Master in Motion: Three Questions With a Worldwide Campus MBAA Grad

Caleb Xavier Garcia (’23) couldn’t pass up his second chance at a degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. 

By leveraging the tuition reimbursement program at his employer, the Schaeffler Group motion technology company, Caleb earned his Master of Business Administration in Aviation and a Leadership Certificate from the world’s leading aviation and aerospace educator.

At the Worldwide Campus, Caleb got the best in online education through programs designed specifically for working professionals, those currently serving and veterans looking to transition into civilian careers. 

Beyond the obvious career benefits of having a master’s degree and leadership training, Caleb cherished his educational experience because it was the completion of a dream that he had to defer as an undergrad.

Now a Quality Technology Engineer at Schaeffler, Caleb is responsible for creating and implementing end-of-line testing equipment for a multi-disciplinary industrialization department, which includes testing eMobility applications such as e-motors, generators, inverters and batteries that ultimately contribute to new manufacturing processes.

He took time out to answer three questions about his Embry-Riddle journey.

Why did you come to Embry-Riddle?

 My father is an Airframe & Powerplant aircraft mechanic, and I grew up helping him at the airport. I was always inspired by planes and how they connected people around the world.

My dad spoke highly of Embry-Riddle, and after graduating high school, I decided I wanted to work in the aviation sector and identified Embry-Riddle as my top choice. We toured the stunning Daytona Beach Campus, and I even took a discovery flight.

But I was crushed when I learned that tuition was out of reach for our family to afford. I ended up getting my undergraduate at the University of Akron, where I met my wife. In 2021, I learned about my employer's tuition reimbursement program, and they agreed to allow me to enroll in the MBAA program here at the Worldwide College of Business.

I felt like things came full circle for me when I finally walked across the stage in Daytona Beach in May 2024 to receive my degree.

What advice do you have for college students hoping to succeed professionally?

Find a mentor. Whether you intend to pursue a technical field like engineering or something non-technical, mentorship is essential to success. Students need somebody to follow and guide them through all the additional facets of life beyond the classroom since life doesn't happen entirely in a classroom.

For many of us, friends, peers and family work while we are young, but we eventually reach a point where they don't have the knowledge or the resources to take us to the next level.

Mentorship from somebody invested in you with the experience you want can be that bridge. So many people at Embry-Riddle, like my own mentor, Dr. Matthew Earnhardt, are eager to become that resource for you. You just need to seek them out.

The relationships fostered through mentorship also become strong enough to inspire the student to eventually pass it forward and mentor another student one day. Please consider asking some seasoned people you admire, either at Embry-Riddle or in your personal network, to set up regular monthly coffee meetings or conference calls to discuss your next steps, doubts or any lessons you can learn from their experiences.

Often, they can introduce you to amazing opportunities such as exclusive tours, job shadowing or professional contacts. Besides my faith and my wife, the biggest difference-maker in my personal and professional story has been the awesome mentors who have invested in me. 

In what ways do you stay connected with Embry-Riddle?

I am very proud to have graduated from Embry-Riddle. I have found the people here to be extraordinary in their passion for aviation and their embrace of people of all different backgrounds, especially international students and military families.

For this reason, I am happy to continue supporting Embry-Riddle as an alumnus through the Worldwide College of Business Student Council, mentorship activities and my partnerships with Assistant Dean of Student Success and Accreditation Dr. Rachel Vigness from the College of Business and Associate Director of Alumni Engagement and Communication Amanda Rodgers in order to continue providing opportunities and resources for students.

In the short term, I am due to become a father in early November 2024, and I am accepting Worldwide College of Business Student Council members as mentees — both offer excellent opportunities to continue developing myself in mentorship.

I hope through sharing my story, students on or off campus can see the multitude of ways they can contribute to Embry-Riddle and maximize their experience.