Hi, I’m John Tieszen. I’m a retired marketer and graduate of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Over the course of my career, I marketed everything from Harley-Davidson motorcycles to Cheerios breakfast cereal. Today, my wife Lesa and I live in Minneapolis. 

Why CLAS? 

Two skills that permeated my career were the ability to ask probing questions and to be a great listener. I used them every day in both my professional and personal life, and they were fundamental to my success. 

Looking ahead, strategic and critical thinking—and the ability to synthesize information—will only become more important. Those skills are at the heart of a CLAS education, and they are especially valuable in an age of AI. Graduates who know how to question, evaluate, and make sense of information will be better prepared to direct these new tools rather than simply be directed by them.