Jeremy VanAndel, MBA

• Doctoral candidate, University of the Cumberlands
• MBA, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
• BS, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN

2019

A well-rounded burrito enthusiast and nonprofit weirdo, Jeremy spent more than 10 years in leadership roles in the hospitality and tourism industry before shifting to a career in nonprofit fundraising and executive leadership. In graduate school and beyond, Jeremy has studied nonprofit communication, brand management, human-centered design, and entrepreneurial ecosystem development (particularly in rural areas).

For the fame and riches. Also because I always knew I wanted to be an educator and storyteller, and firmly believe the world is a better place when even more people share in the power of knowing how to learn, how to think critically (with valid sources), and how to communicate those ideas and critical thoughts more clearly. College is such a critical period of development and offering what I can to the rising generation of business and civic leaders is an incredibly fulfilling challenge and creative exercise.

Franklin College focuses on producing graduates that are ready to dive into a professional career as soon as they graduate. We *demand* students demonstrate exceptional in-class participation, we *require* students to complete at least one internship before graduation, and *encourage* (sometimes by way of making it a graded assignment) students to take part in a tremendous range of personal and professional development opportunities both on-campus and around the world.

We consistently hear — and I have witnessed firsthand — that FC students are more prepared, polished, and professional than students from what may be called name-brand colleges and universities because of the hands-on, immersive, and boundary-spanning work they complete as part of their degree. Whether your major is finance or philosophy, engineering or creative writing, you leave Franklin with the tools to be a standout candidate.

With absolutely zero bias: Yes, unequivocally.

The St. Louis Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors periodically study the American employee landscape and found that 75% of Americans with a four-year degree work in a field that is unrelated to their major; most of those 75% are now in a business-related field.

Further, more than a third of college graduates wish they had studied something different in college — significantly more in the social sciences and humanities. (Though the vast majority say the benefits of their college degree have exceeded the costs of obtaining it.)

I am a strong advocate for studying whatever you want in college — accounting, leadership, art history, biology, education, quantum mechanics, etc. — but taking *at least* a minor in business alongside it. Because, statistically, you’re extraordinarily likely to one day find yourself in a job that, at the very least, requires you to understand business fundamentals.

And, who knows, maybe you’ll want to work for yourself one day, in which case you’ll REALLY wish you knew what an LLC does or how depreciation works.

…Scotland, a place I first visited as part of a study away trip with Franklin College students. (Fun fact: 80% of employers give more “points” or credibility to candidates who have studied abroad, even for a short period of time! Might as well spend some time seeing the world and making yourself an even more valuable job candidate at the same time…)