Professor brings NSU alumni into the classroom

(Tahlequah, Okla.)--For Dr. Ken Jones, assistant professor of Management in Northeastern State Universitys College of Business and Technology, his pride in being a part of NSU is something he wants his students to understand and feel. Growing up in Tahlequah, Jones always felt that NSU was a place of honor and prestige. Because of this, Jones recently implemented a new program, coined Trail Blazers, a unique opportunity to bring students face-to-face with NSU alumni and to hear their stories.

A main component of Trail Blazers is to create a mindset of now, rather than later. While conceiving the program, Jones hoped that bringing the industry into the classroom would rejuvenate the idea of getting a great career started, and get students thinking and learning beyond just a grade.

By partnering with the NSU Alumni Association, Jones was given a venue in which to seek out volunteers to speak in his classroom. He set no specific topics of discussion; however, he asked each speaker to share the impact NSU had on them both personally and professionally, and to share what it took to get to their current position in their careers.

Our students need to know that you can graduate from NSU and do anything, go anywhere, and excel with your NSU education and friendships. NSU faculty (now and then) love our students and we want them to succeed, said Jones.

The inaugural semester of the Trail Blazer program influenced four of Jones Supply Chain Operations Management and Quantitative Methods courses, where 124 students were able to hear from and interact with 22 NSU alumni.

Jones gauged the students reactions as unsure at first, but as a pattern emerged with the speakers, the students really began to connect with the messages they were sending.

Some of my students expressed fear of looking for work.It took three weeks of guest speakers to get them to admit their fear. These alumni were afraid, but they overcame, said Jones.There was a pattern to each of these alumni speakershard work, kept trying, don't quit, believe in yourself, keep learningsuccess. Our students seemed to eventually connect with this, as business pros, thinking career, not just pass this class and get the next one done.

Although the program is only in its first year, Jones explained that the lasting impact it will have is already evident. Through conversations with students after alumni visits, Jones was informed of seven jobs and internships that students attributed to the Trail Blazer effort.Jones said that by listening to the stories of perseverance, determination and both failure and success, students have been able to gain their own sense of pride and confidence.

Plans to expand the program in the future semesters are also in motion. Jones hopes to integrate student-alumni interviews, workplace visits and more in-class presentations.

We had Billie Jordan (Superintendent from Keys Public Schools) present her life story to some of my classes, and they were enthralled by her, said Jones. I tell each class, after the alumnus left the room that I want them to plan on coming back in the next 3-5 years and stand where that alumnus stood and tell their story. I told them, If it makes you feel good to hear it, then my students 3-5 years from nowwill get that feeling of confidence, competence, and collaboration from your presentation."

Jones hopes that his colleagues in both his department and other departments at NSU will be able to duplicate this program. Through his partnership with the Alumni Association, he hopes to make the process of finding speaker candidates simple for himself and other NSU faculty members.

Speaking opportunities are available during Dr. Jones classeson Wednesday mornings at9:30 a.m.on the Tahlequah campus andSaturdaymornings at11 a.m.on the Broken Arrow campus. NSU alumni interested in participating in the Trail Blazer program, can contact Dr. Ken Jones atjones013@nsuok.edu or 918-444-2945.