TROY News Center

COLUMBUS, Ga.—The president of Columbus Technical College, J. Robert Jones, told Troy University graduates Friday night that life is not easy, or fair, but education can help them overcome challenges.

Jones delivered the keynote address during a joint commencement ceremony for the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Fort Benning Site on Friday, May 24, at the Columbus Civic Center. Some 314 students earned degrees this spring in Phenix City and Columbus/Fort Benning.

"When you were born, no one promised you an easy life," Jones said.

Life will throw you curves and obstacles, but the key is to learn from mistakes and pick yourself up from failures, Jones said.

"No matter what you do in life, there are consequences to your actions," Jones said. "You can't undo your mistakes, but you can learn from them."

There is no formula for easy success, but Jones challenged graduates to rely on their education and skills to overcome challenges.

"Life works great in theory, but you have to know how to think for yourself when the theory fails and the formula changes," he said.

As newly minted leaders, Jones challenged graduates to ask questions and innovate.

"Challenge the status quo," he said. "If you don't do that, we will never move forward."

Jones has been president of Columbus Technical College since 1999. His tenure has seen a threefold growth in enrollment, an expanded campus and a host of new degrees and programs in high growth areas.

J. Robert Jones, the president of Columbus Technical College, addresses Troy University graduates during a joint commencement ceremony for the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Fort Benning Site on Friday, May 24, at the Columbus Civic Center. (TROY photo/Kevin Glackmeyer)

TROY – Troy University’s Small Business Development Center and the Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Center will offer a free seminar to small businesses wanting to do business with the federal government.

“Working with a Small Business Specialist” will be from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 4 at the Soldier Service Center, Room 282, Building 5700 at Fort Rucker. The center is located on Novosel Street. The seminar presenter is Fort Rucker’s small business specialist Michael Faire.

Each federal agency has a small business program and many have a small business specialist who serves as a liaison between the agency and the small businesses that want to sell to them, said Judy Callin, a senior consultant with the TROY SBDC.

“Selling to the federal government can be a complicated and frustrating process, but working with a specialist can help simplify it. This program is designed to help area small businesses learn to navigate that system,” she said.

Registration for the event is online at http://bit.ly/12W8ExU, or contact Callin at 334-674-2425.

TROY – A Troy University professor and associate dean has been awarded the Sport Management Outstanding Achievement Award by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.

Dr. John Miller, a professor of sport management and associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services, earned the accolade for outstanding contributions and leadership in the field during the 128^th National Convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

“Since it has been suggested that AAHPERD was the first place that Sport Management academicians could present pertinent research a number of years ago, I am humbled and honored to have been selected for this award,” Dr. Miller said. “I am especially pleased to be included with past recipients such as David Stotlar, Janet Parks, and Herb Appenzeller who are recognized as the foremost authorities in their areas of sport management. “

Dr. Miller has been a coach, professor, researcher and author for more than 30 years. In addition to Troy University, he has been a faculty member at Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Western New Mexico, and Willamette (Ore.) University. He has also held the position of Head Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Coach at University of Wisconsin – Stout, Willamette University, and St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. He was selected as coach of the year five times and served as president of the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Association.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, he was an associate athletic director for facilities at several universities. He has authored over 20 chapters, conducted more than 100 presentations at national and international conferences, and is the co-author of the book, A Practical Guide to Sport Management Internships. Dr. Miller has published more than 55 articles in peer-reviewed journals including the International Journal of Sport Management, Journal of Contemporary Athletics, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, and the Journal of Sport Administration & Supervision. He is a member of the review boards for the Journal of Applied Sport Management, Journal of Sport Management, Applied Recreation Research and Programming Annual Journal, the Applied Research in Coaching and Athletics Annual Journal, and the Journal of Venue and Event Management. He currently serves as the editor of the Journal of the Legal Aspects of Sport.

An AAHPERD member for 21 years, Miller was inducted as a Research Consortium Fellow in 2005 and has served on the NASPE Sport Management Council and the Safety and Risk Management Council as well as Marketing and Promotion Committee for AAHPERD. He has also served on the NAPSE Sport Steering Committee as sport management chair since 2011. Over the years, Miller has worked closely with the state AHPERD, and as vice-president of Physical Education for New Mexico Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

“His coaching and administrative background helps him immensely in understanding the real issues and problems faced by practitioners in our field,” said Todd Seidler, professor of Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences at the University of New Mexico, who introduced Dr. Miller at the banquet. “This insight allows him to identify and carry out meaningful research that has a positive impact on sport.”

Dr. Miller earned his doctorate at the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in sport psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.