America Needs More Northwood Graduates
We hear a lot these days about “equity,” “safe spaces,” and “lived experiences.” But here’s a radical idea: maybe what America really needs is more Northwood University graduates.
That was the message from Dr. Kent MacDonald, President of Northwood, during a recent Freedom Seminar lecture. He didn’t talk about victimhood or virtue-signaling. He talked about liberty. Real liberty. The kind that comes with responsibility, risk, and reward. The kind our Founders envisioned.
Northwood’s mission is simple but powerful: teach students the values that made America great. Personal responsibility. Economic freedom. Entrepreneurship. Not just in theory, but more importantly, in action. Students are taught not to wait for permission or government handouts, but to build something. To lead and to innovate. That sounds almost… rebellious today. But it shouldn’t.
Dr. MacDonald cited President Reagan, who warned that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” He pointed to thinkers like Austrian economist F.A. Hayek, who argued that once we give up responsibility, coercion follows. And to entrepreneurs like John D. Rockefeller, who believed business is not just about profit, but about creating opportunity.
That’s the Northwood mindset. Business is a force for good; not something to be taxed, regulated, and bullied into submission.
Too many universities are obsessed with grievance. They crank out activists who see capitalism as evil and ambition as toxic. Some even offer courses in pop culture propaganda. “The Queer Art of Drag” or “Decolonizing Math.” That’s not education. It’s indoctrination.
Northwood is different. It doesn’t apologize for America’s success. It teaches students to earn theirs. Students are challenged to think critically, act ethically, and build something of value. They’re not trained to obey. They’re trained to lead with character.
That’s why Northwood grads don’t just fill jobs. They create them.
Ayn Rand once said, “Achievement of your happiness is the proof of your moral integrity.” Northwood agrees. Progress comes not from envy, but from effort. Not from handouts, but from hustle.
Liberty is messy. And risky. But it’s also the engine of every meaningful advance in human history. The market, not the mandate, is what drives progress. Want a stronger America? One that values freedom over fear and innovation over interference?
Then yes, America needs more Northwood graduates.
About this Piece
Stephanie Hammis is a student from Midland, Michigan, who is studying accounting at Northwood University. Mathilde Champagne hails from Aizenay, France, and is majoring in healthcare management. Isaac Fernandez is a Finance student from Holland, Michigan. Ayden J. (AJ) Bryan, of Tecumseh, Michigan, is an Economics major. AJ, Isaac, Stephanie and Mathilde co-authored this piece with Kristin Tokarev, a Northwood alumna and producer with Stossel TV. This piece is the Student View featured in the November 2025 edition of When Free to Choose, Northwood University’s signature publication dedicated to exploring the importance of free enterprise. Click here to receive this complimentary publication in your inbox!