14 Mar
Peter Kennedy, Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies ’10 from NLC, Master of Science in Negotiation & Dispute Resolution from Creighton University ‘11.
Peter Kennedy of Hammond, Ind., would tell anyone thinking of going to the NLC, “Don’t hesitate—go after it. It’s going to be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have.”
Peter would know. As a graduate of the Class of 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Labor Studies and a double major in the Political Economy of Labor and Union Leadership and Administration, Peter has gone on to achieve his professional and education dreams thanks, in part, to his time at the NLC.
On Graduate School Fast Track
According to Peter, the NLC classes prepared him well for graduate level work. In fact, Peter was so well-prepared that he was able to complete a 2-year master’s program from Creighton University in just over a year.
Because of what he learned at the NLC, he says, “I just knew that I could complete my master’s.”
Making Students a Priority
For Peter, the NLC’s student-focused approach was one of his favorite things about his college experience.
Prior to going to the NLC, I went to a small satellite campus in Indiana where you were just a number. At the NLC, you aren’t just a person—you’re a priority. They treat you with respect and help you do what you need to. They understand that you’re a working person and require a little latitude at times.
The personal connections that Peter made through his classes are Peter’s second favorite aspect of his time with the NLC. Having just returned from a week-long trip to Alaska to visit a friend he met while at an NLC on-campus residency, Peter knows that the other students he got to know while at the NLC will be lifelong friends.
Professional Success and Personal Satisfaction
Peter is using everything he learned at the NLC and through his master’s program directly in his work as an Arbitration Staff Assistant for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED). His passion for working people combined with his classroom knowledge help him through negotiations.
He says to his union brothers and sisters: “I think if you’re a union officer, local representative or you want to do one of these things, you need to check out the NLC’s degree programs and their union skills courses. You won’t regret it.”
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If you have any questions for Peter, feel free to email him.