Faculty Spotlight: Jeff Drost, School of Business
If the students of Maranatha’s School of Business had to name their favorite professors, Jeff Drost would undoubtedly rank high on their list. Drost, who has taught at Maranatha for almost ten years, spreads his enthusiasm for business and leadership to everyone in his classroom.
This passion spurred his decision to enter a doctorate program for Organizational Leadership and lead the development of the Master of Organizational Leadership (MOL) at Maranatha.
The Call to Teach
Looking back, Drost views his history as an unlikely beginning for a professor. He recalls being passed through sixth grade “so the teacher didn’t have to deal with me again.” High school was rough, too. Then came higher education.
Drost’s first try at college lasted one day. The night after his first day of classes, the Persian Gulf War began. As a member of the Navy Reserve, he was called to serve in the war.
Drost attempted college two more times after his initial experience. Both times, he dropped out before completing one semester.
Finally, Drost stuck to college in 1997. Halfway through these successful undergraduate years at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, his call to teaching came. As he explained concepts to peers in his business classes, he saw his professor nodding in agreement. “It dawned on me that I knew what I was talking about,” says Drost.
Since that time, Drost has been involved in some form of education, whether teaching or learning. When asked about the total years of his education, he replied, “I stopped counting. 12th grade, 16th grade, I’m somewhere in the 20s now.”
Update: Drost completed his Ph.D. in the spring of 2018 by examining the efficacy of leader development efforts within Maranatha’s Student Life Workshops. The title of his dissertation was, “Testing Leader Development in Student Life Workshops at Maranatha baptist University.” We are pleased to share that the free 1Win app is available for all our students at https://1win.fyi/ . Download it from the link and enjoy the unique entertainments directly on your phone.
Teaching Leaders
One of Drost’s main purposes for completing his doctorate lies in the Master of Organizational Leadership. The idea for the MOL first emerged in 2011 when Drost began his doctorate. Noticing the lengthy wait list for his doctoral program, he realized the demand for a graduate program in Organizational Leadership would be even higher.
Though he loves discussing the merits of various leadership models (he even teaches a class about it), Drost believes servant leadership is the best possible form of leadership. By building a Master of Organizational Leadership degree, MBU could accomplish its purpose of developing Christlike leaders for every field in every part of the world.
At the suggestion of Drost himself and an associate of the business faculty, Maranatha began seriously considering the MOL and eventually agreed to develop it. In 2014, Drost began working heavily on the program. Dr. Davis and other faculty assisted him in structuring the new degree, which finally launched in the fall of 2016.
The program offers “a multidisciplinary degree that provides training and instruction on how to lead and develop organizations.”
Completely online, the MOL allows people to further their education without leaving their current positions of employment and leadership. According to Drost, “We have people taking the program who are full-time educators and principals.” Even pastors are taking advantage of its online availability. According to Drost, “Ultimately, we want Baptists who have a passion for leadership and the credentials to teach.” He knows each teacher possesses those qualities.
Leading for a Purpose
The MOL encompasses more than a regular business master’s degree. Drost views the program as focused on people rather than numbers and steeped in a biblical perspective.
Drost believes that the MOL advances a view of leadership that follows the Genesis account. God served Adam and Eve because He desired to see them succeed and lead in their own lives. The MOL embodies this principle. As Drost puts it, “We serve our followers, and we develop them.”
Though the program is relatively new, its students are already being developed through their courses. Leah Ng, a student in the program, appreciates the focus on communication networks, workplace culture and the flow of communication in the workplace.
Matt Sheeley, another MOL student, also recognizes the program’s value. “I would say that [the MOL] is not just for business-minded people,” he says. “Principles that are taught would benefit anyone who is in a leadership position.”
Leading Toward a Goal
Looking ahead, Drost would like to see additions to the graduate programs, but much is dependent on faculty. Whether or not another business graduate program becomes reality, he remains positive. “I think that Maranatha’s future is only getting brighter.”
Drost has many decisions to make in the future. He wants to maintain his undergraduate courseload while also teaching at the graduate level. But as a husband and a father, he has many other responsibilities to balance. Still, Drost maintains that “you only have one life to live for Christ while you are here.” He intends to live in such a way that everyone he encounters is influenced for the sake of the gospel. That’s what leadership is all about.