Park University Master's Degree Profiles

MAGAZINE Summer 2013

Vol. 5, No. 1

Opening Doors Graduate education is unlocking new doors to the future (Page 2)

Park University — opening doors to students since 1875.

MASTER’s

DEGREE

MEASURES Eric Klingensmith

Is it worth it? Beyond the stats and facts on the value of a master’s degree, the litmus test is to hear directly from those who have made the investment. From health care and business to public affairs, education and the arts, Park University graduate alumni affirm their decision to invest in advanced education is paying professional and personal dividends.

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Master of Education, ’12 Adjunct Instructor of English, Park University English Teacher/Head Cross Country Coach, Smithville High School Smithville, Mo. “I’m looking forward to advancing my leadership in the education field,” said Klingensmith.

Klingensmith teaches English honors courses while presenting at National Council of Teachers of English conferences around the country. Serving on his School Improvement Advisory Council has enhanced his understanding of critical education issues such as school safety and culture. After completing a master’s degree in English, Klingensmith began working on his master’s degree in education leadership while furthering the education of others as an adjunct instructor of English at Park. “The experience of being a teacher and student helped me become better at both.” Klingensmith also has coached a number of highly ranked high school cross country teams in Missouri.

He is especially proud of his work to establish Julia’s Warriors Run for Hope, a 5K run that provides awareness and funds for cancer research. Whether as a teacher or coach, Klingensmith said he adheres to the motto of “leadership by example.”

James Warren

Master of Healthcare Administration, ’12 Client Results Executive Cerner Corp. Middle East Doha, Qatar “When I began my master’s degree, I never thought I’d be influencing the policies of a national health care system,” said Warren. Today, Warren manages Cerner’s implementation of electronic health records for Sidra Medical and Research Center in Qatar, which will become one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the world. An undergraduate degree in finance and pre-pharmacy gave Warren a broad understanding of the business world, but he said it wasn’t until he worked four years with Cerner in Kansas City, Mo., and London that he realized career advancement would require the knowledge and skills of graduate education. “If you’re considering a graduate degree, consider it early in your career, but it is never too late,” Warren said.

“It can be difficult balancing work, life and school, but the rewards of a graduate degree can be powerful.”

Michele Malone

Master of Healthcare Administration, ’11 Director of Women’s Services and Nursing Excellence North Kansas City Hospital North Kansas City, Mo. “I needed more than a traditional Master of Business Administration degree to advance in the turbulent health care environment,” said Malone.

Malone has led many critical hospital initiatives, including the establishment of a Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit at North Kansas City Hospital. Today, she leads NKCH’s maternity and women’s health programs, and oversees the hospital’s participation in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators and its process to earn a “magnet hospital” designation, the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence. “Health care is a complex environment that requires leaders to be accountable for patient and financial outcomes.

We can only be successful through innovation and by continually reimagining the future,” she said. Because of Park, Malone said she is up for the daunting task. “I’m prepared to do whatever I’m called upon to do, in whatever stetting my career may take me.”

Gulrukh Shakirova

Master of Music Performance, ’10 Associate Instructor of Piano Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music Bloomington, Ind. “My graduate degree is an achievement that has opened many new doors to a better life,” said Shakirova.

A pianist, Shakirova has delighted audiences around the world, winning top prizes in competitions in France, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the U.S. “I received a full scholarship to return to Park University after earning a graduate certificate in piano to continue my training with the brilliant faculty in the International Center for Music,” she said. “Park provided a beautiful atmosphere for me to reach a new professional level and studying at Park offered a smooth bridge from being far from home to an independent life in a new country.”

Without a graduate degree, Shakirova said she would not be able to teach at the college level while pursuing her doctorate degree.

“No matter the field, graduate education can be hard, but once you earn it, you will never lose it,” she said.

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MASTER’s DEGREE

MEASURES Ryan Owens, ’08

Master of Business Administration, ’11 Associate Vice President, Small Business Development Officer UMB Bank Blue Springs, Mo. “I wanted the advantage that a graduate degree offers,” said Owens.

“An MBA sets you apart from the herd of applicants in business and differentiates you when it comes time for a promotion.”

Owens said his undergraduate degree in management offered broad knowledge, but he wanted to study business on a deeper level and bring that experience to his company and his customers. Today, Owens leads business development and manages client relationships to help customers determine the best financial solutions to help grow their business.

Owens said pursuing his master’s degree was definitely an investment. “A bachelor’s degree doesn’t have the same value it had 20 years ago,” he said. “For me, to stay competitive, it was definitely worth the time and money.

I wouldn’t want to be in the business world without it.”

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Kellie Mzik

Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership, ’10 Assistant Professor of Communication Georgia Military College Milledgeville, Ga. “Without my master’s degree, I wouldn’t have the career I love,” said Mzik. When Mzik graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 2008, the department chair at her college offered her a job as a lecturer/ adviser. The catch was that she had to have a master’s degree or be working toward one, so she started the process. But not without shock at the price tag after the college she considered nearly tripled its tuition. Researching options, she was glad to find Park University. Today, Mzik teaches public speaking and interpersonal communication while advising students. “Teaching is immensely rewarding,” she said. Not only was Park’s online program affordable, she said it was enriching. “I interacted with a diverse group of scholars from all over the world which gave my graduate experience a cultural richness not easily attained in many face-to-face programs,” she said.

Irina KobzevaPavlovic, ’04

Master of Public Affairs, ’11 Executive Director International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City Kansas City, Mo. “I’m especially interested in global issues, so my decision to pursue a degree at Park’s Hauptmann School of Public Affairs was a natural,” said Kobzeva-Pavlovic. Born in Russia, KobzevaPavlovic has held leadership positions with international organizations such as People to People International and Sister Cities Association of Kansas City. Currently, she oversees events, marketing and volunteers for the International Trade Council of Greater Kansas City and will be joining Park as an adjunct instructor teaching undergraduate public affairs courses. “Teaching and education are in my blood. My father teaches at Saint Petersburg (Russia) State Polytechnical University and three generations of my family have obtained advanced degrees, so I definitely have big shoes to fill.”

Russ Johnson

Master of Business Administration, ’04 Councilman, City of Kansas City, Mo. President, System Solutions Kansas City, Mo. “I didn’t pursue my degree because someone said I should,” said Johnson.

“There was more I wanted to learn and continuing my education has been well worth the investment.” Johnson uses his MBA education every day as both a software developer and city councilman. “City government demands a business acumen to make sound financial and operational decisions,” he said. Johnson was the tactical leader on the Downtown Kansas City Streetcar Project that is scheduled to begin in spring 2015. Johnson said an MBA provides a solid foundation for any career. “An MBA is valuable for anyone who plans to advance beyond their specialty, such as engineering or technology, to manage projects that impact business success.”

Darwin Rivera, ’04

Master of Business Administration, ’07 Senior Program Manager, HID Global Executive Vice President, National Society of Hispanic MBAs Washington, D.C. “Attaining my MBA has opened a lot of doors for me,” said Rivera.

For Rivera, pursuing an MBA was a logical choice for career advancement. “I was drawn to management roles that bridge the technical with the business side of things,” he said. Rivera said Park was a good fit for his schedule and the best value overall. “I could not afford to stop working while going to school and Park enabled me to continue my education even during deployments to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.” Today, Rivera leads multidisciplinary teams to manage projects in Central America, South America and the U.S. Working with a nonprofit to support Hispanic MBAs and teaching as an adjunct instructor at a community college in northern Virginia, Rivera’s education and experience allow him to give back. “I’m able to share the knowledge I’ve gained both in my studies and in the real world.”

Ashley Rath

Master of Business Administration, ’09 Owner and Lead Event Planner Dishy Event Planning St. Louis, Mo. “I knew I wanted to start my own business one day,” said Rath. Yet with an undergraduate degree in journalism, Rath said she didn’t have the business knowledge or experience. To realize her dream, Rath pursued an MBA. “I selected Park not only for the convenience but also for the prestige of its online programs,” she said. Park’s reputation did not disappoint.

“Professors always had their proverbial doors open and were readily available for phone and online support. And I was able to build relationships and conduct group exercises with classmates as if we were in the same location.” The MBA experience gave Rath the knowledge and confidence to build a growing business. Today, Rath’s full-service wedding and event planning company received Wedding Wire’s Bride’s Choice Award and The Knot’s Best of Weddings in 2012 and 2013. “In the competitive wedding industry, having a master’s degree definitely sets me apart from the competition.”

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MASTER’s DEGREE

MEASURES Bradley Jenkins, ’10

Master of Public Affairs, ’12 Immigration Services Officer U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services Lee’s Summit, Mo. “I unequivocally attribute my career success to my graduate degree,” said Jenkins. “Having applied for dozens of federal positions, I was told over and over that without a master’s degree, breaking into federal service is nearly impossible, and that a graduate degree is required for most, if not all, government positions above the GS-5 level,” he said. Jenkins added he still had to evaluate the risks of taking on the debt to pursue his master’s degree. With a significant salary increase since earning his master’s degree, Jenkins said it was worth it. Most importantly, Jenkins valued the Park experience. “I interacted with people around the globe, which gave me greater insight that is valuable in my field,” he said. “Given the current political climate surrounding comprehensive immigration reform, the career challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for me with my advanced degree are vast.”

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Aaron Leonard

Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership, ’13 Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Military Outreach Coordinator, Project Rebirth Fort Eustis, Va. “Like most everything we choose to do in our lives, a graduate education is what you make of it,” said Leonard. As a field artillery officer in the Army, Leonard has more than 25 years of military service. He currently oversees the Army’s worldwide training aids, devices and simulators. Leonard’s primary interest is psychological resiliency from the effects of war in the military and how adventure therapy enhances individual resiliency. He has completed multiple adventure therapy courses and a Ride 2 Recovery challenge to better understand different training methods.

“With a team from Project Rebirth, Sierra Club and Outward Bound, we’ve created a program for soldiers to better understand their capabilities through self-esteem building wilderness experiences,” he said. Leonard also plans to pursue college-level teaching and fellowship opportunities. “A master’s degree opens future opportunities for me that would otherwise not exist,” he said.

Luke C. Lewis

Master of Public Affairs, ’11 City Manager Marceline, Mo. “I can’t imagine anyone enduring the adversity that municipalities face without a Master of Public Affairs degree to lean on,” said Lewis.

To keep the famous boyhood home of Walt Disney running smoothly, Lewis manages a demanding list of responsibilities, from city leases, contracts and permits to the annual budget. Since his appointment in 2011, Lewis reorganized every department, introduced new technology and infrastructure to improve public services, and negotiated a public/private partnership to develop a new biofuel with zero emissions. “In a global economy, natural resources are more expensive. Forward-thinking municipalities are partnering with the private sector to develop carbon-neutral energy and sustainable water supplies.” Lewis has many years of business and law enforcement experience. Bridging the gap between public and private sectors — and solving problems on a larger scale — required graduate education in public affairs.

“My degree has prepared me well for the vast challenges of public service.”

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