The Journey of One Migrating Phoenix
Have you ever needed to change your surroundings to achieve your academic dreams? You’re not alone. In fact, in the Fall of 2024, about 13% of all undergraduates in the U.S. (that’s about 1.5 million!) were transfer students.
One characteristic many of them share, other than seeking a fresh start, is they tend not to refer to themselves as “transfers.” At UW-Green Bay, a more appropriate term might be “migrating Phoenix.” One remarkable example of that migration is Tyler Dean, who transferred from Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) to UW-Green Bay to complete his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering this fall.
Tyler Dean’s educational journey involved a challenging side trip of over 6,000 miles, including deployments in the Middle
East, before launching a new direction to complete his degree. “I always wanted to be an engineer,” Dean readily admits. His challenge? Engineering a path to his dream degree that’s been seven years in the making.
Dean now lives in Door County but grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Early on, Wisconsin played an important part in his life. “I’ve lived here in Wisconsin for about 10 years on and off.” The ‘ons and offs’ were driven by both personal and professional events. When his mother remarried in 2016, a then 16-year-old Dean moved to Door County with her seeking a fresh start and new opportunities.
After graduating from Southern Door High School in 2018, he enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard, joining the 1431st Sapper unit in Calumet, near his original hometown. This decision brought him back to the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) where the Michigan Tech campus was conveniently located. The synergy was irresistible—he applied and was accepted into the Electrical Engineering program at Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan.
He studied at Michigan Tech for three years, living in Houghton and attending his National Guard unit in Calumet. In 2022, he took time off from his studies and joined the 107th Engineer Battalion Headquarters unit for an active duty deployment to the Middle East, working on various projects throughout Kuwait, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia.
It was during his deployment overseas that he decided to apply to UW-Green Bay to complete his engineering degree. Military obligations and attending Michigan Tech strained both his time and resources. “Mostly being home and financials,” Dean recalls, “I couldn’t afford to be away from home, and financially, it was just too expensive.”
During his time in Iraq, while still officially a part-time student at Michigan Tech, he decided to apply to UW-Green Bay to complete his engineering degree. He was accepted into the Resch School of Engineering at UW-Green Bay and attended online courses while still in the field.
“I was the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge of the survey and design section as part of a construction management team,” he recounted. Despite being deployed to combat zones, Dean continued his education online. “I was taking engineering classes online. Sometimes we didn’t have internet access, but my teachers were very accommodating.”
This was remote learning taken to the next level. “I usually worked on my classes in my little contemporary structure on base, sitting on my bed. I had an international phone plan and would hotspot off my phone. I had Zoom meetings with my advisor late at night due to the time difference.” And though it was quite a change in scenery, the experience shaped his decisions. “Taking a break for this deployment matured me and gave me real-world experience. Coming back to school was easier because of my life experience and the management skills I developed,” he reflected.
Two major factors made the move possible—UW-Green Bay’s admissions counselors and Veterans program. “I was surprised by how many credits I was able to transfer to UW-Green Bay. The curriculum also aligned well with Michigan Tech,” Dean recalled. “Plus, the Veterans program at UW-Green Bay was very helpful and made the process easy for me.”
These days, he’s back in Wisconsin, taking classes both online and in person, life has returned to normal—meaning very busy. “My fiancée and I are currently living with her parents while developing property for our future home.”
Dean’s schedule is packed. “I have two in-person classes and two labs Monday through Thursday, and I’m also taking an online course. I commute to Green Bay every morning, then after my classes, I go back to Sturgeon Bay, where I’m an intern in the engineering department at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding. Once I’m done with work, I go home and do my online class.” Despite his busy schedule, Dean is already analyzing multiple employment opportunities after he graduates, while maintaining his commitment to staying in the Michigan Army National Guard.
“I’ve been applying to various places and have a few options. I’m meeting with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding to go over an offer, so I have some decisions to make about where I want to work in the future.”
From growing up in the U.P. and Door County to serving in the Middle East and returning to Northeast Wisconsin, Tyler Dean’s journey has been remarkable. By earning his degree and leveraging his diverse skills, he’s set himself up for success. After all he’s achieved, it might be time for this Phoenix to take a well-deserved break from migrating.
