Get to know a Jeff: Jeff Hart

From the Fantastic Four to the Fab Four, it’s clear that the best things in life come in groups of four. And Baker is no different. Baker University’s School of Professional and Graduate Studies has four instructors named Jeff, and each one took a unique path to teaching. In this series, you will learn how each Jeff is truly #BakerBuilt.

Dr. Jeff Hart had always wanted to teach at the university level, and Baker made that dream possible.

“A colleague in my doctoral program at Andrews University told me about Baker, so I sought [it] out, interviewed with Molly Smith, the faculty facilitator and faculty recruiter, and made it through Baker Academy [online training for Baker faculty] last year,” said Hart. “The rest, as they say, is history.”

Hart began teaching in Baker’s online MBA program in September 2018 after a long and eventful path through academia and military service. He earned his Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Kent State University and took the Command and General Staff Officer’s Course at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He then earned a master’s from Florida Institute of Technology and an PhD in Leadership Development from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Hart serves as a program manager for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Huntsville, Alabama. He’s responsible for efficient and responsive foreign military sales case execution, including management of risk and implementation of technical, schedule, and cost-effective solutions. He has worked at the MDA since 2009. Before his current role, he served in a variety of acquisition and program management positions with the U.S. Army as an Acquisition Officer and later as a Department of the Army civilian.

“I have over 30 years combined active military and civilian service to the Department of Defense,” Hart said. “Working for the Department of Defense, first as a soldier, and now as a Federal employee, I have enjoyed serving our nation through supporting, mentoring, and leading soldiers and military units engaged in our nation’s defense.”

Another important part of Hart’s life is his family.

“I have been married for almost 27 years to my first love, Julie,” said Hart. “We have two wonderful children, Patrick and Aubrey, and support two energetic and loving Labrador retrievers, Ruby and Moose.”

Hart teaches MBA 580 Executive Leadership and has found it to be a perfect fit.

“Through teaching that course, I have the pleasure of meeting students from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and career fields, all working to develop and improve as leaders,” he said. “I value the leadership conversations I get to have with my students to explore new ideas and ways of leading while serving others and making their organizations more positive, growth-oriented places to be a part of.”

Hart enjoys seeing his students grow as leaders, and hopes they’ll carry what they learned in class into their future.

“I hope that through my course, and their own leadership journey, they will learn more about themselves, and about their leader identities,” Hart said.