Minnesota Carlson Community Reflects on Veterans Day

This Veterans Day, we asked three Minnesota Carlson community members to reflect on their time serving in the military. They explain their service’s impact on their personal lives and on their time at Carlson, which has the #2 Military Friendly® MBA Program in the nation.

Seth Hoaglund 

Full-Time MBA Student
Military branch: USMC, U.S. Army Special Forces
Years served: 2000–2004, 2008–2024
 

What made you decide to pursue a business degree at Minnesota Carlson?

To tap into the unique position and networking opportunities that Carlson presents for those interested in joining the Minnesota business community, I wanted to gain the foundational knowledge to thrive during a second career.

How has your military background helped you in the classroom as a business student?

Your stress tolerance is very high! Being a veteran helps you focus on what is truly important, as you can triage items that are a distraction and not critical to long-term success.

What does being a veteran mean to you?

We have volunteered to serve this great country, and with that comes a responsibility to educate our fellow citizens on the importance of service, and of working and fighting for the legacy and future of our country.

How do you feel military veterans are supported at Minnesota Carlson?

Veterans represent a large portion of each Full-Time MBA class, so the most support comes from them as your fellow students and fellow veterans. The Carlson Business Career Center is also a great professional resource to all students, including veterans!

What is your advice for veterans or service members who are considering business school?

Do it! Any major change in job or work scope in the military was often preceded by formal training or schooling. Treat this opportunity as no different from that preparation.

Helen Moser

Job title: Senior Lecturer, Finance Department
Years at Carlson: 2007–present
Military branch: U.S. Army, Minnesota National Guard
Years served: Active, 1988–1993; Reserve, 1993–1999

What led to you joining the military and transitioning out?

I joined to receive help paying for college and to be a linguist, with the hope of seeing the world. I wanted to learn Italian or German and to get stationed in Europe, where I could do a lot of traveling. Instead, I learned Arabic and was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia (the state, not the country). I was on active duty when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. I was deployed as part of Desert Storm to Saudi Arabia and then Iraq, an experience that wasn’t as bad as a civilian might think, but wasn’t something I wanted to repeat. I had intended to complete classes and continue to pursue my degree while on active duty, but being part of a tactical unit made this virtually impossible, as we spent a lot of time in the field. While in the Army, I had found a love of finance and investing, so I transitioned out to finish my degree and work in that industry.

How has your military background helped you as an educator?

The military trains you to work well under pressure and to excel in times of great stress. It also teaches you that you cannot handle these things without both physical and mental fitness and toughness. I had opportunities to lead units, which gave me the courage to stand in front of a group of my peers without fear and to address my superiors with respect but confidence. This has translated well into my role as an instructor.

What has been your most memorable Minnesota Carlson experience?

I was given the opportunity to take MBA students on study-abroad programs. I led two-week programs, to the United Arab Emirates and Oman for six years and then to Morocco for three years. In these programs, I was able to practice my Arabic (mostly in Oman) and learn a different form of Arabic (Darija) that is spoken in Morocco.

I also consider these experiences to be invaluable for the students. I got to see students learn and grow from being placed in unfamiliar circumstances while surrounded by an unfamiliar language in an unfamiliar culture. I truly believe that being pushed out of your comfort zone is the best way to truly grow.

What does being a veteran mean to you?

I am very proud of being a veteran. I think it made me a better, stronger, and more resilient person, which has helped me in all aspects of my life. The military pushes you in ways you will never experience in the civilian world, and the bonds you create with your comrades are strong. I also feel a sense of camaraderie with all veterans I meet. It is a sense of community I have not felt elsewhere.

What is your advice for veterans or service members who are now students?

It’s a big transition for many of us. Even though we are pushed hard in the military, it is the demands of the field in which you were trained. Being back in school is very different, and the demands can feel foreign. But your military experience has trained you to tackle all the curveballs that life throws at you. Use your resources and your peers to help you succeed.

Jacquelyn Wingfield

Job title: Associate Director Recruiting and Admissions, MBA/MS Programs
Years at Carlson: 2001–present
Military branch: U.S. Air Force
Years served: 1978–1983

What led to you joining the military and transitioning out?

My father was a Navy veteran and we traveled the world, which I loved. Joining the Air Force sounded like a great opportunity to travel the world straight out of high school. I didn’t travel that much while in the Air Force, but I did get a few big firsts while serving: my first important job (training other military members in my career field), my first apartment, and my first car.

How has your military background helped you as a professional?

Prior to joining the Air Force, I had completed advanced administrative tech school courses in typing (120 words per minute), shorthand (80 words per minute), and computers (way before PCs). All of these, I used to advance my duty assignments. Within the first year of arriving at my permanent base, I became the trainer of all incoming military personnel for the career field. This required me to create a training curriculum, teach and train, evaluate, and pass trainees. I honorably separated with the rank of Staff Sergeant (E5) after five years.

What has been your most memorable Minnesota Carlson experience?

There have been so many exciting events and interesting people, so it’s difficult to name just one or even a few. These changes to the school stand out: the addition of Hanson Hall and the brand’s evolution to Minnesota Carlson.

What does being a veteran mean to you?

It’s very humbling to be among all honorable service personnel. It means I was able to mature and grow professionally and personally as I proudly served.

What is your advice for veterans or service members who are now students?

Learn all you can! Expand your horizons, and keep an open mind to the possibilities for your future.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.