Healthcare professional advances career with MBA

When he was considering an advanced degree, Morningstar looked for a reasonably priced program he could complete while working. He also wanted a fully online, accredited program, a requirement of his employer’s tuition reimbursement program. He discovered Chadron State College through a website which returned CSC as an institution meeting his criteria.

He enjoyed learning new business concepts, ideas and strategies and was impressed by thefaculty and their years of real world experience. He alsofound the virtual learning environment a useful, intuitive tool for collaborative learning and interaction. 

Dr. Tim Donahue’s Entrepreneurial and Marketing courses had a tremendous impact on Morningstar.

"The course projects of creating a business plan and a marketing plan were both enlightening and frustrating. However, with Professor Donahue’s business experience, consistent engagement and constant feedback, I learned a great deal and the class cohort felt he truly cared about their individual projects," Morningstar said.

Donahue is equally impressed with Morningstar’s abilities.

"Mr. Morningstar is indicative of the majority of our MBA students at CSC. He manages a hectic professional career, is attentive to family, and very professional in his academics. I had him in two graduate classes and had the pleasure of meeting him in person in Sacramento. He, like many of our students, I would consider as a friend. The CSC program and its wonderful students create relationships that will last far longer than their time in the CSC MBA program," Donahue said.

Morningstar said Dr. August Bruehlman’s Business Strategy course was useful, especially the topic of concise, “to-the-point” business reporting.

"I now bear this in mind when I have to report to my employer’s senior management. I am grateful for Professor Bruehlman’s focus on this," Morningstar said.

Another applicable concept Morningstar learned was activity-based costing, a practice used increasingly in the hospital industry subsequent to the passage of the Affordable Healthcare Act to reduce costs and increase efficiency while improving healthcare quality.

Bruehlman said Morningstar was intellectually curious and incisive in his approach to learning activities, always willing to go the ‘extra mile.’

"He was generous in his contributions to the class forums and frequently brought in personal situations and external research for the benefit of the cohort. In short, he raised the level of academic rigor and scholarly discussion in any class he took.  It was a pleasure to have John in our MBA program and we know he represents the very best qualities of Chadron State MBA graduates," Bruehlman said.

Morningstar plans to help former military members start businesses through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program using his professional experience and the knowledge gained through the CSC MBA program.

His service on the advisory board for a community college respiratory care program has taken on new meaning as a result of his study of governance.

"As I gained a deeper understanding of leadership as a process, my approach to mentoring, coaching and facilitating respiratory care students has changed," he said.

After earning his degree, Morningstar has been asked to lead more hospital teams in process improvement projects and to help teach employees about process improvement on other hospital campuses.

He has also been able to take advantage of several opportunities such as being accepted to a board of directors for a community park.

"The concepts, tools and ideas I learned through the CSC MBA program, coupled with my own experiences, are allowing me to take advantage of new and varied opportunities," Morningstar said.           

—Tena L. Cook, Marketing Coordinator