Voices of JIU
Each year, JIU publishes a student yearbook for the members of its graduating class, in which graduates share their experiences at JIU, their thoughts as they complete their degree programs, and what going back to school has meant to them.
The following are excerpted from the 2005-2006 JIU yearbook. For the complete collection of the graduates’ remarks, please go to student profiles in the graduation section of the website.
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
One of the obvious ways my career has been affected is salary wise. I have been given more respect as well, and now I can proudly tell my kids that I am a college graduate. In addition, I can say with certainty that I am well rounded in many subjects and areas.
Mujtba Hasmi
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Employer: WorldGate
Occupation: Network Engineer
BBA in Information Technology Management
I decided to pursue my degree because I love to learn and I felt like I needed a challenge. In addition, I knew it would help open doors to more fulfilling positions. Also, I decided to finish my degree to encourage my daughter that goals can be accomplished through hard work and by not giving up.
Jennifer Lynn Hutts
Fort Worth, Texas
BBA in Entrepreneurship
These classes were fantastic. I have been managing people (and things like budgets and offices) for many years, yet each class brought me a new perspective or idea on some aspect of my business life. In some cases I simply learned the formal business school reasons why I did what I knew was right, and in other cases I learned new ways to approach business
James LaMarca
Seattle, Washington
Employer: GreenStone Media
Occupation: Vice President
BBA - Generalist
Since I began at JIU, I was promoted from a customer service manager to manager of operations for our Denver facility. Many of the courses I took at JIU have helped me immensely in my new position
Laurie A. Laube
Aurora, Colorado
Employer: Alstom Power Inc.
Occupation: Operations Manager
BBA - Generalist
In the beginning I couldn't grasp the concept of how an online education could be meaningful. After watching the demo and starting my first course, I was taken aback. My first professor called on the first day of class to wish me well and make sure I knew I could contact him if I ever needed to. From that point on I realized that although I would never have direct contact with my professors, they were just an email away!
Brian Patrick Pfeifer
Twinsburg, Ohio
Employer: Rockne's Pub
Occupation: Assistant Kitchen Manager
BBA - Generalist
Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication (BABC)
With all of this new knowledge, I have already received two different management promotions. I attribute this success to my knowledge and experience that I have gained through my courses at JIU.
John L. Battaglini
Columbiana, Ohio
Employer: Alltel Communications
Occupation: Supervisor
BABC in Communication Management
When I was a little girl my mother often took college classes, so many times I would watch TV while she studied. Some of my favorite shows were on Mind Extension University. It was a cable television network that enabled students to take courses via television. So, as I got older and felt it was time to get my degree, I looked high and low for what would work for me. Attending a traditional university just was not realistic and I was about to give up on getting my degree. Many schools had Business Administration, but JIU had the degree in communications I wanted. Then to find out they had founded Mind Extension University told me they were ahead of their time and would remain that way.
Maqueda Lovinia Hooks
Simi Valley, California
Employer: CallSource
BABC
I've had many highlights while attending JIU. What stands out most is that everything happened just as I was told it would. From the beginning to the end, all the information and guidance I was given was professional, timely, accurate and in my best interests. I guess the highlight was working with a team of people who were concerned about me!
Darlene Lynette Johnson
Fayetteville, North Carolina
BABC in Communication Management
JIU allowed me to develop relationships with my classmates by creating an intimate, online classroom. It was also helpful to see familiar names in new classes, like walking into a room and finding a friend.
Nicole Tiffany Lyon
Houston, Texas
Employer: None
BABC in International Marketing
Students are consistently supportive of each other and I shall miss our rounds of dialogue. There were a few occasions in which student interaction was strenuous. These were the times I knew classmates were being honest and completely forthright in their discussions. These were the times I most enjoyed and most learned.
Larene Odom
Michigan
BABC in Communication Management
Master of Arts in Business Communication (MABC)
It was great to interact with others online and, in the group projects, be able to pull together as if we were only a block away from each other.
Deborah Ann Braidic
Sierra Madre, California
Employer: Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Occupation: Grant Writer
MABC in Leadership and Influence
I have been extremely fortunate in that I have been able to dually apply my professional and academic lives to each other. As a manager, I constantly encountered real life instances that we were studying and I was able to take those instances and write about them for school, thereby I was truly able to examine my situation from various angles in order to make the best decision possible.
Dawn Lynn DiFranco
Danbury, Connecticut
Occupation: Entertainment Manager
MABC in Influence and Leadership
The dynamics of face-to-face professors and online professors are quite different, at least in my experience. F-2-f profs seemed so much more "imparters of knowledge" and online profs more the facilitators of learning. Online, they are more like guides, pointing out subtleties and nuances; rather than teaching "at you," they seem to engage you in the learning process.
LynnMarie R. Elko
New Ringgold, Pennsylvania
MABC in General Communication Studies
I especially learned that you get out of something what you put into it. Rewards do reflect effort. Focus on those things that you really want and good things will come.
Virginia Koss
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Employer: Self Employed
Occupation: IT Consultant
MABC
The classmates were great to work with. There have been many constructive debates in the Forum. I would like to think that in many ways I learned as much from my classmates as I did the individual modules.
Danielle Manwaring
Baldwinsville, New York
MABC in Leadership and Influence
Obtaining my Master of Arts in Business Communication has provided the impetus to start a corporation with my daughter as my partner. Erin will complete her MBA in Finance at the same time I obtain my MABC. We established our corporation in March of this year (2006) and are already well on our way to providing business communication and management services to small companies in our area and to companies across the United States.
Jennifer Rush
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Employer: IQT2 Corporation
Occupation: President/CEO
MABC in Communication Technology
My JIU experience taught me about connecting globally and opened the door to self employment for me. One course sparked an interest in website design and I did a six-month apprenticeship with a local tech school and a website development business. I now offer business branding and website design to clients. I had no idea I'd head in that direction. I work with clients all over North America in ways that I'd not have known existed if it weren't for JIU.
Kimberley Anne Simon
Fenwick, Ontario, Canada
Employer: theZONEunlimited
Occupation: Founder
MABC
About six months after I finished my Capstone, I retired from the U.S. Air Force. As a result of my graduate degree from JIU, I was able to secure a very lucrative U.S. federal position in Stuttgart, Germany. JIU has provided me with opportunities far beyond my expectations.
John Vincent Tomassi, Jr.
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Employer: U.S. Government
Occupation: Public Affairs
MABC in Leadership and Influence
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
My situation is different than most other professionals seeking an MBA. My goal was one of self fulfillment and enrichment. The education has not provided any life-changing or career-changing results, but that was not my goal.
Daniel Charles Barnicle
Tega Cay, South Carolina
Employer: Self Employed
Occupation: Equities Trader
MBA in Entrepreneurship
It has been a pleasure and an honor working with some of the dynamic and brightest classmates and instructors over the course of the last year and a half. I'm glad we've been able to share in this virtual classroom.
Kimberly D. Bugg, PMP
Dayton, Ohio
Employer: Robert Half Technology
Occupation: Project Manager
MBA in Project Management
Time management was very important to being able to complete my JIU degree, which I was able to apply to my job and in my personal life. I also understand that the learning doesn't stop with the completion of my degree, but that it is an ongoing process, which I have taken to heart at work and in my personal life as well.
Janelle Lunasin Cabal
Simi Valley, California
Employer: West Hills Hospital
Occupation: Clinical Laboratory Scientist
MBA in Information Technology Management
After receiving my degree, I was promoted to our International Division.
Keny Chang
Los Angeles, California
Employer: Citibank
Occupation: Manager
MBA in Information Technology Management
I decided to pursue my degree because the MBA complemented my pursuits as a Quality and Project Management professional. The curriculum is aligned closely to the PMI Book of Knowledge and prepares you for the PMP exam.
Alan Burroughs Dial
Dallas, Georgia
Employer: GE Energy
Occupation: Six Sigma Black Belt-NPI
MBA in Project Management
I noticed that I now often apply the frameworks I learned in JIU virtual classrooms at work, and I find that to be a very rewarding experience, both personally and professionally. I feel that I add a lot more value to the organization I work for.
Eugene Gilerson
Brooklyn, New York
Occupation: IT Manager
MBA in Finance
I have already made a career move since graduating from Jones International University. I have been promoted and viewed as a professional that has the ability and drive to "do what it takes."
Cynthia L. Greenbaum
South Elgin, Illinois
Employer: Veolia Environmental
Occupation: Regional HR Manager
MBA in Negotiation and Conflict Management
This was much more work than I ever thought it would be, but I also will appreciate my diploma that much more. I have had a goal for 20 years to get my MBA (since I got my BBA), and I can't tell you how satisfying it is to achieve this major, personal goal. If JIU did not offer the type of program they offer (with the flexibility), I would never have had the opportunity to achieve my goal.
James Hanson
Charlotte, North Carolina
Employer: Acosta Sales & Marketing Co.
Occupation: Vice President, Space Technology Services
MBA in Global Enterprise Management
Being an RN and a patient advocate, it benefits me, the organization that I work for, and most important, the patients, to keep upgrading my knowledge and abilities. To achieve an MBA degree is a tremendous enhancement to my roles as an RN, educator and legal nurse consultant.
Alicia Baltazar Jablonsky
North Brunswick, New Jersey
Employer: NYU Hospital For Joint Diseases
Occupation: RN Clinical Educator
MBA in Health Care Management
As in life, the more you put into your classes, the more you can get out of them. You can choose to sit back and do the minimum, or you can throw yourself into it and become quite active in the class Forum discussions. This is where I feel I may have learned the most.
Alan Joel Karasin
Ithaca, New York
Employer: City of Ithaca
Occupation: Sr. Network Administrator
MBA in Information Technology Management
Master of Education (MEd)
My career and life will change dramatically with the opportunity to pursue administrative positions. I feel that the education I received from JIU has prepared me to become an effective administrator.
Joseph Brislin
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Employer: Maywood Board of Education
Occupation: Teacher
MEd in Educational Leadership and Administration: Principal and Administrator Licensure
Life is ever changing, so we must be continually adapting and growing. My education has helped me realize that I have what it takes to grow and adapt. I am now willing to consider (and pursue) a PhD that would not have appealed to me before. I am more bold to suggest ideas and potential solutions to organizational and educational problems. And, while I have increased my skills at work, I have found "spill over" into my personal life: marriage, friendships, and my walk of faith.
Bill Colwell, Jr.
South Bend, Indiana
Employer: Loma Linda University
Occupation: Instructional Designer
MEd in e-Learning: Global Leadership and Administration
The professors were incredible. While their expectations were high, they were reasonable. I incorporate some of what I saw from professors in my own classroom. I dig for thoughts from my students, and I am more willing to show them how to learn from their mistakes rather than making the grade final and moving on.
Traci Kay Ehrick
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Employer: Cumberland Co. Schools
Occupation: Teacher
MEd in Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
I have used the concepts I have learned in my teaching career not only to become a better teacher but also to evolve into a more knowledgeable colleague for other educators. The knowledge I have gained has given me more confidence in my teaching and in the leadership roles I am now taking on in my school and in the district. I have been able to use some of this knowledge in leading professional development at our school.
Tina Hemphill Fitts
Tupelo, Mississippi
Employer: Lawndale Elementary
Occupation: Teacher
MEd in Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
I see myself as much more prepared to offer my students a student-centered, technology-rich environment in which to flourish as learners.
Mimi M. Knibbs
Plantsville, Connecticut
Occupation: Full-time Homemaker
MEd in Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
I had employers calling me before I was even finished! Less than two months after graduating, I landed my dream job of designing, developing and implementing online learning solutions for a global organization.
Alan Livingston
Denver, Colorado
Employer: Gambro BCT
Occupation: e-learning instructional designer
MEd in e-Learning: Corporate Training and Knowledge Management
I believe this degree will help open new career opportunities for me. I look forward to utilizing my MEd to help my school grow. In an administrative position, I hope to guide and motivate our teachers toward excellence.
Edwin Hyiam Reiffman
Denver, Colorado
Occupation: Teacher
MEd in Educational Leadership and Administration: Principal and Administrator Licensure
I believe that all of my classes will enable me to be a better teacher and maybe, eventually, a better administrator. The professors and students I shared my time with at JIU are top quality. I would HIGHLY recommend JIU to anyone interested in an online learning experience.
Janet Lynne Surrency
Alexandria, Virginia
Employer: US Secret Service
Occupation: Senior Intelligence Analyst
MEd in Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
JIU is a very professional, well run organization. Excellent leadership, professors and students from around the world, comprehensive educational offerings and a great distance learning-environment conducive to success. A winning formula for those seeking advanced learning, but require an alternative solution to classroom training.
Gary Stephen Vastola
Oxford, Connecticut
Employer: Xerox Corporation
Occupation: Marketing
MEd in e-Learning: Corporate Training and Knowledge Management
With my degree from JIU, the elements are in place for me to continue to accelerate my career path in educational leadership. Our academy just launched a multi-million-dollar campaign to build a state-of-the-art campus for grades K5 through 12. I am so excited to be a key player in this project!
Angel Whitehead
Winter Garden, Florida
Employer: Foundation Academy
Occupation: Elementary Principal/Preschool Administrator
MEd in Educational Leadership