River City Six: Jonathon Moberly
Concordia University, Nebraska (www.cune.edu), founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university located in Seward that offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs at its main campus, graduate college in Lincoln, and online. Jonathon Moberly is Dean of the College of Graduate Studies & Adult Education at Concordia University, Nebraska.
Tell us a little about your business.
Concordia’s College of Graduate Studies & Adult Education offers 12 programs spanning across general areas of Education, Business, Health and Athletics. We pride ourselves in being flexible for working adults by offering our programs in online, face-to-face, and hybrid formats with the ability to complete programs in tracks of two years, 18 months, and one year. Our MBA Program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and has been designed to produce ethical leaders who will make an immediate impact on the organizations who are blessed to have them. Students have the opportunity to be taught by business industry leaders from the Omaha Metro and Lincoln areas and can choose from nine different concentration areas, including the opportunity to participate in our Organization Development Clinic.
How did you get started in the business?
After being given the opportunity to teach a Sports Law course at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, I fell in love with teaching immediately. This led me to focus on pursuing other higher education teaching opportunities and start on my path to coaching as well. In January of 2014, I received a call from Concordia University, Nebraska inviting me to interview for the position of MBA Program Director and Assistant Professor in Business. Once I had an opportunity to visit the campus and interview, I fell in love with the university and gladly accepted the offer for the position. After nine months, another door opened for me to move into my position as Dean of the College of Graduate Studies & Adult Education.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?
Prior to getting into higher education when I was an agent for professional athletes, so many of my competitors were using highly unethical means to secure clients. That was ultimately why I made the difficult decision to leave the industry and follow what I was truly passionate about, teaching and coaching. Now, it’s keeping our programs both current and impactful as the graduate education market is incredibly competitive. This is, however, a challenge that we enjoy as it forces us to constantly be thinking and innovative.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
Facilitating the creation and implementation of a Strategic Plan for the College of Graduate Studies & Adult Education.
Tell us a little about your family.
My lovely wife Jennifer and I have been married for over nine years now. She is Assistant Professor in Biology at Concordia and loves plants and reptiles, thus calling her to lead study tours every year to Costa Rica and Belize. We have two amazing daughters, Adeline and Eloisa, who both love gymnastics and animals.
If you had a theme song, what would it be?
Today by Smashing Pumpkins. I try to treat every day like it’s the greatest day.
What local non-profit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
Boys Town provides tremendous services that positively impact the lives of so many young men and women in our community.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be?
Tom Osborne.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 643-7430; Email: Jonathon.Moberly@cune.edu; Website: www.cune.edu.