Professional Science Master’s Program
Ryan Sinning had been in the workforce for about three years after graduating from Winona State University in 2009 when he realized his career, as he said, “needed a boost.”
Sinning believed the best way to achieve that would be to earn a master’s degree from his alma mater. The question was, what type of degree? Sinning was working as a lead chemical analyst for Watkins, Inc., and his goal was to move into a management position, so he needed a wide range of skills.
A well-timed meeting with Dr. Charla Miertschin, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, gave Sinning his answer.
“I posed the question, ‘I’m looking for either a master’s in science or an MBA program, which one would you recommend for me?’” Sinning said.
Miertschin had good news: He could have the best of both worlds in the new Professional Science Master’s program at WSU. Sinning enrolled as one of four students in the PSM’s inaugural year, 2013-14.
“I decided it was perfect,” Sinning said. “For me, it was amazing to come back and have classes like project management and accounting that the business world wants so much of, and to be able to go so much further with chemistry, and geochemistry. It will be perfect for me going back into my career to have all those skills.”
The PSM is an alternative master’s- level degree program for students who want to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers that require training in management. Winona State is the only school in the MnSCU system to offer the degree.
“It is unique and challenging,” said PSM Director Dr. Scott Segal, an Assistant Professor in Biology, Environmental, and Clinical Laboratory Science. “Scientists don’t often receive this type of business training—they usually have to learn it by trial and error in their careers. We want to graduate students with a wide range of skills that will allow them to become managers.”
There are 10 students in the program for the 2014–15 year, including Sinning, who will be among the first to graduate from the PSM program in Dec. 2015.
“I am so happy with the program, and kudos to Winona State to be the first in MnSCU to have it,” Sinning said.
Sinning quickly put his science and business management skills to work. He learned about the Sunbeam Boys Home in Jamaica through his wife, Meghan Sinning, an Assistant Professor in the Special Education department, who had visited the home to teach classes.
Ryan traveled to Jamaica for spring break in 2014 to begin setting up a solar energy project at the home. He and a small group of undergraduates brought along a single solar panel, carefully packing it as carry-on luggage for their flights.
Sinning and John Scheevel, a physics student, continue to manage the solar project from Winona.
Sinning’s long-term goal is to allow the home to run completely on solar power, saving $600 a month.
Learn more about the Sunbeam Boys Home and the solar energy project.
