UWG Stories
Roger Huffstetler
“I am your typical student from western Georgia as I am the first in my family to go to college,” Huffstetler said. “UWG can take you anywhere you want to go."
“A manager operates from a position of authority; a leader, from personal influence.”
This quote by leadership expert Warren Bennis has particular importance to one UWG alumnus, Roger Huffstetler. As a U.S. Marine, Huffstetler tried to put those words into action, and he is now a proud veteran after four years of service and tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
So what does such a dedicated leader plan to do as a civilian? He’s going to Harvard Business School to extend his leadership training.
Huffstetler began his studies at the University of West Georgia as an Honors chemistry student. He was active within the Chemistry Department and Honors College and received offers from Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Berkeley, Cambridge and Harvard.
It was at Harvard that Huffstetler watched the twin towers fall on Sep. 11, 2001, the day before classes started. Realizing early on that he wanted something else, he eventually left the Ph.D. program. In March 2003, he joined the Marine Corps.
“Not everyone will be a hero, but everyone can serve and serve proudly,” he said of his time in service.
As a Marine, Huffstetler led many teams and rose to Operations Department manager. A few of his many accomplishments include the establishment of a mentoring program, the publication of several articles and invited consultations with generals.
He believes that his leadership skills were fostered at West Georgia, where he served as a resident assistant at Gunn Hall, president of the Student Honors Council and a senior researcher in the chemistry lab. Huffstetler says that if it weren’t for his experiences at UWG, he would not have been as successful in the Marine Corps.
“I am your typical student from western Georgia as I am the first in my family to go to college,” he said. “UWG can take you anywhere you want to go; no school in Georgia provides as much personal attention for its students.”
