Jonathan Lesher ’25 MBA, a 3D radiology technologist (MRI/CT) team lead at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, is a graduate of Colby-Sawyer's online Master of Business Administration program, designed for employees of the college’s affiliate, Dartmouth Health. The degree, which can be completed in as little as two years, can be customized for students’ individual industry and career goals. 

Lesher earned a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and food science, with a minor in chemistry, from Middle Tennessee State University in 2016. He began working at DHMC as a CT/MRI 3D technologist in 2022, and in 2023, he enrolled in the MBA program, which offers preferred tuition to employees of Dartmouth Health. Throughout his two years in the program, Lesher used what he learned to make improvements on the job. As he approached graduation, he was promoted to a leadership role, which he credits to numerous changes he implemented in his department based on his learning in the program. 

What follows is a lightly edited Q&A with Lesher in which he reflects on his experience in the program. 

Why were Colby-Sawyer and the MBA program the right choices for you?  

Colby-Sawyer College’s MBA program was the right choice for me because of the Dartmouth Health partnership and opportunity for me to advance rapidly, educationally and professionally, as a nontraditional student while working full time as a Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center employee.  

 How did you grow as a scholar/person in the program?  

After working in healthcare administration (medical billing/accounts receivable) and experiencing the layered complexities of the industry as an entry-level employee for 10 years prior to pursuing my master’s, I found that the Colby-Sawyer curriculum challenged me to think about organizations and structure differently, especially through the lens of economics (long-term planning), human motivation (value and incentive structures) and risk management as it relates to agreements/contracts.  

Please describe your overall experience, including any particularly rewarding or defining moments, courses, internships and/or people.   

Online adult learning is not for everyone, but Colby-Sawyer faculty get it right with a heavily structured curriculum and clear expectations for assignments and deadlines. By far, the most rewarding aspect of the MBA program was networking with a wide demographic of professionals and students with aims in different business sectors and industries, from the jewelry industry and event-planning to healthcare finance and human resource roles in education.  

The most impactful course I took was Risk Management (GBU 615) with Dr. Mark Vrooman. This class completely redefined the way I approach business decisions with certainty, confidence and good judgment as it relates to logic and probability in the planning of risk responses. Dr. Vrooman facilitated stimulating conversation and allowed me to think deeply by investigating the sociopsychological and philosophical implications inherent to risk culture within an organization. 

How has your Colby-Sawyer/MBA education positively impacted your career/life?  

The beauty of working full time while pursuing a Master of Business Administration is that the fresh new concepts can be implemented in real time. Over the two years that I was enrolled I took on many projects and implemented countless operational changes in my entry-level role in the 3D CT/MRI radiology lab at DHMC, which radically improved work flow efficiency through optimization and standardization of the operational protocols, resulting in greater visibility within radiology management and my promotion to leadership.  

Please elaborate on any other topics that you think would be helpful for prospective students, the general public and prospective employers:  

Any current Dartmouth Health employee or healthcare worker interested in expanding perspective to better understand healthcare or gain functional knowledge regarding healthcare delivery systems, managerial analytics and risk management will find that this program will inevitably change the way you see your role in the broader national machine of healthcare. What you put into the program, you will get out of it. If you’re a full-time employee with a busy family or travel life, this program is feasible. I was personally able to travel and vacation without impacting family relationships or grades. Take the leap of faith; Colby-Sawyer faculty have great value to invest in you personally and professionally.