Mr. John Alford ('97) completed his Bachelor's of History at ETBU and then obtained a Master's in History from the University of North Texas. He later achieved a Master's of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University. He is currently serving as Senior Manager at Accenture.
"My time at ETBU instilled in me a deep sense of purpose and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world, and for that, I am grateful. It truly was a world of opportunity in a community of faith."
I chose to attend ETBU because of the quality of the people (then and now.) The faculty and staff at ETBU have always been top-notch. Everyone there was friendly, helpful, and had a good attitude. It was also a huge plus that at ETBU, we were taught by a real professor who knew your name instead of a graduate student. I cannot overstate how important that is because you really get more value for your education in a small school setting. In addition, my father, Dr. Donald Alford, taught at ETBU from 1978 until 2002. He was a long-time Chair and later Dean of the School of Education. We lived in Marshall, and I was always on the campus as a kid, hanging around in his office, attending ETBU events, etc.
I had great experiences with all the faculty and staff, many of whom I had known for years. I was particularly close to Dr. Jerry Summers (Department of History), Dr. Samuel Arguez (Department of Foreign Languages), Dr. Frank Lower (Communications), and Jose Alonzo (Foreign Languages). I have used what they taught me frequently. Although I never had them in class, my family and I were close to Dr. Donald Potts (Religion) and Dr. Bob Graves (Chemistry). Dr. Potts and his family lived across the street from us the entire time we lived in Marshall. We were also close to all my dad's colleagues in the Department of Education.
As a local kid, there were several of us who went to high school in Marshall and then to ETBU. I stay in touch with a good number of those folks. I am super close to two friends from high school. One is a Centenary College graduate and is now a faculty member there, but his daughter is an ETBU senior. She loves ETBU from all accounts.
Reflecting on my time at ETBU brings back good memories and profound experiences. It was a place where academic rigor met spiritual growth in a nurturing environment that encouraged personal and intellectual development. The close-knit community, supportive faculty and staff, and opportunities for leadership and service shaped me in ways I could never have imagined.
I always love coming back to the Hill and have taken my wife and sons there many times when we visit my Mom in Marshall. My favorite memory is seeing my dad get an award in 2019 for his continued dedication to ETBU, even in retirement. He and my mom have sponsored a scholarship and a few other things. It was very moving to see him get the award, as it gave him a huge boost when he was near the end of his earthly life. My son was able to come with me and was there to see ETBU people and even got the chance as an 8-year-old to tangle with formal dining.
My time on the Hill was instrumental in shaping my career and current professional life. It developed my ability to think critically and process complex information, enabling me to develop insights and share with executive audiences effectively. The education at ETBU prepared me to be adaptable and flexible, skills that have proven invaluable across various roles and industries.
The ETBU education has been particularly beneficial as I have navigated multiple career transitions—from government service to consulting and, for the past decade, in the electric utilities sector. These experiences have enriched my perspective and strengthened my ability to tackle diverse challenges, preparing me for leadership roles in any context.