“I always had it on my mind that I would finish my education, and then life moved quickly,” reflects Eric Ewing, assistant chief of police for the City of Detroit. “I was working hard at my job with the Detroit Police Department, I got married, had kids, and my focus turned to my wife getting her graduate degree and my kids obtaining a good education.
“Right out of high school, I started classes at Eastern Michigan University, but after two years, my mother got very sick, so I returned home to take care of her. I always promised my mother that I would get my degree, but she passed away before I could accomplish this,” he remembers vividly.
During the next 30 years, Eric took classes at various institutions, but never completed his degree. When Cleary partnered with the DPD three years ago to develop the Pathway to Completion accelerated degree program, Eric saw the opportunity to keep his promise to his mother and finish his education.
“When I heard that my peers were talking about the degree program Cleary was offering for the DPD, I remember asking, ‘is it possible at my age?’ I was entering unfamiliar terrain, and I admit I was a little worried.”
After discussing the program with several command staff, Eric, in concert with his peers, decided, “I can do this.” At the age of 60, after a 30-year absence from academia, Eric enrolled as a Cleary student.
“My wife had her degrees, and my children had theirs, now it was my time to join them … and honor the promise I made to my mother,” he reports.
It took Eric a year and a half to finish his bachelor’s degree, and another year to earn his master’s degree, he is proud to say. He received credit for his 38 years of work experience with the DPD and previous college credits.
“Cleary made it easy to go back,” he notes. “The faculty was approachable and available, and they provided guidance and resources through the entire process. I liked the interactive classes, and I enjoyed going to school with other first responders who were facing the same work issues I was.
“Because of my job – I am on call 24/7 – my studies occasionally had to take a back seat. Cleary understands that and provides the flexibility first responders need,” Eric points out.
“Having that piece of paper finally legitimized the fact that I earned a seat at the table where decisions are made,” he adds. “And whenever I am invited to speaking engagements, I feel proud that I can include in my bio that I have my BBA and my MBA.
“When other officers ask me what I think about returning to school, I say, ‘if I can do it at my age so can you.’”
Assistant Chief Ewing proudly adds, “my daughter flew in for my graduation, and my entire family was there to watch me cross the Cleary stage. It was a moment I will remember for a lifetime! “But, the memory I will treasure the most is visiting my mother’s gravesite and leaving her a copy of my degrees. I finally could say I kept my promise to her.”
