Graduation
John BirklandAssociate Dean of Students
Educational Background:
I received my B.A. from Gustavus Adolphus College located in St. Peter MN. I am currently working to finish my M.A. in counseling psychology from Adler Graduate School.
Professional Experience:
Earlier this decade I worked as a District Executive for the Boy Scouts of America in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I coordinated volunteer efforts across the city and in surrounding rural neighborhoods to recruit youth, train adult volunteers, fundraise, and sell popcorn. In addition to those and other annual projects I also managed the day-to-day vagaries of district operations. After moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota I gained experience in online education working at Capella University before transitioning to the Minnesota School of Business.
Personal Interests:
I like taking walks and being outdoors. The parks system in the Twin Cities is second to none, and, having grown up in Iowa, I’m taking full advantage of all these Minnesota lakes! I also like talking with friends and meeting new people.
Why I Enjoy Working at MSB:
I really enjoy the variety of my job – the fact that I get to interact with our online students in so many different ways (everything from facilitating the online orientation to helping new students register for courses). I also appreciate the fact that our online programs are growing fairly quickly. It makes the working environment around here quite exciting – I think that online education here at MSB has great future potential!
Why I Believe in Online Education:
I believe that online education provides formal education and advancement opportunities to a wide swath of the American populace that are currently being underserved by traditional institutions of higher learning. Most students I know find themselves in the very thick of life. They work a full time job, they have kids, or both. I am proud to work for an organization that brings the same educational opportunities to people living in these circumstances that were traditionally reserved only for single, non-working individuals between the ages of 19-22.
Globe University/Minnesota School of Business is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, Bachelor of Science degrees, Associate in Applied Science degrees and diplomas.