Career Roadmap
Eric's work combines: Education, Business, and Working Independently
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bellevue High School
Bachelor's Degree
Chemistry, General
The University of Alabama at Huntsville
Doctorate
Engineering Chemistry
The University of Tennessee
Certification
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Certification
Project Management
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Education Administrators, Postsecondary:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Organizational Communication, General
Graduate Degree: Business Administration and Management, General
Doctorate: Project Management
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I worked at Space Camp while completing a BS in chemistry.
2.
I worked as a process development laboratory technician before continuing to graduate school.
3.
I worked at Oak Ridge National Lab as a scientist while completing a PhD in chemistry.
4.
I worked as an offshore field engineer for the oil business.
5.
I worked as a field engineer for pharmaceutical, environmental, government, and academia.
6.
I completed a teaching certification, teaching, coaching, developing curriculum, and chairing.
7.
I taught in higher education part-time, full-time, and eventually entered administration.
8.
While in higher education, I taught internationally and earned a post-doctoral business admin cert.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
You should not shift careers to education--it pays half of what your engineering employment does.
How I responded:
I simply ignored the noise, jumped at opportunities regardless of whether it was the "right time," and let my gut guide me...if I lacked skills, I picked them up along the way. Continuing education is critical, and a terminal degree can never hurt you--but may be needed to open doors, so that's really where to begin--not end.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
We built up debt quickly buying too much house in the excitement of a new marriage. Live within your means, avoid any kind of credit card debt, and create both short and long-term goals for overcoming problems. Avoid scams that appear easy outs.