Andrew Clark has spent most of his life embracing change and the unknown.
As a 19-year-old sophomore in college, Clark studied abroad in Austria, where he developed a passion for teaching.
“I sat in class and thought to myself, ‘I could teach English as well as this guy if I learned how to do it,’” he said. “It was an awesome experience. It formed a lot of my opinions about public transit. I got to go to 11 countries while I was there.”
That sojourn led to Clark teaching English to fourth- and fifth-graders in Gwangju, South Korea, for one year. But his life took another drastic turn after he returned to the United States in late 2019.
“My contract finished, so I came home for the holidays,” he said. “Then, the pandemic hit. Any chance of getting another job contract abroad as an English teacher was not going to happen. The entire planet shut down its Visa programs.
“I was an apprentice for an optician for a bit. I wasn’t getting where I wanted to go, but my mom is an adjunct professor at Boise State. I asked her about what she did, and she pointed me toward Boise State’s online program. I thought I could do it.”
Clark graduated from Boise State University’s online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) in August 2024. He is currently working as a remote independent contractor for Hale Associates Center and lives in Dublin, Ohio.
“I really focused heavily on the online element of it,” he said. “I wasn’t working at the time. It was pretty convenient for me.
“I got in conditionally at first, but I got to work with professor Yonnie Chung as a research assistant my second year. I was published and everything, so it was a super cool experience.”
The position was a revelation for Clark, who knew nothing about research before he applied to be a teaching assistant. The journal article about AI applications for learning and development professionals will be published in the Performance Improvement Journal this December.
“I applied as a teaching assistant because of my teaching background,” he said. “They asked me if I’d do research instead. I said, ‘Yeah, if you don’t mind working with me while I figure it out.’ I also presented at two conferences. Both were directly related to the research I had done.”
From Buckeye to Bronco
Clark was born in San Jose, California, but has lived in Ohio for 30 years. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies with a minor in Japanese from Ohio State University in 2018.
Four years later, Clark enrolled in the online OPWL program at Boise State. He earned the OPWL Professional Growth Award. His favorite course in the curriculum was E-Learning Authoring and Development.
“There were so many good courses, but if I had to pick one it would be that one,” he said. “I got a lot out of it. It was a very informative class.”
The information Clark learned at Boise State is applicable to his current role, which he started in August 2024 after graduating.
“I use what I learned in the OPWL program all of the time,” he said. “There’s a science behind everything, whether you’re talking about survey design or how different systems vary. Right now, I mostly work with test design, so I can use what I learned.”
Clark is enjoying his current role because it provides him with the opportunity to see things from multiple perspectives.
“The benefit of working with contracts like I do now is I get to work with lots of different types of clients,” he said. “I have done work with hospitals, facility managers and the Idaho Food Bank. That’s fun.”
Seeing the difference
Clark wrapped up the experience of attending and working for Boise State by walking at commencement and receiving his master’s degree in person.
“I flew out to Idaho and everything,” he said. “It was a good, fun experience. I got to meet a lot of my professors. There were only 8-12 of us online students, so it was super close-knit.
“My family and friends were excited for me — especially my dad. He had the highest education in his family for a while with a high school diploma. Coming back to school for a master’s degree was like bragging rights for him. He’s very proud.”
Clark, who enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and video games in his free time, also appreciated his time working at the same university as his mother, who holds a doctoral degree.
“A lot of people coming out of their bachelor’s degree still look at professors as teachers, but they are definitely more like mentor figures,” he said. “You would be surprised if you apply yourself to school and believe you can earn a degree. You can get a lot done.”
Since graduating, Clark is blown away by the difference he is seeing with having a master’s degree on his resume.
“The value I received from the program was more than I expected,” he said. “It was really nice. It has only given me opportunities since I graduated.”
Learn more about the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning program
Earning an online Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning from Boise State University can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online degree is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.