Bessie Mack’s Story with American National University
For Bessie Mack, pursuing her bachelor’s in Business Administration Management at American National University is about more than earning another degree—it’s about building on her experience and preparing for what comes next. A wife and mother of three, Bessie has spent the past eight years building her career with Ecolab, where her attention to detail and analytical skills recently helped her earn a promotion to Operations Support. After previously earning an associate degree in Computer Networking, she returned to school with a new goal in mind: developing the business knowledge and skills that can help her take her career—and even her baking business, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic—to the next level. Named a Term Trailblazer for Term 260, Bessie is embracing the opportunity to grow personally and professionally while making room for the people and passions that matter most to her.
Bessie initially started with American National University in our Health Information Management program, inspired to help a sick loved one stuck in the mires of the healthcare system. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, her priorities changed. In the years that passed, Bessie has had a successful side business and a meaningful promotion that needs the education to bolster her knowledge. She pursued her Business Administration Management program to teach her the ins and outs of being a manager. “You really don’t know what you don’t know until you need to know it. I’ve been lucky enough to have some instructors that have, [in their] teaching and the way that they teach, kind of lets me know I was doing things all wrong,” she explained. “I was getting by, but there’s a different way to think about things. So I really appreciate my journey here.”
“[Dr. Obringer] is awesome. Dr. Falsey – just awesome! The instructors here – I love them. [They’re] very direct, which is something you need when going online… I will tell anyone! I was actually trying to get my boys to come here because I really feel that strongly about this university and what [they] have to offer.”
Within her time in her business program, Bessie has learned a lot from her professors. One of the strongest skills she’s learned is business writing. “Especially when you have someone reporting to you and how you need to respond to that interaction whether it’s through email or even the way you speak to them, you want to make sure you’re protecting yourself and the company,” she said. Additionally, learning financial skills have been invaluable to her future in her career and business operations. “While I will never, ever want to be on the finance team, it is still good to know why. When you get those directions from upper management, you know why they’re getting you to do that way,” she explained.
“I feel like all of the classes offer something – just giving you a different way of thinking about things… [American National University] helps all around, it’s like a 360. It’s not just your professional life, it’s your personal life as well.”
One way that American National University has stood out to Bessie, even in comparison to her previous tenure as a student here, is the way that classes are interactive and not just self-led. “I like that we have the in-class assignments. If you miss that one in-class assignment, you can hang it up for getting an A for that [term]!” She said with a laugh. “It makes you strive to make time for your education!” She valued the time she gets to be in class. “You need that face time with your instructor. You don’t even know what questions you have until you get them in front of you, and they’re going through a lecture, and you’re going, ‘oh yeah!’” Not only was she able to examine the areas with the material that she needed help on while in class, but it allows her to network. “It helps with the relationship building,” she explained. “It’s hard building a relationship with someone you’ve never seen face-to-face, that you’ve never held a conversation with. I can appreciate that, and that’s one of the things I tell everyone about!”
The relationships she’s built with her instructors have even begun making her consider earning her master’s degree – something she was sure she wouldn’t want until now. Bessie enjoys her time at American National University that she hopes in five or ten years, she can return to work for the university. “I love all of you guys. I’ve never had anyone rude or nasty that deterred me from wanting to stay here. This may be something that in five or ten years I may want – who knows!”
Her advice to any students: “Never fall behind! If you have questions, ask them early, don’t wait until Saturday to open an assignment. The earlier [you work], the better.” Bessie says that being open and honest is the way to go. “The professors understand that you have a life outside of [the university]. They also understand that this is not the only class that you’re taking – so they will help if they can!” Her sailing point is that students will get what they give – so she advises to put your all into it so you can get it all, and then some. “Own your experience!”
