Jeffery Dorn had spent his entire adult life working in printing and graphic communications. For 22 years, Dorn owned and operated his own shop in Ohio. As his children grew older, the outlook for small printing businesses soured, but he still wanted to work. He had a decision to make about what to do next.
Dorn sold his business, and at age 50, he changed careers.
A need for industry knowledge led Dorn to enroll in programs offered online through Penn State World Campus that fit into his new career and family life.
A second career
At the time, Dorn’s daughter was starting college in Arizona. He and his wife decided to move to the state, too.
“As a coincidence, the Cleveland Guardians (then called Indians) baseball team had their player development and spring training there,” he said. Dorn was a season ticket holder and liked the idea of being close to his daughter and being able to watch the baseball team. “That’s what got me out there.”
Now in Arizona, Dorn was thinking about his career change.
“I didn’t know what I was going to do,” Dorn said. “I wasn’t quite ready to retire, so I hooked on with the baseball team.”
Dorn grew up playing baseball and enjoyed being outside maintaining his own lawn. Combining his interests, Dorn decided to join the Cleveland Guardians' groundskeeping squad.
“Most Major League teams require turfgrass or some sort of agricultural degree to be a head groundskeeper,” Dorn said. “That was a motivating factor, and it just kind of evolved from there.”
He enrolled in the Associate in Science in Turfgrass Science and Management online through Penn State World Campus in 2016. Dorn’s employer offered tuition assistance to support his career growth. He finished the degree in 2018 and decided to keep going toward a bachelor’s degree.
Leader in turfgrass education
Penn State has been a national leader in turfgrass management education, launching one of the country’s first programs in 1929. Dorn enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass Science, a 120-credit program offered online through Penn State World Campus in partnership with the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. It is the only fully online Bachelor of Science program of its kind.
The program course work focuses on the fundamental operations of golf courses, athletic fields and sports turf, parks, and other turf industries, as well as pest and disease identification and management. It aims to prepare grads for careers in turfgrass management in varying environments.
New opportunities
Dorn earned his second Penn State degree in December 2024. Now in Florida, he has been applying what he learned in his new position as an assistant golf course superintendent.
When Dorn worked in Arizona, there wasn’t much grass disease because of the dry climate and fewer types of grasses. In Florida, however, there are more grass types and diseases.
“Golf is really tough because of the greens. You cut the grass so short, so it’s susceptible to pests and diseases,” he explained. “It’s a small window between ruining the grass and making it flourish.”
Dorn said his Penn State turfgrass education gives him an advantage. He uses his knowledge to develop fertilization programs to take these factors into account. His work includes developing fertilization programs, managing pests and diseases, and maintaining the greens.
Dorn said he never thought he’d have a second career but is grateful for the opportunity.
A Penn State degree online
Penn State World Campus has been offering a Penn State degree online for more than 25 years and has a comprehensive selection of more than 200 degrees and certificates now available.
Visit the Penn State World Campus website for more information about learning online.