Air Force veteran Jana Aydelott-Leeper came to the 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 - Fort Smith
after an intense career in the military as a weather forecaster and observer, looking
to enrich her natural talents in entrepreneurship. The Roland, Oklahoma, native traveled
to 28 countries while on active duty but returned home to the River Valley to earn
her degree in a supportive, empowering community.
"I love being able to attend university in the community that has enriched my life
in so many ways," said Aydelott-Leeper, "I continue to find the guidance, love and
support that I love about Fort Smith each time I return."
During her active duty career, Aydelott-Leeper lived in Germany for three years, writing
weather forecasts for Europe, the United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East and the
States. From giving weather briefings to developing aviation forecasts for pilots
of manned and unmanned aircraft, she played an integral role in mission planning.
Aydelott-Leeper helped develop training materials for forecasting weather in Africa
and worked with the army at Fort Hood, where she forecast her first tornado.
"I got to sound the tornado siren!" she said. "I was able to predict the tornado in
time to shelter people and secure aircraft."
Aydelott-Leeper venture-capitalized her first business at 19 years old and enrolled
at 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 to pursue a business degree, but left the program to find direction through
military service. Working in meteorology opened her eyes to the complex relationship
between technical aptitude and creativity - an understanding that would inform her
college career when she returned at 34.
"Having worked in a branch of science that is equally as mechanical as it is creative
is something that has changed my brain for the better, and helped me to be able to
look at small parts while visualizing how the whole of something may function."
After three changes of major, Aydelott-Leeper found the with a focus in Organizational Leadership, a program that rewarded her career and
military experience and shed light on the intricacies of corporate administration
that could fill-in her existing knowledge of business ownership.
A wife and mother of three, full-time student, registered yoga instructor, and owner
of , Aydelott-Leeper entered the ADCP program with a wealth of knowledge that is respected
and rewarded.
Even in a supportive academic program, returning to higher education as a nontraditional
student was a difficult transition. "In a sense becoming a student has truly felt
like starting over," she said. "As we gain experience, it can be common to master
our various life roles, and complacency can creep in. Entering back into the world
of academia has certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone. I've had to ask myself
some hard questions about my intentions, abilitiesand resources. It's definitely not
easy to balance the workload of school with a family and business, but it is an enriching
challenge."
Through the , Aydelott-Leeper also found a community of students striving to assess their abilities
and aptitudes in post-military life.
"The SVO is a wonderful community hub," she explained. "Adult students, military veterans, and
especially female veterans, are a minority in the classroom, and it can sometimes
feel isolating to feel like most students are not truly peers. I've spoken to other
veterans on campus that truly feel the SVO is the place they can come and feel the
camaraderie and 'belonging to something bigger' that we become accustomed to during
our military service. The feeling of being amongst welcoming peers is incredibly comforting,
especially for those of us who haven't been in a traditional classroom setting in
a decade or more."
The understanding and acceptance found in the SVO add to Aydelott-Leeper's motivation
and positivity, empowering her to prosper academically. Though she feels supported
by the organization as a whole, Heather Redding, President of SALUTE Veterans National
Honor Society, stands out as a leader.
"She is a fellow female veteran who makes it her personal mission to welcome and support
veterans and those interested in the organization. Female veterans are a minority,
and, occasionally people can forget those female veterans exist. It can be much more
difficult for female veterans to access their military benefits, suitable employment,
find camaraderie and unpack the specific considerations that we might bring back from
our enlistment. Heather is genuinely committed to reaching out and making sure veterans
know they have a compassionate peer. "
"The SVO truly transcends personal politics or stance on the military mission," she
added. "It puts the focus on the people who have served our country and brings awareness
to the sacrifices the families and individuals make as part of military service. "
Aydelott-Leeper, who earned a 4.0 GPA her first year back, intends to stay in Fort
Smith when she graduates in 2020, putting her academic degree to use in the River
Valley.
"What I'm learning at 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 will continue to guide my entrepreneurial decisions and
business choices," she said. "I feel that the community of Fort Smith provides something
special in the way of opportunities for people who don't fall into a traditional professional
category and provides ample opportunities for professional mobility and success."
About the 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 :
Through the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP) at the 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 鈥� Fort Smith, non-traditional students in the workforce can advance their career by earning a college degree through a streamlined educational experience.
香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 uses a nationally recognized method of awarding college credit for your past experience, whether it's from work, seminars, military education, or training/certificate programs.
The ADCP Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership is the top degree for adult learners at 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播. Students learn higher-level thinking and decision-making skills which advance their careers across many business sectors. This is a modern degree and highly desired by employers due to the students' ability to lead, communicate, analyze, and effectively make decisions in turbulent, fast-changing workplaces.
BSOL graduates are specialized in developing relationships, building teams, influencing
decisions, and motivating people to achieve organizational goals.
About the 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 - Fort Smith
The 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow 香港六合彩开奖结果现场直播 students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally.
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