Mike Emery

MEd in Educational Leadership and Administration – Principal and Administrator Licensure

It’s not all fun and games for Mike Emery. As the athletics and activities director of a large Atlanta-area high school, he has more than 60 coaches who report to him and is in charge of no less than 100 school clubs.

“The majority of my job is definitely administrative,” he said. “I always have something on my plate.”

That’s why when he was in the market for grad schools, he considered only universities that could accommodate his intense work schedule.

“Being totally online was important to me,” Emery said. “It’s also critical that when you get into these programs that they are legit. Accreditation was huge.”

A dogged online search for his dream school led Emery to JIU, where he said he found a sense of community despite the remote nature of the format.

“I would describe my experience with JIU as flawless,” he said. “From a technological aspect, the process was very easy from the very beginning. The personalized support system also was extremely positive for students; I found everyone from the academic counselors to the professors to be helpful and cordial.”

He chose the M.Ed in Educational Leadership and Administration – Principal and Administrator Licensure program, from which he graduated this summer. He said he found the courses relevant and immediately applicable to his job. His new degree also has an immediate impact on his paycheck; he will receive a significant salary increase because of his master degree.

Knowing the commitment his graduate program would take, Emery said his family’s support was critical.

“Thank goodness for an understanding wife,” he said. “She and I basically sat down and told our son and daughter that we’re just going to have to suck it up for a couple of years. It affected vacations and just about every weekend. But everyone was great about it! They were so supportive the entire time, and I know they’re extremely proud of what I was able to accomplish. That means everything to me.”

Like many of JIU’s students, Emery has enthusiastically spread the word about the university and already turned three colleagues into JIU grad students.

“When you find something that is so positive, it’s impossible not to tell others about it,” he said. “JIU’s ed programs are of the highest quality and the completely online format is perfect for busy teachers who need that flexibility.”

Despite graduation, Emery said his experience as an online student won’t end. He plans to take further classes for his professional and personal development.

“I definitely consider myself a lifelong learner,” he said. “We constantly need to challenge ourselves; it’s part of maintaining our well-being.…I’m just grateful to have the opportunity to do this.”