Steve Michalik ’00 graduated from Geneva College with a degree in chemical engineering. As a high school student, Michalik excelled in chemistry and knew he wanted to pursue this passion at a Christian college close to home. He found his place here in Beaver Falls.
While at Geneva, Michalik lived in Pearce Hall. He maintained a busy schedule by participating in the honors program and working on the physical plant grounds crew.
Michalik went on to earn a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003. He proceeded to work for a startup company, in the industry of plastics and polymers. He then landed at NOVA Chemicals, primarily working with products sold to automobile manufacturers. Michalik advanced in the chemical engineering field until the 2008 recession left the auto industry failing, which shut down his product line entirely.
Though he pursued employment in his desired field, he began working for his father-in-law at Nursing ABC, now Portage Learning, an online institution that helps students fulfill class requirements as they pursue their education. Michalik’s father-in-law was the founder and president of the company. This was a huge shift in work for Michalik, but he was thankful to be employed. He helped as needed, developing chemistry curriculum and teaching.
As he sought other work, Michalik began moving Portage Learning’s email-based services to a fully online delivery program. This sparked discussions about delivering accredited college-level courses, which required a partnership with a college.
Michalik found his calling in this work, and it is still where he finds himself today. Although he is not working in chemical engineering, he is using his education to better his community.
“Now, instead of plastics, I take classes and ask, ‘how can we make a better course? How can we improve?’ It is the same skills I learned in engineering applied to a different area of work.”
Michalik began his full-time position with Portage Learning in 2010, just before it signed an official partner agreement with Geneva College in 2011, allowing Portage to offer accredited college courses.
“Portage is a rafting term that deals with getting around an obstacle. Students come to us to get around an obstacle then go somewhere else to complete their degrees. We are not their final destination, but we play a key role in helping them reach it.”
Although a seemingly small part of a person’s educational journey, the opportunity Portage Learning offers to students is key to their success. Many students need to take a prerequisite or supplemental course in order to complete their educational goals, and Portage allows them to do that. Since forming the partnership with Geneva, Portage Learning has experienced rapid growth.
Portage Learning now has nearly 50 faculty members and 107 employees, including teams for marketing, school engagement, student engagement, and academics.
“We’ve now had students from all 50 states take our courses,” Michalik pointed out. “And even some from other countries.”
A unique feature of Portage Learning is that although it is not an explicitly Christian education, it offers a faith-integrated option for its courses. There is also substantial crossover between Geneva and Portage Learning, with many of our faculty members teaching for both organizations.
Michalik said that’s why his institution started Portage Community, a service organization that offers nursing scholarships, mentorships, and international medical services for students in need.
“You can’t fix everything,” he continued, “but you can do what God calls you to do where you are placed.”
Michalik’s passion for his work is rooted in his calling to God and neighbor, something he attributes to his Geneva experience. From a chemical engineer specializing in plastics to a fill-in job after a layoff, from director of operations to vice president and now president, Michalik has demonstrated what it means to work with excellence and serve God and neighbor well wherever God has placed you. These are exactly the skills Geneva’s unique core curriculum instills in students: the ability to succeed not just in your chosen field, but wherever your life may lead.
“It is about taking what we learned at Geneva and making that how we do our business.”
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