When UNG alumna Jenny Muller was a girl, her parents always told her that she could be anything she wanted to be. Muller wanted to be president.
After President Bill Clinton was criticized for not serving in the military, Muller knew she would serve in the U.S. Army.
"I figured, I'm a woman so I'd get the Democratic vote," said the 1994 graduate who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science. "And I'd serve in the Army and secure the Republican vote."
Muller's determination led her to UNG and its Corps of Cadets. Not many women were in Corps leadership positions in the early 1990s. But the Corps evolved and the women excelled, including Muller. She was line commander of Alpha Company, which is noted on her resume.
While a medical issue prevented her from commissioning as an officer, Muller said her four years in the Corps were invaluable.
"It taught me how to follow and lead, and both attributes are critical for success in today's environment," she said, explaining leaders must know when to drive the mission, facilitate a solution or follow directions. "The military has perfected that model."
The model has served Muller well. She worked her way up the corporate ladder to a high-priority position. After starting out as an international leadership consultant for a year followed by a stint as a retail store manager for two years, Muller spent eight years as a director of client relations and 10 years as a district manager. In 2013, she was hired at Smith & Nephew, a British multinational medical equipment company. Muller is district manager and manages nine sales representatives covering the Gulf Coast region.
The Houston, Texas, resident has not forgotten the institution that gave her a start. Muller served on the UNG Corps Advisory Council from 2014-17 and has been a member of the UNG Foundation Board of Trustees since 2017, where she serves as chair of the development committee.
"The life lessons and leadership I learned from UNG set me on a path to success in life," she said. "I want to ensure that it is here for years to come."
