Finding Greatness: Drew McIntosh

Author: News Bureau
Posted: Monday, November 25, 2019 12:00 AM
Categories: Pressroom | School of Arts and Letters | Finding Greatness | Faculty/Staff

Macon, GA

The academic journal “Liberated Arts” recently published a paper by Drew McIntosh, a non-traditional student who returned to MGA to complete his Bachelor of Arts in English. He also gave a presentation at the 2019 National Conference for Undergraduate Research. McIntosh plans to continue to build on his career in higher education.

 Full Name: Brett Andrew “Drew” McIntosh.

 Age: 34.

 Hometown and Residence: Macon.  

High School: Central High School, Macon.

Family: Mary McIntosh, wife; Heather McIntosh, sister; Beth and Barry McIntosh, parents.   

Employment: “I work full-time for the Office of the Provost at Middle Georgia State University.”

Degree Objective: Bachelor of Arts in English.

Class Rank: Senior.

Primary Campus: Macon.

Career Goals: “I would love to continue a career in higher education, and ideally it would continue at Middle Georgia State University! I am attracted to a variety of areas within campus operations, and have already held a couple of very disparate positions, which presented unique and gratifying challenges and learning experiences. And you can never tell what the future holds, but I would also love at some point to possibly expand my experience to the other side of the aisle and teach.”

He chose Middle Georgia State University because … “I first attended MGA (then Macon State) in 2004 as a traditional student. I only attended about a year or so before life took me in another direction and put my progress as a student on hold. Fast forward to March of 2016, and I was offered a full-time position in the Campus Store, which I accepted. I knew when I accepted this position that it was going to be a priority for me to pick up where I left off with classes all those years ago, and I haven’t looked back since. All that is to say, in addition to the practical and convenient option of continuing school at my place of employment, there is also very much a sense of personal accomplishment in play for me to finish off my degree where I began it.”

The greatest thing he discovered about Middle Georgia State after he enrolled was … “One of the really great and unique things about the student culture at MGA is that it is equally hospitable to both traditional and non-traditional students alike. Obviously the traditional student energy is thriving when you walk around any one of our campuses, but I have also found no small number of fellow non-traditional students to bond with who are in similar life situations to mine. And working at MGA, I am always discussing classes with professional peers who are also taking advantage of the opportunity to return to school. In this respect, there is very much a collective ‘we’re all in this together’ mentality in play that I constantly find appreciation for.”

His greatest academic experience as a Middle Georgia State student has been … “Having a paper published in the latest issue of the Canadian academic journal Liberated Arts (https://ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/lajur) and being given the opportunity (with help from our awesome Office of Experiential Learning) to present at the 2019 National Conference for Undergraduate Research were two incredibly valuable experiences for me. I think that endeavors like these can have the effect of snapping your goals and priorities as a student into focus real fast; I’d recommend these experiences to every student, and I’d recommend them twice to those who are turned off by the idea.”

To him, greatness means … “Creating time, making room, not settling. No one has enough time in their day, but if something is important to you, figure out a way to make space for it. These last two years have been the absolute busiest of my life, but also the happiest and the most productive.”

In five years … “Well, as a newlywed, I see my personal life focused around family first. I also intend to begin pursuing a master’s degree directly upon completion of my BA. Professionally, I look forward to continuing on at MGA and widening my experience within the University!”