WCU Magazine Fall/Winter 2025

After three decades in public service and human resources leadership roles — including 20 years in the Marine Corps — John Crouser knew experience alone was no longer enough. He wanted to deepen his impact on his family, community, and country.

“Experience had only gotten me so far. I wanted the academic background, to be more grounded and researched, so I could influence systems rather than just manage them.”

Crouser chose WCU for graduate school to pursue a doctor of public administration and subsequently enrolled in the master of science in human resources management. The decision was both professional and personal. “Both my daughter and my fiancé are WCU alumnae. Watching them thrive here reminded me of the transformative power of education. I wanted to model lifelong leadership and learning for my family.”

While at WCU, Crouser has served as president of both the Student Veteran Group and the Human Resources Association. For him, leadership is an extension of service. “I wanted to sit shoulder to shoulder with my fellow human resource professionals. I wanted to give back to fellow veterans. I had been in their shoes. Being able to support their success meant the world to me.”

His commitment to service is rooted in lived experience. A veteran who was at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, Crouser carries the lessons he learned with him.

“That day enforced the fragility of life for me — and the responsibility leaders have to protect and support others.” Values such as accountability, integrity, calmness under pressure, and service before self continue to guide him in every civilian role he has held since retiring from the Marines in 2015. “Public service isn’t just a career pathway for me, and leadership isn’t about building my resume. It’s a continuation of the values that I’ve lived in uniform.”

Graduate education also helped him navigate the transition from military service to civilian leadership, bridging the gap between vastly different life experiences. “In the military, expectations of communication are clear and consistent. Civilian workplaces are more nuanced. Graduate studies gave me the frameworks and research-based tools to navigate complex organizational dynamics.”

Now a doctoral candidate, Crouser is completing his dissertation on the impact of human resources management models in local municipal government — research that draws directly from his experience as a municipal HR director and his current role as employee and labor relations manager at the University of Delaware. “All of these degrees and experiences have culminated in this work. I hope it impacts both academic and professional communities.”

Looking ahead, Crouser hopes to teach in higher education, continuing the cycle of service and equipping the future generation. “What are we giving back to our community, our state, our country? West Chester is a place where you can not only discover what’s going on around you but also embark on a journey to become a part of the greater community that is going to impact the world.”