John Kapp-Monaghan, MS Candidate

Organizational Leadership & Management
Department of Organization & Management

Alternative Admissions Helps to Empower New Hampshire State Trooper

John Kapp-Monaghan, MS Candidate John Kapp-Monaghan is a New Hampshire state trooper with a passion for public service and a desire to contribute to his chosen profession. He recently entered Antioch University New England's master's degree program in organizational leadership and management through the alternative admissions process. “Antioch University New England offers an admissions program for someone like me,” he said. “I had college credits but no bachelor's degree.”

Years ago, John, 38, stumbled into his law enforcement career by chance. Following his high school graduation, he earned an associate's degree in rural resource management from Sterling College in Vermont and worked for a while in forestry and timber management. Then, nearly a decade ago, after spotting a newspaper advertisement for employment with the police department in Lebanon, New Hampshire, he applied for the position and got the job. Subsequently, in 2002, he joined the New Hampshire Department of Safety; first, as a highway patrolman and for the past several years as a state trooper.

Preparing for Leadership

“There have always been themes of social justice running through my life,” he said. “I fell into police work under life circumstances. I wanted to have an impact on the society I lived in, to protect myself, my family, and my neighborhood.”

Educational requirements for a trooper in New Hampshire are an associate degree or two years of police or military service, but John wanted more. “I wanted to look at the dynamics,” he said. “As I've matured in my career, I've become more interested in effecting the organization I'm part of — to learn more about how I can do that, to manage finances, to make decisions that benefit the group.”

“Antioch University New England offers an admissions program for someone like me. I had college credits, but no bachelor's degree.”

With sufficient undergraduate credits and professional training, John qualified, in part, for alternative admissions at Antioch University New England. He fulfilled other requirements by providing personal references and a comprehensive resume detailing his professional and personal experiences. Beyond that, during the three-month admissions process, he wrote a personal essay as well as several position papers demonstrating his knowledge of his field and his ability to perform graduate-level, academic work. After submitting a portfolio and taking part in an interview process, Antioch University New England accepted him into the program. In fall, 2008, he eagerly launched his graduate studies.

Reinvigorated for Work

“It's one of the most refreshing things I've done in a long time,” he said. “It's a lot of work, but it's great to sink my teeth into new knowledge and to interact with great people. It's been a real benefit to me.”

“I'm thrilled,” he said. “It's given me a lot of benefits on the job. The finance and leadership courses have helped me to see the meat and potatoes of police work. The budgets, the leadership models — I'm learning how that affects us as the group works together.”

John lives in Piermont, New Hampshire with his family. He continues to work fulltime as a trooper and commutes to Antioch University New England on weekends for his master's classes.

“My intention is to help the organization I'm with,” he said. “As state troopers, we have the potential to have some serious effect on our society. There's a lot we can do as a government body. I like that part.”

“The master's program helps me see where I can go and what kind of good work I can do,” he said. “And, after my retirement… where I can go from there.”

Last Updated: 7/6/10