With ‘Helping Others’ as his Guiding Principle, COPLA Alumnus Finds Fulfilling Career Path

Jonathan V. Wilson ’98, who earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Florida Tech, is vice president of organization development and talent management for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. We caught up with him about his time at Florida Tech, best advice for current Panthers and his journey to what he calls an “amazing role” that combines all of his passions

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Why did you choose Florida Tech?

As a graduate of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, I was introduced to [School of Psychology professor emeritus] Dr. Frank Webbe in the local running community while running high school cross country and local 5K races. Dr. Webbe told me about all of the opportunities and benefits that Florida Tech offered for potential students with ROTC scholarships. After learning more about the Panther Battalion, I knew Florida Tech was the perfect choice for my undergraduate journey.    

How did your experience at Florida Tech prepare you as a professional?

I learned early at Florida Tech that one of my guiding principles is helping others. Because I was able to find an undergraduate program that nurtured that value while creating a discipline for my continuous learning, I found a fulfilling professional career path. This foundation, combined with the skills honed in ROTC with the Panther Battalion, has allowed me to navigate three different career changes, ultimately bringing together all of my passions into one amazing role at an organization with an impactful mission to help others. Working for a mission-driven organization in a people-centric role was my dream when I started at Florida Tech.

Specifically, were there any courses or faculty that had a significant influence on your education?

There were many courses and faculty that had a positive influence on my education at Florida Tech. Drs. Webbe, Radhika Krishnamurthy, Richard Griffith and William Gabrenya all instilled compassion, curiosity and personal accountability with my education. My favorite subjects were military science, sports psychology, learning and motivation, social psychology, I/O psychology and child and adolescent development—who knew that course would help with understanding adult behavior in the workplace as well as help me now as a father? Thank you, Dr. Krishnamurthy!

Share your best Florida Tech student memory.

When thinking back to my time at Florida Tech, I instantly remember my walks through the botanical garden in between classes, helping with new-student orientations, being on top of the ROTC rappelling tower teaching others to trust themselves and others, sitting in class in the Quad and early morning runs across the causeway to the beach. In short, my best Florida Tech memory is the sights and sounds of campus. From the early sounds of frogs and birds to the early morning humidity while walking over the bridge from the student center to Evans Hall for breakfast, it all still brings me back to campus.

What have been the highlights and milestones of your life and career so far?

While my family is, by far, the best milestone and highlight of my life, I have been fortunate to build on three great careers to chart a professional path that combines all of my passions together. As I transitioned from the Army to a 12-year consulting career at Booz Allen Hamilton, I found my passion for running again and became a volunteer coach with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training campaign. That volunteer role provided an avenue in my life that I didn’t know would touch me so profoundly. I was able to help myself find a center of balance and meet my amazing partner in life, Robin. Also, over the next decade, I was able to help thousands of people achieve their personal endurance and fundraising goals while supporting countless patients and their families.

That volunteer role led me to find an opportunity to take my management and leadership skills from the military and at Booz Allen to leading the LLS Maryland chapter as an employee. After five years as the Maryland executive director, I transitioned to LLS’s human resources team, combining my love for human resources with the mission that changed my life. I am now honored to lead LLS’s Organization Development and Workforce Planning Center of Excellence. I am also grateful to continue my lifelong learning journey for my career by obtaining a master’s degree in organizational change from Hawaii Pacific University and a Senior Certified Professional certification (SHRM-SCP) from the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Also, I am a member of the SHRM Executive Network.  

I learned early at Florida Tech that one of my guiding principles is helping others. Because I was able to find an undergraduate program that nurtured that value while creating a discipline for my continuous learning, I found a fulfilling professional career path. 

Jonathan V. Wilson ’98

What advice do you have for current CoPLA students who want to make the most out of their time at Florida Tech?

While studying and attending classes are key to your success at Florida Tech, so are the opportunities outside of the classroom. The experiences from applying my studies to volunteer work, campus projects, ROTC activities, social events, internships and relationships with others are what helped me learn the most about myself and how I wanted to succeed in both life and my career. Always find opportunities to push yourself beyond your comfort zone and learn from them.

Name five facts people may not know about you.

1. Although I have a degree from Hawaii Pacific University, I have never been to Hawaii—hoping to change that one day.
2. I have a passion for running. I have run 32 marathons, two ultramarathons and one crazy 24-hour, 100-mile run on a treadmill for charity.
3. I have been vegan (well, probably close to 80% to 90% vegan—cheese and sushi are hard to pass up sometimes) for over six years.
4. I have a 15-year-old car that I am determined to get historic plates for one day.
5. My father-in-law took me skiing to ensure I knew how to ski before I could ask my wife to marry me. Luckily, my wife taught me before I went on the trip.