For busy Delta pilot‚ husband‚ father‚ flexibility of Georgia WebMBA program at Kennesaw State reaps rewards this graduation season
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (May 7‚ 2007) — Capt. Brian Teske might not be Superman‚ but he’s been able to work…
Georgia (May 8, 2007) — For busy Delta pilot‚ husband‚ father‚ flexibility of Georgia WebMBA program at Kennesaw State reaps rewards this graduation season
Jeremy Craig
Abstract
Director of University Relations
Frances Weyand Harrison
770−423−6203
fharris4@kennesaw.edu
Contact/Writer: Jeremy Craig‚ 770−499−3448 or jcraig19@kennesaw.edu
KENNESAW‚ Ga. (May 7‚ 2007) — Capt. Brian Teske might not be Superman‚ but he’s been
able to work on a graduate degree while flying around the world.
The father of three and devoted husband was able to fly for Delta Air Lines while
working on getting a Master of Business Administration degree in the Georgia WebMBA
program through Kennesaw State University's Michael J. Coles College of Business.
And he still made time for his family‚ as well as his country.
“I am a very fortunate and happy man‚” said Teske‚ 43. “Without the support of my
family‚ wife and children‚ I couldn’t have done this.”
On May 10‚ Teske will walk across the stage at Kennesaw State’s spring commencement
exercises to receive the degree for which he took exams in cities across the world
and the United States‚ carefully budgeting his downtime between flights and at home
for school and family life.
“I’m very excited to get to this point‚” he said. “I think you need to embrace these
successes when you have them‚ because you never know when you’re going to have the
next one.”
The Georgia WebMBA program‚ a venture of the Board of Regents of the University System
of Georgia‚ uses online learning systems‚ discussion boards‚ video lectures‚ case
study readings and other texts to facilitate education. Kennesaw State participates
with four other state universities in the program‚ which is accredited by the Association
to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business — an important factor‚ Teske said‚ when
he was choosing programs.
Teske was part of the initial 2001 cohort of WebMBA students‚ but after 9/11 he had
to take a leave from the program because of the negative effects on the airline industry.
He also spent much time performing disaster relief services for the Georgia State
Defense Force. In 2005‚ he reentered the program.
Teske‚ who formerly lived in Woodstock‚ Ga.‚ and now calls Minneapolis home‚ said
the immense flexibility of the program was key in selecting the WebMBA.
“When I started‚ I was an international co−pilot‚” he said. “I would fly into‚ say‚
Santiago‚ Chile‚ and I had 36 hours when I was there. In those 36 hours‚ I got as
much work done as I could. When I was at home with the kids‚ I spent time with them
and with my wife.”
Later‚ he became a captain on domestic routes‚ but still worked during his downtime‚
using Internet access at airport terminals and reading texts before going to the aircraft
and piloting the next flight to Boston or Miami.
While the primary delivery route of the WebMBA is online‚ students work in groups‚
meeting for a few days at KSU in order to encourage team−building and cohesion.
“The team−building exercises help foster a better relationship with other students
in the program‚” Teske said. “You get past the initial smiles and handshakes‚ and
you get a chance to see how your fellow students think and communicate.”
The program also gave Teske a chance to develop his international business skills‚
through an exchange program at Anhalt University in eastern Germany. The experience
was challenging‚ but very valuable‚ as he and classmates worked with German students
to develop a collaborative project — a feasibility study for a European company’s
expansion plans into Eastern Europe.
From corporate governance to business plans‚ decision making and finances‚ Teske has
gained much insight and knowledge that will be valuable to him as he advances in his
career. But one of the biggest lessons he’s gained through his time in the WebMBA
program is persistence.
“I liken it to a soldier in a battle: you just have to keep moving and not stop‚”
he said. “Even though you might get frustrated and have reached the saturation point‚
you just have to keep going.”
Additionally‚ KSU is seeking approval to begin offering its students an all−online
degree option for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree during the 2007−2008
academic year.
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To schedule an interview with Teske‚ please contact Jeremy Craig at 770−499−3448 or
jcraig19@kennesaw.edu.
Spring commencement exercises at Kennesaw State University are scheduled for 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. May 10‚ and 10 a.m. on May 11. Teske will participate in the exercises
at 2 p.m. on May 10. More information about the commencement exercises at KSU is available
at http://acsdevl.kennesaw.edu/access/story.asp?sto=369.
For more about the WebMBA program‚ please visit www.webmbaonline.org.
A publication−ready photograph of Teske is available from University Relations at
https://files.kennesaw.edu/staff/jcraig19/MediaGraphics/Brian%20Teske.jpg.
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A member of the 35−unit University System of Georgia‚ Kennesaw State University is
a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing student population approaching
20‚000 from 132 countries. The third−largest university in Georgia‚ Kennesaw State
offers more than 60 graduate and undergraduate degrees‚ including a new doctorate
in education.
MORE NEWS…
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 43,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
