duty Air Force technical sergeant, Lindsey Bennett says she faced an extremely competitive job market in her local area.
“After some serious reevaluation and conversations, my husband and I agreed I should consider additional education to make myself more competitive.”
Bennett now works as a multifunctional fiscal analyst for Lockheed Martin. She was previously unable to land an interview with the company but was hired after she started her MBA. Lockheed Martin values the investment she is making to develop leadership and additional business skills, she says.
“There was no way I would be able to commit to an on-campus scenario, and I wanted to ensure I chose a reputable program with a great online presence,” Bennett says. “I credit pursuing my MBA to landing me a position with the company I had been hoping to work for!”
Esteban Martinez, Marine Corps
Esteban Martinez immigrated to the United States with his family at a very young age from Peru. Growing up in the Puget Sound area, he saw a lot of pride for Washington’s universities, specifically WSU.
Martinez knew he wanted to join the service early on and chose the Marine Corps because he figured it would challenge him the most. After leaving the Marines as a corporal, this same drive led him to pursue an MBA. He says WSU’s program flexibility and the ability to take a single class at a time appealed to him.
“Life is unpredictable, and you cannot always be present for class. Luckily, I can always go back and watch lectures on my own time,” he says. “However, do not think that the workload is lighter because of it. It will still demand your time, energy, and the support of those close to you.”
Pursuing his MBA has opened the doors to new opportunities for growth and leadership, it has also helped him extend his network of other professionals. WSU’s investment in military student support also gave Martinez the confidence to pursue his degree.
Matt MacKillop, Coast Guard
Matt MacKillop will be retiring from the Coast Guard in May 2021 and moving to St. Louis, Missouri, after 21 years in the service. The current active-duty lieutenant says he is looking forward to his retirement and is excited about what the future holds.
“I plan to pursue a career in corporate America,” MacKillop says. “I am learning foundational business principles I’ll need to be successful in my next venture.”
MacKillop’s military career also benefited from his MBA studies as part of his work includes compliance inspections and investigations on commercial cargo ships, passenger ships, and towing vessels.
“I have been really impressed with how passionate the WSU Online MBA program instructors have been,” MacKillop says. “The weekly live sessions are interactive, and it almost feels like you are attending in person. I really feel like I am a part of the WSU student community even though I live in the Midwest.”