Jeffery W. McElroy, Ed.D.

I was raised by parents who were kind and helpful and were always doing something extra to assist others in need which is where I learned to be helpful and hard working. Because of this upbringing, I find myself willing to put in however many hours it takes to be sure projects are finished on time. All of my students are given my cell phone number with the understanding that they can call me at any reasonable hour 7 days a week for questions or assistance on assignments or just life in general. I put in many extra hours on top of teaching, committees, advising students, etc. as I am Dean of the C.H. Sandage School of Business and am continuously working on quality and growth projects.

 

Since I was little, I have been able to look at a process and quickly understand it and know how to fix it or make it better. An example from childhood involved my dad purchasing a box of Briggs and Stratton engine parts at an auction for $2 because I was sure that I could figure out how they worked and make at least one operating engine out of that mess. After a lot of hours, I did make one engine that ran. Recent examples would be the new program evaluation/assessment process that I developed, implementation of NVO processes, and development of a 5 year growth plan for the C.H. Sandage School of Business.

 

I am willing to take chances, be courageous and do my best to always do what is ethically right. I learned years ago in the corporate world that there is a big difference between what is legal and what is ethically right. Legal is the bare minimum while doing what is ethically right sometimes requires bucking the system and sticking your neck out. I’ve always done my best to treat everyone ethically and do what is right in both my corporate career and at Graceland.

 

I am organized and enthusiastic about what I do. I am skilled at planning and overseeing events. My classes are planned out a semester in advance and then reviewed again prior to each class. I incorporate many types of learning tools to keep students engaged in the learning process. This is not easy. In a typical class, I will have power point lectures, video clips, games, simulations, student presentations, team competitions, guest speakers, current events, case studies, and more.

 

Because of my years of experience in management in corporate America, I am fairly knowledgeable about business processes which I think makes me a better teacher as I can relate real-world examples to my classes. On evaluations, students often mention that they appreciate me sharing how it works in the real world.   

 

I am positive and have a good sense of humor which I believe helps me to be a better teacher and mentor for students. I think we should be able to learn and be serious about it and still have a good time in class. I know from student comments that they appreciate this in the classroom.

 

Striving for constant improvement, I advanced my education by completing my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership in 2018. Staying in touch with my corporate contacts helps ensure that I am current on the the trends and needs in the working world. I also concentrate on being a better listener. Because I am a doer, I tend to jump past the listening part and go right to the solution.

 

While not a personal attribute, I have to say that I love my job and at this point in my life, I can’t imagine doing anything different. The students, my colleagues, and the staff at Graceland are wonderful to work with.