Jayson Dunn
Information Technology Assistant Manager, City of Cincinnati
B.S. Technical Administration
MBA Student

Why did you choose Franklin University?
I’d already earned by Bachelor of Science in Technical Administration from Franklin; I transferred my associate degree credits from Cincinnati State Technical & Community College. But I knew that even with a strong technical background, I needed to strengthen my knowledge of the business side of operations in order to advance my career. So I chose to pursue Franklin’s MBA online because of the flexibility it provides.

How did you feel about being an adult student?
It takes great time management. Both my wife and I have demanding jobs, we’ve got a five-year old child and a baby on the way, and I’m very active within my congregation. Plus, compared to my undergraduate experience, the graduate pace is tougher; the expectations are higher. To be successful, you really need to be dedicated to success. And you need a supportive family. My wife has been extremely supportive of my goals. She even put her own ambitions on hold until I finish my education.

Tell us how what you’re learning relates to your profession?
The MBA Program is really helping me build my leadership skills. The trend in business is to have a solid understanding of management, communication, budgeting, and finance – even in technical fields. So with an MBA, I will be a more well-rounded professional with a balance of technology and business expertise.

Plus, I’ve received a number of promotion opportunities since attending Franklin. Being in the Vantage MBA Program was a big reason why I recently moved up from Computer Systems Analyst to Information Technology Assistant Manager for the City of Cincinnati. Being able to blend a strong technical background with business fundamentals, organizational leadership, and executive financial planning has placed me in a unique career position.

Any thoughts about the Vantage MBA Program?
Overall, it’s giving me a comprehensive perspective of business. It’s helped me become a more visionary, goal-oriented thinker. Before, I was very task oriented. Now I’m more strategic. I see how different factors impact business, such as organizational behavior. Also, I am communicating at an executive level, which is critical in my job.

I feel prepared for leadership!

So far what is your overall experience with Franklin?
I’ve found Franklin to be very reputable, both as an undergraduate and a graduate student. As an online student, I really enjoyed the introduction of Franklin Live! It’s a very useful learning tool; it puts a voice with a name. That’s especially helpful for group assignments.

Any words of advice for future Franklin students?
Set a goal. Set your own pace. Be realistic about what you can accomplish. Avoid burn-out by breaking up your study times into segments. Use the Student Services Associates (SSAs); they really know how to help you work through the challenges. And use the Student Learning Center to help you with graduate-level writing.

I’ll share my motto to help you get through the program with good grades: Early in the day. Early in the week. Early in the month. If I can do it, so can you. It’s worth every effort!