Current student Niles Pierson is in his final semester of the MS in Engineering Management program. We sat down with Niles, who is also an officer in the Coast Guard, to learn more about his experience in the program and his plans post-graduation.
- Why did you decide to pursue an MSEM degree?
I decided to pursue an MSEM degree because I was looking to take the next step in my career and start transitioning from being a junior officer to a mid-grade and senior level officer and manager in the Coast Guard. I had previously thought about pursuing an MBA, but I think that an MSEM degree is more valuable for people that have backgrounds as engineers. It allows us to learn more about business, accounting, and management concepts that would be taught during a traditional MBA program while also continuing our professional education within our engineering disciplines.
2. What was the most impactful course or project you encountered through your time in the MSEM program and why?
By far, the most impactful course was the Strategies for Innovation & Growth class that is taught during the first fall semester in the program. There are two, highly impactful strategy consulting projects that we work on during the class, and the class is taught by the director of the CLE program, Pam Sheff, and the director of the MSEM program, Trevor Mackesey. This class is really the capstone class of the program, ties together a lot of the other concepts that we learn in financial accounting and professional presentations class, and teaches us how to use our background as engineers to solve relevant business strategy problems for our project clients.
3. What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation I’m planning on returning to the Coast Guard, and my family and I will be moving to Cape May, NJ where I’ll be stationed for the next few years. I’ll be serving as the Facility Engineer at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May where I’ll be responsible for overseeing the engineering, construction, maintenance, and improvement for all the infrastructure at one of our Coast Guard’s largest bases. Training Center Cape May also serves as the Coast Guard’s only enlisted member accession point and is where our enlisted members attend boot camp. Following this assignment, I hope to continue my career in the Coast Guard and hopefully ascend to a senior leadership position within the organization.
4. Why would you recommend the MSEM program to other students who are considering a postgraduate degree?
I would recommend the MSEM program at Johns Hopkins for many reasons, but the most important reason is the experience and network that you’ll build for yourself while you’re here. Unlike many other programs, the MSEM program at Hopkins is a smaller, tight-knit cohort community where you’ll really get to know the faculty, staff, and other students on a personal and professional level. You will be challenged and pushed outside of your normal comfort zone on a regular basis, but you’ll also grow as a student, manager, and future leader. The faculty and staff truly care about each student, and they go out of their way to make sure you’re taken care of and to help you get the most out of your educational experience. I think that this type of experience is becoming harder and harder to come by in higher education, so if you really want to make the most of your time and money with a graduate degree program, you should strongly consider the Johns Hopkins MSEM program!