Tom Wike

Tom Wike served in the United States Marines Corps prior to beginning his Master of Public Administration. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He also deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and conducted joint training exercises in South Korea, Mainland Japan, California, and North Carolina. Following his service, he graduated from The Ohio State University in 2021 with a degree in Social Work. While studying in undergrad, he interned with the Ohio Poverty Law Center, the Ohio State Senate, and the U.S. Senate. He also participated in the Veterans of Foreign Wars & Student Veterans of America Legislative Fellowship. As a Legislative Fellow, he gained valuable experience in drafting policy proposals, grassroots organizing, and advocating on Capitol Hill. After years of advocating on the Hill, his bill, the Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act, was introduced in both chambers of Congress and amended to the House version on the National Defense Authorization Act in September of 2021.  

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Mr. Wike searched for a way to continue his service and pursuit of knowledge. He was attracted to the Glenn College because of its focus on servant leadership and the opportunity to carry on the legacy of fellow Marine, Colonel John Glenn. He chose to participate in the MPA-DC program to further his experiences of working within the federal government and to successfully begin his career in the public sector.  

Mr. Wike enjoys the creative and welcoming environment within the Glenn College and the camaraderie he shares with his classmates. He has discovered that the faculty and staff are always willing to go the extra mile to help him succeed and reach his goals.