After retiring as a deputy sheriff with more than 15 years in law enforcement in 2013, Steven Cline picked up the tempo.
Nowadays, he works three jobs: code enforcement officer for the city of Apple Valley, California, ID check supervisor for DLS Events and security supervisor for Live Nation. His concert work has led to Cline meeting celebrities like Madonna and Joe Rogan.
Cline graduated with Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in May 2026.
“Ever since I quit going to school, I’ve wanted to go back,” he said. “But life kept getting in the way. First, it was work, then starting a family. I got divorced and remarried.”
Encouraged by his wife, Michael Ann, Cline enrolled at Boise State in 2024 after working toward a bachelor’s degree prior to his law enforcement career.
“I said, ‘You know what? I’ve been talking about doing this for all of this time. I’m going to do this because it’s going to make me more promotable.’ I committed myself to it. The timing seemed right. So, I jumped in with both feet.”
Prior to enrolling, Cline researched online business degree programs extensively before making a decision.
“The program Boise State had to offer seemed so much more inviting than others,” he said. “I got a good vibe from it. I talked to some people and heard good things. The fact that I have some family and friends in Boise really decided it for me.”
The flexibility of the online format was important to Cline because of his demanding work schedule.
“It absolutely worked out well,” he said. “Even with my work schedule, everything fell into place. I would come home from work, have dinner, then do school for two or three hours every day. I loved the flexibility of an online program. It enabled me to continue to work three jobs and still have a life.”
Career-focused curriculum
Cline is from Covina, California, and pursued a career in law enforcement to help people. He spent nearly 10 years on a team that investigated major traffic collisions, then worked as a crisis intervention negotiator for eight years. Cline graduated with an associate degree from San Bernardino Valley College in 1999.
“I thought about being a fireman or an EMT,” he said. “Being in law enforcement seemed to have a more inviting variety of circumstances that I was going to be in.
“With a fireman or an EMT, it’s going to be primarily medical. I didn’t want that much of a focus. My law enforcement career allowed me to help people in a way that I felt really gave back to my community.”
Cline especially enjoyed the capstone and law courses in the online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management curriculum.
“I liked the capstone course because it involved a little bit of everything I had learned in the program,” he said. “The law class was about half refresher versus half new stuff for me.”
Even though his current roles are in different industries, the knowledge Cline gained in the program is applicable.
“Some of it I could transfer word-for-word to any of my jobs,” he said. “It fit. Most of the communications stuff has always been my favorite.
“In traditional schooling, we go for 12 years. In high school, they teach you about public speaking and debate. But they never teach you how to listen. That stood out to me. I want to be a better listener.”
Throughout his time in the program, Cline drew on his accumulated work experience to explore new perspectives.
“I dealt with people with mental illness a lot because of the training I had as a police officer,” he said. “I was able to carry that early schooling into being a cop. When I came to Boise State, I was able to transfer those things back and forth between work and school.”
High-quality education
Cline had plenty of encouragement from his family and friends while enrolled at Boise State.
“My parents are gone,” he said. “I lost them a few years ago. I wish my dad would have seen it. My sister, my wife, my employer — everybody has been really supportive of me.”
To celebrate his accomplishment, Cline walked the graduation stage at Boise State’s commencement ceremony.
“It was amazing,” he said. “My wife and I drove over there, spent a few days and visited family and friends. We went to campus a few times. It sent shivers up my spine. I was recognized by three different people. That was awesome. It was a very fun experience.”
Cline hopes to parlay his degree into a promotion from his role with the city of Apple Valley, California.
“It’s a good place to work,” he said. “It’s very family-oriented. The people are supportive. I don’t have that many years left of work, but I would like to stay with the town. Having this degree will help. I absolutely got good value out of the program.”
Unsurprisingly, Cline has plenty of hobbies he enjoys, including scuba diving, water skiing, snow skiing, archery, shooting and motorcycle riding. He rides a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Limited.
Cline is also a member of a motorcycle club that engages in numerous fundraisers every year and is composed exclusively of retired law enforcement officers, first responders and military personnel.
Although his life was extremely busy over the last two years, Cline is thrilled he decided to return to college and finish what he started.
“The most important thing as an online student is to stay focused,” he said. “It’s easy in an online program to lose focus, but you have to maintain that discipline.
“Keep your focus and that light at the end of the tunnel. That’s what kept me going through some of the harder classes. I’d tell myself, ‘I have people counting on me. I’m counting on myself. I’m not going to be a quitter.’”
Learn more about the business administration program
Earning an online Bachelor of Business Administration in Management 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.