David Sayre
Practice Leader
Battelle
M.S. in Computer Science

As a Practice Leader at Battelle, I’m in an environment where education is valued. By earning my master’s degree which was relevant to my career, I also set an example of lifelong learning for my children. And I did it through Franklin University, where I have earned four degrees.

After my freshman year of college at another university, I joined the Air National Guard and was out of school for more than a year. When I returned from training, I started at Franklin University. I chose Franklin because they accepted my transfer credits and would allow me to work while earning my associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. In 1987, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and went off to Officer’s Candidate School in the Army. When I returned to Columbus, I also returned to Franklin, and began working on my B.S. in Computer Science, which I completed in 1995.

Nine years and four kids later, I again returned to Franklin to complete my M.S. in Computer Science. Completing it enabled me to take on increased responsibilities at Battelle and also moved me one step closer to my long-term goal of earning a Ph.D.

Franklin’s schedules and coursework were such that I could juggle my responsibilities and pursue my own interests. I typically put in 50 hours a week at work and devoted 15-20 hours a week to school. The remainder of my energy was focused on my family and home matters, including coaching two soccer teams. It’s pretty obvious that I couldn’t have maintained this kind of commitment to my goals without the encouragement of my wife, Demita, who took on the bulk of responsibility for our children.

As for Franklin classes, I used the online resources extensively and really enjoyed the classroom interaction. I knew what I wanted out of the classes and was able to get it. I’ve found that the education I received at Franklin has great relevance in my everyday work applications.

Because of my experiences with Franklin, my view of education changed. Education was no longer just about earning a degree, it was about making my classroom experiences immediately applicable to my work requirements. And there’s no question my Franklin experience served as a foundation for lifelong learning.