Recent graduate, Alumni Association board member reflects on the OHIO experience

Kyle Triplett, BA ’12, MBA ’17, believes in the opportunities that stem from an OHIO education. Photo courtesy of Kyle Triplett

As a two-time Ohio University graduate, Kyle Triplett is an ardent ambassador for an OHIO education. Just six years after earning his bachelor’s degree in political science, he now attributes much of his early career success to the lessons and skills he learned both in and out of the classroom.

“I think I have really good verbal and written skills, and I attribute a lot of that to my political science degree where I had to do a lot of research and critical thinking,” Triplett, BA ’12, MBA ’17, said. “A lot of the problem resolution skills, quite frankly, came from Student Senate and dealing with stuff at that time. There’s definitely great involvement at OU.”

Triplett currently works at Cleveland-based Olympic Steel as a regional sales manager, a position that requires him to lead a team of sales representatives toward success. As an undergraduate at OHIO, he was president of Student Senate, and since 2015, he has served as an OHIO Alumni Association board member.

“I said early on, as a student, I didn’t want to stop being involved once I graduated,” he remembered. “I had my eye on the Alumni [Association] board for some time to be an avenue to stay involved. I’ve been very fortunate to have that opportunity.”

Triplett celebrates at the Alumni Awards Gala with former interim OHIO President David Decutner, left, and Lysa Burnier. Photo courtesy of Kyle Triplett

Triplett, who describes OHIO as a combination of “great exposure to people and ideas” and top-tier academic programs, returned to earn a master’s in business administration in 2017. He said this degree equipped him with knowledge necessary to propel his career.

“I had a lot of the practice of my current job, but I didn’t have a lot of the theory behind it, the coursework from a business standpoint,” he said. “It was really good for me to round me out and provide some of the courses I didn’t get to have as a political science major.”

As an Association board member, Triplett said his role is a combination of alumni engagement and ambassador work. He said he is passionate about the opportunities at OHIO and the small town atmosphere that connects students to the community.

“At Ohio University, I think there’s such a unique interplay between the campus and the town of Athens and all of your peers,” he said. “Whether it’s in the dormitories, in the classrooms or walking around on Court Street, I think you get a lot of positive interaction with students and with members of the Athens community and with faculty.”

In addition to fulfilling his duties on the Association board, Triplett also attends and occasionally volunteers at Greater Cleveland Alumni Chapter events. Though he no longer experiences Athens day-to-day, Triplett said he always feels connected to OHIO.

“Since I’ve been away from OU, it’s very apparent that OU’s alumni are really plugged in and care a lot about Ohio University. That might not be the case for other colleges or institutions,” he said. “I think Bobcats have a really special bond. We are a very tight knit group of alumni, and it’s really rewarding to get to interact with people you do know from your time on campus and people you don’t know.”