推进他的事业

After working in public health for 30 years, Dave Koch ’20 MSL decided to come to Mount Mercy in order to attain a master’s degree in strategic leadership.

“Thirty years is a long time, but it has gone fast. I started taking classes at the University of Nebraska for my MPA, and I stumbled upon the Master’s in Strategic Leadership (MSL) program. I was naturally drawn to the strong leadership component of the curriculum,” Koch said.

科赫目前在当地县级公共卫生部门工作。 每天，他都希望接受挑战，以满足他们所服务的人日益增长的健康需求，无论是向没有保险或保险不足的人提供医疗保健，还是为下一次突发公共卫生事件做准备。

“We have a very rewarding career when we can prevent a major outbreak that the general public was not aware was a threat.”

“We have a very rewarding career when we can prevent a major outbreak that the general public was not aware was a threat,” said Koch.

Koch’s typical day mostly resembles an administrator’s day—meetings, emails, planning, and securing funds to continue their work. Mount Mercy’s MSL program was a perfect fit for helping Koch lead his staff and inspire them to open their minds to different possibilities.

“MSL课程的形式对繁忙的生活来说是一个巨大的好处。 每周见面一个晚上是理想的，而不是压倒性的，”Koch说。 “与整个学期相比，五到十周的课程是MSL项目结构的另一个好处。”

大多数MSL学生都是全职工作，有家庭责任。 在繁忙的日程之外上课需要一定程度的动力和毅力。

“My advice would be to really understand what it is you want and why you want to earn an MSL degree," said Koch. “我认为，如果没有明确的目标，漫长的日子更难以度过。 课程和讨论与我们的日常工作相关。 I believe the MSL program is beneficial to anyone, at any level in their organization—whether you're a formal leader with a title or an informal leader that leads a work team."

This commitment to one’s purpose is paralleled in Koch’s commitment to triathlons. 每天在办公室工作10个小时，使得科赫在休息日尽可能多地到户外活动。 工作与生活的平衡对每个人来说都很重要，科赫尽其所能做到最好。

“My daughter and I biked from Canada to Mexico eight years ago and had a fantastic time!” said Koch. “Since that ride, I’ve been dreaming and planning to cycle the perimeter of the U.S. after I retire.”

When he turned 40 and realized he still didn’t know how to swim, he signed up for a spring distance triathlon. 第一次参加铁人三项后，科赫就迷上了。 14年后的今天，他正在为今年秋天在德克萨斯州举行的半程铁人赛进行训练。 明年11月，戴夫计划参加亚利桑那州的铁人三项全程比赛。

"‘Do what you have to do today, so you can do what you want tomorrow.’”

“I often think of a line from The Great Debaters, where the father tells his son, 'Do what you have to do today, so you can do what you want tomorrow,’” said Koch. “I remind myself of this quote often when I’m writing a paper or on a four-hour training ride.”