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| Jack Manhire. Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University. |
Regent University alumnus Jack Manhire '97 (School of Law) leads his life and career with one philosophy: bloom where you're planted.
In August, Manhire, his wife, and his family of nine children will re-root themselves to Fort Worth, Texas, as he takes on his new occupational role as director of program development at Texas A&M University School of Law.
"Like most, my career wasn't a straight path. It took a few years and a few different jobs to find the right fit and a practice-specialization that resonated with me," said Manhire. "None of it was really planned out. I just remained open to new opportunities that came my way."
For Manhire, this full-time teaching opportunity has been a dream in the making. In the midst of a successful career as the chief of legal analysis for the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility, and national program chair of the Executive Education for the U.S. Treasury Executive Institute, teaching and helping students succeed was always his "first passion."
"This is really an opportunity for me to do what I love full time," said Manhire. "I was certainly looking for a teaching opportunity, and I was on the market for a couple of years. I don't want to make it seem like things fall out of the sky for me."
Manhire's legal experience and his constant practice of pursuing a "deeper calling" is what he hopes to evoke in his own classroom. Because in today's "complex world," Manhire explained, being an excellent attorney isn't enough.
"You need to be a leader in whatever you do. You need to know how to navigate the law and navigate the diverse marketplace in which both you and your clients exist," said Manhire. "So, bringing leadership as well as legal lessons to students – whether in the classroom or through informal career coaching – is desperately needed to ensure our students succeed in today's global marketplace."
Manhire said he learned these principles as a law student, experiencing first-hand the theoretical grounding in the law and how it translates into the real world.
"My time at Regent was a unique high-point in my career. It's where I believe I grew the most as a person and as a professional," said Manhire. "I was constantly challenged to not only do more than I thought possible, but also to be better than I thought possible."
He explained that Texas A&M is dedicated to the same principles, making the transition to his new venture all the more natural.
"Like Regent, Texas A&M is committed to creating excellent attorneys and professionals of character," said Manhire. "I’m just honored I can be a part of that."
Learn more about Regent University's School of Law.
By Brett Wilson Tubbs | August 6, 2015