Success Stories

I received my MSEM in 1984 from UAA.  Like most of my classmates, I was working full-time and took classes at night, usually two per semester.  I was able to take what I learned and put it to use right away the next day.  The information helped me become a much more effective and efficient professional, and it still is relevant decades later.  The self-discipline I gained from attending classes at UAA and doing hours of homework each week while working 40-50 hours at ARCO helped me pursue many challenging goals in my life and career.
I firmly believe that much of my success has been greatly facilitated by the strong foundation of the MSEM from UAA.

-Professor David A. Wyrick, MSEM Graduate 1984, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Bryan Pearce Bagley Regents Chair of Engineering Department of Industrial Engineering at Texas Tech University Lubbock




As the Information Technology Enterprise Applications Manager for a Pipeline company, one thing that you can count on is that change is an everyday part of doing business.  The need to maintain existing assets, as well as, continually find new ways to drive cost out of the system and improve on efficiencies and effectiveness is essential for sustaining a viable business model.  This is further amplified as oil production continues to be on the decline while funding demands remain less responsive to the declining throughput. 

As with most pipeline companies, the annual operating budget is comprised of capital and expense funded projects to ensure continuity of operations, comply with regulatory driven requirements and enhance the financial performance of the company over time.  Often, use of Information Technology is viewed as an enabler for addressing these business objectives.  Project Management is a core competency necessary to delivery on these improvements. 

Having studied for an obtained my Project Management Professional certification in the fall of 2004, I was hungry for digging deeper into the realm of project management and discovered the MSPM program at UAA.  One of the best decisions of my life was when I decided to enroll in this program.  Over the span of three years, I expanded my knowledge of project management processes, built lasting friendships with fellow students and applied learned concepts into my daily work.

The classroom assignments were challenging and based on practical learning.  It was great to be back in the classroom setting and being exposed to other industries and professionals’ perspectives.  I highly recommend this program for anyone wanting to further develop their knowledge of the Project Management discipline.  Without a doubt, the value I received from the program was the best of any academic pursuit I have undertaken in the past.

I am grateful that a quality Master’s program of this caliber existed right here in my backyard.  And I am most appreciative of Dr. Jang Ra’s visionary tenacity and all those who have supported him to evolve this program into a successful reality.

-Jon M. Ah You, MSPM Graduate 2008, PMP, IT Enterprise Applications Manager,
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, Anchorage, Alaska.

                                                                                                                                                   

As a Facility Engineer for BP Exploration, Alaska Inc.’s Milne Point Facility, I have to deal with upwards of 80 small projects at one time. The practical knowledge I learned in the MPSM program at UAA has made me better understand what makes a project a success. The principles I learned through the MSPM program at UAA have helped me organize and shepherd many small projects through the stages of initiation, planning, execution, control, and closeout.

For instance, at BP’s Milne Point Unit, we completed the “Buy It Once, Use It Twice” (BOUT) Waste Water Reuse Project under budget, on schedule, and to a very satisfied customer. The $1MM project will save BP over $500K per year for the 25-year life of the project. The BOUT innovation recycles used potable water from Milne Point’s wastewater treatment plant, tertiary treats the water, and injects the water into the turbines to reduce emissions, such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides. This project was a finalist at the 2006 BP Helios Awards, held in London, which internationally recognized environmentally progressive projects within BP. The project was also awarded the PMI Alaska Chapter’s 2006 Project of the Year Award. I was the Technical Lead on the project and we used portions of all the PMI knowledge areas for this project.

While taking classes at UAA, I worked (and still do) on the North Slope of Alaska with a week on-week off schedule. Project Management Chairman, Dr. Jang Ra had the foresight to set up the Web cam system for distant learning. Each week I was on the “Slope,” I could participate in class by Web cam and audio. By doing presentations using UAA’s Blackboard system with PowerPoint® and Web cam on two different screens, I was able to achieve my goal of earning a Masters degree while continually working in a remote area of Alaska.

I chose the MSPM degree over an MBA because I believed the practical knowledge and more pertinent information obtained under this program would help me further my career within BP and give me the confidence take on any endeavors I wish in the future.

I wish to thank Dr. Ra for the hard work and vision to get the MSPM program implemented and growing at UAA.

-Dan J. Gleason, MSPM Graduate 2007, Facility Engineer, BP, Anchorage, Alaska.

                                                                                                                                                  

"After living in the US for the last three plus years I made the tough decision to move back home to Canada. Within an extremely short period of time I had three strong job offers and accepted the position of Director of Operations with Parkland Industries where I have full responsibility for 565 retail petroleum assets for central and western Canada.

Included in this role is the management of new site builds with both the Network Development team and Construction team. My thesis, titled "Project Plan for Sourcing Land in the Retail Fuel Industry", instilled confidence and bought a lot of credibility both internally and externally with contractors to better understand and manage multi million dollar projects.

During the program, I was relocated three times to three new states which created additional stress and struggles in my life. Dr. Ra supported me in my determination to complete what I started and graduate from the program. He and his team worked closely with me to make sure I had the tools and communication in which to feel part of the program in order to be successful.

Thanks Dr. Ra and team for a great experience and helping to excel my career to the next level!!


- Denise Chenger, MSPM Graduate 2006, MBA, Director of Operations, Parkland Industries, Calgary, Canada.

                                                                                                                                                   

"Peggy Willingham has accepted a new position as Director, Project Management Office.        All project managers at both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, employees as well as contractors, will be accountable to her for their professional execution of project management.

The Project Management Office (PMO) was started a year ago and has done a terrific job moving Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air up the learning curve in this discipline, especially in the IT division. It's now time to take the next step and devote more time and attention to improving our project management execution - across the board.

Peggy will work closely with Diana Shaw (MSPM ’06), Director of Strategic Planning & Execution to make sure we get our corporate initiatives accomplished. In addition to that, Peggy will be working with the many other project managers who are working on the dozens of other initiatives at both companies. Our goal is to solidify the framework we use to perform project management, including scope definition, project scheduling and staffing, cost management, status reporting, and measuring progress and impact. Our objective is to move both companies to a place where we have predictable results from all the projects we undertake.

Peggy is a graduate from the University of Alaska Anchorage in the Project Management Master of Science degree program the company recently sponsored. The topic of her master's thesis was project management maturity at Alaska.

Peggy joined the company in 1990 and has held several positions in Environmental Affairs/Risk Management including the department director. Her last assignment was Director, Ground Safety & Environmental Affairs. She lives in Woodinville with her husband, and she has two boys, 17 and 20. While many people have worked with Peggy in her previous positions, you may have also seen her performing as a violinist with the "Under the Canoe Quartet" in their annual December concert at the end of Concourse D."  Press Release

- Peggy Willingham, MSPM Graduate 2006, Director of Project Management Office  Alaska Airline, Seattle, Washington.

"Dear Jang:

 

Thank you for your help and support as I worked on my master's at UAA. That experience led me to the pursuit and completion of my PhD..."

 

I wish to thank Dr. Jang Ra, Chair, Department of Engineering, Science & Project Management (ESPM) in the School of Engineering at the UAA for his help and encouragement as I worked on my master's and had my first article published. I would like to thank Ted Eschenbach, Emeritus Professor, Department of ESPM in the School of Engineering at UAA for his passion in teaching and his teaching ability for which I use as a model, and for being my friend."

- David Gunderson, 2002 MSSM Graduate, Assistant Professor of Construction Management, Colorado State University

"I would not hesitate to recommend this program to anyone interested in furthering their education and experience in Project Management. I had considered other programs like an MBA, but this one is so much more applicable to my job. The UAA Masters of Science in Project Management Degree provided me the ability to collaborate with instructors and students who had a combination of academic expertise and practical experience. This program made a difference in the way I work even before I graduated. I've been applying the course concepts ever since the first class. The UAA Masters of Science in Project Management Degree was the "right degree" at the "right time" for me."

- Keith Henson, 2005 MSPM Graduate, Project Manager for NANA-Colt Engineering, LLC



"Dear Dr. Ra:

I want to thank you for your guidance and your positive influence on my career. You have been an important part of my professional development and I appreciate all that you have done for me.

You introduced me to PMBOK, to project management best practices, to the local PMI Chapter, and to new ways of thinking. I benefited from completing the Master’s program under your direction, earning my PMP certification, and fine-tuning my career objectives. I was honored to have been part of the PMP prep courses.

I write this to you from my new home in Pennsylvania. I moved here last month. While Alaska is where my heart remains and I do plan to return, I decided it was time to reconnect with my family on the east coast.

I accepted a project manager position with Deloitte & Touche (www.deloitte.com), and am now responsible for managing the deployment of e-learning systems all over the world. I am excited to be working in a Big Four Consulting environment, to have the opportunity for international travel, and to accept the challenge of remotely managing technical staff based in Hyderabad, India.

I am very happy with the direction my career has taken and, again, I credit you for being a notable influence on it. Thank you for everything, Dr. Ra."

- Kristin Anderson, 2002 MSSM Graduate, March 14, 2005