Kudos to Wartburg College for exemplifying the leadership and adaptive change it taught and instilled in me as a graduate student these past 20 months.
I was among the eight students enrolled in the third cohort of its online MA in Leadership program, and I was poised to return with my wife, Jennifer, to the Wartburg campus in Waverly, Iowa, for commencement over the Memorial Day weekend.
Not only was I driving back from Michigan to walk across the stage and graduate with my classmates, but they were also the ones who nominated me to serve as our class speaker during the hooding ceremony. What an unexpected and amazing honor!
My speech almost didn’t happen.
An unexpected turn of circumstances forced Jennifer and me to stay in Michigan and not attend graduation or deliver my speech.
Thankfully, Dr. Michael Gleason—one of my professors and the Irving R. Burling Distinguished Professor in Leadership—wouldn’t let that happen.
“Adaptability is a key feature of our program,” he said.
Dr. Gleason worked with me and his Wartburg colleagues to ensure that I remained involved in the ceremony.
In less than 36 hours, we executed the plan to:
• Stick to the script, as my speech had already been written and approved.
• Use the audio/visual technology in the Wartburg Chapel to broadcast me giving my remarks.
• Avoid connectivity glitches that potentially come with live streaming by pre-recording a video of me delivering my speech as I was clad in my commencement gown and master’s hood.
• Acknowledge me when appropriate during the ceremony, as I, along with Jennifer, streamed live through Wartburg’s KnightVision.
Sure, I couldn’t be there on campus… at least not in person. However, with some quick thinking, evaluation, assessment, and adaptation to the situation, I wholeheartedly participated in the ceremony with my cohort and received my MA in Leadership.
And considering that this two-year program was asynchronous and entirely online, weren’t we all already used to not being in the same place together?
So proud of you. Your life is exciting. Congratulations on earning you degree. Well Done. As usual. Love you both
Thank you so much, Aunt Joyce! I am so grateful for the experience and all that I learned. We love you and Uncle Ron right back and appreciate your continued support of our efforts.