Originally from Fairhope, Alabama, David Harding left after high school and earned his bachelor’s degree from a top accounting program at Grace College in Indiana. After graduation, he returned to the South to work as a financial analyst for an agricultural company in Gulf Shores.
While working, David set his sights on a master’s degree to advance his career. He said, “Since I went to college out of state, I was interested in earning a more locally-recognized degree and I wanted to be part of the rich tradition and stellar education at The University of Alabama.” He soon found the online master’s in Global Business Management through UA Online and was excited to realize he could earn a reputable business master’s while still balancing the demands of the rest of his life.
“I’m a single father – I have a toddler, and quality time with her is more valuable than diamonds to me. This program allowed me to attend dance recitals and not miss more time than necessary as she grows. UA Online allowed me to be the student, father, employee and community member that I wanted to be,” he said.
While the program’s delivery format was flexible enough to fit David’s life, he found it to be rigorous enough to challenge him. “When people think about Alabama, they probably think about the No. 1 football program of all time, but the business school is top-notch, too. We were using some of the same academic materials as prestigious business schools around the country like Harvard, Princeton and Stanford. It made me a more fully informed businessman and helps me approach and solve problems in my work.”
Shortly after he earned his degree, David was inspired to pursue a career that would solve problems for the greater good. “I saw all these plastic jugs, and I found a company that recycles them and turns that plastic into new products, and I just knew that was something I wanted to be a part of. So I reached out to them, and now I’m blessed to work with some of the most innovative, passionate champions of the environment and with Forbes top-ranked companies who are solving some pretty challenging problems.”
David accepted a job as a controller with that Midwestern company after earning his degree. He is able to work remotely, overseeing the accounting department and making an impact as they make agricultural and chemical companies more sustainable. “I think the master’s from UA made me more marketable for this role, but it also made me a more developed person for the community,” he said.
He credits the faculty and staff of the Manderson Graduate School of Business at UA for the program’s leading-edge prestige. “Dr. McCleod is a real stud of the program. And Dr. John Dew taught the quality management courses, and I found those to be really helpful. Jan Jones was like my guardian angel through the process – she helps alleviate any doubt you have with the online program, and honestly, she probably deserves a raise!” David said.
David had only been to campus once before for an Iron Bowl game, but he made the trip back to Tuscaloosa for graduation and says it’s something he’ll never forget. “It’s one of the top experiences of my life. The lifelong journey of my education culminating on that stage was unforgettable.” He thanked the Lord for his sister and parents and their help with his daughter as he earned his degree and for giving him the desire to do great things with his education and career.
Published: August 30th, 2020