Serving in the military is about respecting yourself and those around you. It's about taking everything you do seriously, having pride in your work, and being a member of a team. The values were instilled in me during my time in the Coast Guard, and I carried them with me to this program. I understood how to be a team player and immediately appreciated the importance of being in the cohort.
Jenna Sanders, MSA/MBA'23, served as a seaman in the Coast Guard.
I knew that my background as a military service member would help me pursue an MBA because I have an essential set of skills, including leadership and teamwork, plus the work ethic and adaptability that you need to achieve this degree. I have leveraged these skills in order to succeed in this program. They have prepared me for the ever-present collaborative work environment at Northeastern and have allowed me to either take charge of a project or work as a team member in this program.
Comus Hardman, MBA'22, is a veteran with a passion for entrepreneurship.
My military time has translated to my education well. The military is structured and rigorous, and so is the Northeastern MBA program. The expectations from professors and the program are clear; you know what to expect each day, and you understand the learning objectives. The structure I received in the military was similar, and this background has helped me adapt to life as a graduate student.
Alexander Cropley, MBA'24, graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2012 and has pursued a unique path at D'Amore-McKim.
The Army taught me how to bring people together to accomplish something. I apply that philosophy to my career and personal life…. I got my foundational skills from Northeastern, leadership skills from my ROTC and military service, and my values from my support system.
Cadet Brigade General Dick Power, DMSB'63, recalls what his time in ROTC, the service, and Northeastern means to him.
I think the biggest thing that I would say to my fellow veterans is the fact of your transition is going to be uniquely your own. There is no one way or right way to transition from navy blue to corporate gray, as the title of the book we used back in the day.
Curtis Odom, Firecontrolman Second Class, United States Navy
Curtis Odom is an Executive Professor of Management at D'Amore-McKim. In his message to veterans, he adds: “So what I would say is walking out of or off of active duty, think about the things that you love most about your time in uniform. Think about if you can do those things every day without the uniform, what would they be? And I would say search for those five or three or however many things that you love most. Worry less about the job title or the role or the level and think about what's going to get you fired up to get out of bed every day.”
Any military officer will tell you that to an equal or greater degree than the mission, the most important thing is always the health, welfare, and wellbeing of those under one's charge. Put simply, it's all about the troops. When I transitioned to higher education over ten years ago, I started thinking of my students as my troops, putting them first and treating them at all times with the highest degree of care and respect.
William A. Lovely III, Captain, United States Marine Corps
William A. Lovely III is an Associate Teaching Professor in D'Amore-McKim's International Business and Strategy Group. He adds, “The Marine Corps afforded me a unique opportunity to serve my neighbors and my nation, and I did so proudly for almost my entire young adult life. My experiences and perspectives enhance the way I engage with students, enabling me to connect with them in ways that meaningfully advance their personal and professional development, ever mindful of their potential as effective and authentic global leaders.”
[Getting a degree from D'Amore-McKim is] a great way to take that experience that you get in the military, especially that leadership experience, and find how to translate that into the civilian world in a way that you can take and really go far with. I definitely did not make those connections and learn how to leverage those experiences until I came here to D'Amore-McKim.
John McGuinness, E'19, MBA'21, served as an Airborne Infantryman in the United States Army.
I was motivated to pursue an MBA at D'Amore-McKim to translate the operational and leadership experience I gained in the military into the corporate world and to become a more well-rounded professional. Northeastern has been a wonderful experience and I have made several meaningful connections. For veterans considering the Part-Time MBA, they offer a strong veterans network and resources that have set me up for success, and for that, I am very grateful.
Emmanuel Dunlap, a Coast Guard Logistics Officer, is a Part-Time MBA student at D'Amore-McKim.
The more I looked into Northeastern's advantages, the more I realized how supportive the university is of military veterans. I don't think I could have logically gone from construction to the Navy and then straight into corporate finance without the MS in Finance/MBA program—this degree made that transition possible.
Ross Whelton, First Class Petty Officer Electronics Technician, United States Navy, is a Full-Time MS in Finance/MBA student.
Share your story about service
If you are a veteran in the D'Amore-McKim community and would like to share your story please let us know. Email us or tag your posts with #damoremckim.