From hospitality and restaurant work in Berlin to Maine’s shipyards, Rion Turner’s journey to UMA is anything but ordinary. A U.S. Army veteran and first-generation college student, Rion discovered his “happy place” in UMA’s Mathematics Lab, tackled a Capstone project that foreshadowed the university’s future, and launched a rewarding career at Bath Iron Works — all while proving it’s never too late to start over. In this conversation, he shares how UMA shaped his path, why Excel is his secret weapon, and the life motto that keeps him moving forward.
A Conversation with Rion Turner, UMA Class of 2020, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Management
The conversation below is abridged from the podcast.
Listen to Rion’s full conversation in this 60th Anniversary podcast episode.
At 40, Rion Turner decided to start again. What began as a bold move from a long career abroad led him to the University of Maine at Augusta, where he discovered a new sense of direction, a passion for learning, and a career he loves.
Q: How did you find your way to UMA?
I grew up in Southern California and joined the Army right after high school, serving in Germany. When my service ended, I stayed in Germany and worked for years in hospitality and restaurants. But as I hit 40, I knew I needed a change.
My sister mentioned UMA, this “quirky little school” in Augusta, Maine, and told me how supportive it was of veterans and what she called “non-traditional students.” At first, I thought, “What does that mean? You’re either a student or you’re not!” But once I understood, I realized that was me. So in 2015, I left Berlin and moved to Maine to start my next chapter.
Q: What was it like starting out at UMA?
Well, on my first day, someone actually mistook me for a professor — probably because of my gray hair! That gave us all a laugh. But right away, I also realized I needed to brush up on math. The Mathematics Lab became a game-changer for me. Not only did I get the support I needed, but I also discovered I was pretty good at it. Before long, I was working there as a tutor myself. The Math Lab really became my “happy place;” a community where I could give back.
Q: Were there any courses that really made an impact on you?
Two, in particular: Organizational Behavior and Capstone, both with Dean Brenda McAleer. In Capstone, our class did a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of UMA and identified opportunities like graduate programs and student housing. A few years later, I looked around and saw those very things had become reality. That was pretty exciting to witness.
Q: How did your career unfold after UMA?
During my junior and senior years, I worked for the State of Maine in professional licensing. It was a valuable experience, but I knew it wasn’t quite my path. A relative encouraged me to apply to Bath Iron Works. At first, I thought, “You don’t want me welding or bending metal!” But I soon learned there were administrative roles too.
I applied for an estimator job and landed it. That’s where I’ve been ever since. I’ve been promoted a few times and am now working on cost proposals for the Navy’s DDG51 destroyer programs. It’s challenging and rewarding work.
Q: You went on to earn your MBA. What was that like?
Yes, I graduated from UMA in 2020, right during COVID, and thought, “Why not keep going?” I applied to the MBA program at the University of Maine in Orono. Most of it was online, so I could work full-time. It took me four years instead of two, but I finished in 2024.
What I found was that my UMA education prepared me really well. I could “hang with the best of them.” It wasn’t easy, but I was ready for it, and Bath Iron Works even supported me financially.
Q: What advice would you give current or future UMA students?
Choose practical education. What I learned at UMA is useful in my daily job, even now.
Master Excel. I use it everyday in my job.
Be willing to change. A boss once told me, “You either love it, you change it, or you leave it.” I couldn’t change my life in Berlin, so I left it; and that choice led me here. Today, I can honestly say I love my life.