MSU Distance Education student ‘trying to leave something behind’ with master’s degree, opportunities in education

The median age of a typical graduate student now is 33. So what would make someone nearing retirement decide to return to school to pursue a graduate degree? For James Whitley, 67, a California resident, the answer can be found in a line of one of his favorite songs. It says, “I’m just trying to leave something behind.”

The words inspired Whitley to pursue a Master of Science degree in geosciences with a concentration in environmental geosciences at Mississippi State. The degree will allow him to teach after he retires from the electric power industry in the next few years.

Whitley was born in New Orleans, where he spent a great deal of time with his grandmother and family. “A lot of how my character and demeanor was formed by life with that kind, wise, but strict old Southern Baptist woman,” Whitley said.

When he was 9-years-old, Whitley’s mother married and the family relocated to California. His stepfather became a guiding educational influence in Whitley’s life. 

“Right after getting my California driver’s license, when many of my friends and classmates were getting keys to automobiles, I was presented with the entire bound set of the 1970 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica with an atlas and its own wooden case,” he said.

Whitley’s said his meager allowance in those days depended on being able to discuss at the family dinner table the topics he found interesting in the encyclopedias. He admits the gift turned him into a bit of a “geek,” although he also was an award-winning cross-country, wrestling and track star in high school. 

“I was lucky to have a brilliant man, my stepfather, push me to be a learned man,” Whitley said. His stepfather, a geochemist, also kindled his interest in geosciences. 

“Besides the models I made and comic books, my bedroom was strewn with rocks that he often brought me,” he said.

Nevertheless, geoscience studies would have to wait until Whitley was much older. He entered the U.S. Navy just four days after his high school graduation with the intention of taking advantage of  G.I. Bill benefits to help pay for college. 

“In hindsight, I can say I had no intention of my Navy experience becoming a career. Twenty-two years, six months and eleven days later, having crossed the equator eight times, been to 12 countries and sailed every ocean except the Artic, I retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer,” Whitley said.

Trained as an electrician and engineer, Whitley has worked in the electric power generation industry since his naval retirement. He said his second career has taken him to some interesting places as well. 

“I lived and worked at a powerplant in Bermuda for three years. But the coolest job I’ve ever held was spending 11 months as the utilities plant supervisor for the National Science Foundation at their McMurdo Research Station on the continent of Antarctica,” Whitley said.

When Whitley decided to pursue a graduate degree, he knew he wanted to try something new—something that would allow him to move toward opportunities in teaching. He strongly believes the human impact on the environment must change. He argues that such change cannot come from his generation and likely not his children’s generation. 

“I contend, at least from my own life experiences, that the key to any such change needs to happen by inspiring, educating and guiding our youth,” he said.

Whitley expects to retire from the electric power industry in the next four years. He hopes to make a career move to education at that time. Taking his education and experiences into a classroom of young people will be the fulfillment of his desire to “leave something behind,” just as his parents did.

Whitley attributes his lifelong desire to learn to his parents, who he said continued their educational pursuits well past the typical age. His stepfather earned his bachelor’s degree at 60 and his mother a bachelor’s and master’s at 63 and 74, respectively. His mother was working on her doctorate at the time of her death. Whitley says he can feel them with him each time he logs into classes with Mississippi State Online.

“I tell anyone whose ear I can bend, that my educational achievements could have never been accomplished as a full-time working adult with family and other life obligations without online classes,” Whitley said.

For someone who already has had a two-decade career in the U. S. Navy and is a few years shy of retiring as an engineer, beginning a graduate journey in geosciences might seem unexpected. However, James Whitley is determined to leave his mark on “planet earth.”