If anyone understands how to balance family life, work, and school, it’s Darren Howard. Father of four, active duty in the U.S. Air Force, and graduate student in University College’s Healthcare Leadership program, Darren is the epitome of going for your goals.
“Juggling student and family life has been challenging,” he said. “But this program accommodates those who live busy lives, and that’s why I chose University College.”
Both Darren and his wife are pursuing their educational goals while managing their family, which just got a bit bigger after they recently adopted Darren’s nephew after he spent two years in foster care. In addition to supporting his family, Darren also supports the health and wellbeing of his colleagues in his role as a bioenvironmental engineer.
Darren’s job duties include reducing health hazards in the workplace and using data to analyze the qualitative and quantitative factors of health risks on the base. One day, after retiring from the U.S. Air Force, Darren aims to lead a national healthcare policy organization as a CEO or serve as the Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Darren’s master’s degree at University College will help him achieve these goals, along with his diverse previous experiences as a firefighter, EMT, and surgery technician.
“The program is at the forefront of the industry,” he said. Students in the Healthcare Leadership program study healthcare policy, data, and strategic leadership. One aspect of the program Darren enjoys most is working directly with faculty, including Academic Director Dr. Bobbie Kite.
“Darren is a humble and great person,” said Dr. Bobbie Kite. “He does so much and serves our country on top of it all — he’s a great example of the dedication and expertise of our students.”