How Jason Bristow proved it’s never too late with Purdue University’s online Master of Science in Construction Management

At 47, Jason Bristow knew something that his 18-year-old self did not: he was ready to pursue higher education. After over two decades in construction management — building homes, leading facilities teams and overseeing large-scale corporate projects — the director of corporate real estate services at Delta Dental of Michigan had carried a quiet goal for years: earn a graduate degree.  

When he began exploring programs that aligned with his experience in facilities management, one name kept rising to the top — Purdue University. Encouraged by mentors who were Purdue graduates and drawn to a program designed for working professionals, Bristow decided it was finally time to pursue the goal he had postponed for more than 20 years. 

Bristow’s path to leadership did not begin in a corporate office. Rather, it began in a small Michigan town, where Bristow became the first person in his family to attend college. After initially planning to follow in his grandfather’s steps as an accountant, a summer job delivering materials to construction sites shifted his trajectory. Standing outside of a job trailer filled with engineers and construction managers, he began to recognize the work as something more than just a job. 

“I remember asking one of the construction managers, ‘Oh man, this is a real career?’” Bristow said. “I knew it was a job, of course, but I didn’t realize it was a professional path that required a four-year degree in construction management. I didn’t even know something like that existed at the time.” 

Following that conversation, Bristow began his undergraduate studies in construction management at Central Michigan University and spent the early years building a multitude of homes in Detroit and Florida, including work alongside Habitat for Humanity. What drew him to construction management most was the personal side of his work, knowing there was a family waiting at the end of each project. In 2009, Bristow transitioned into facilities management at Dart Container before eventually being recruited at Delta Dental where he remains today.  

Despite his success, one goal was still lingering in the back of his mind: graduate school. For years, Bristow hesitated to apply, as his undergraduate transcript did not reflect his full potential.  

“I always wanted a master’s degree,” Bristow said. “I’ve looked at programs and filled out informational forms probably a million times. But knowing how difficult studying could be for me, that was a major reason I postponed applying. I just wasn’t sure I wanted to put myself back in that position.” 

Undiagnosed ADHD had shaped much of Bristow’s early academic experience. Strong test scores often offset missed assignments, resulting in an uneven transcript. It was only after he met his wife, a school psychologist, that he gained a deeper understanding of the condition and the coping strategies he unknowingly developed as an adult. Those strategies fueled a successful career, but the idea of returning to a classroom still felt daunting.  

When he finally applied to Purdue’s online Master of Science in Construction Management with a concentration in facilities management, Bristow was unsure how his application would be received. With the encouragement of mentors who were Purdue graduates, he began his journey toward the goal he had sought since high school. 

“Purdue took a chance on me despite an undergraduate record that did not reflect my potential,” he said. “For a long time, I let that record define what I thought I could or couldn’t do.” 

The decision to pursue Purdue felt both practical and personal. Two of the most influential leaders in Bristow’s career — Earl Major and John Alfano — were Purdue graduates who encouraged him to take the next step. The program’s alignment with his professional background made the choice even clearer. But what ultimately distinguished the experience was the faculty.  

In Purdue Polytechnic’s online construction management program, courses were led by industry professionals: attorneys teaching business law, experts in mechanical systems, telecommunications and facilities operations. When questions arose, the answers came not just from course professors, but also individuals with lived experience. 

“When I had questions, I got answers from experts in the field,” Bristow said. “These classes were all taught by people who had done the work. It wasn’t just about putting the right answer on an assignment.” 

The collaboration extended well beyond the classroom. Bristow frequently brought real workplace challenges into conversations with professors and received guidance grounded in experience. These relationships did not end when the semester did either. 

“I would be 100% comfortable emailing any one of my professors and asking a question right this second,” Bristow said. 

That support proved valuable during one of the most demanding periods of his career. While completing his degree, Bristow was also leading a full-scale renovation of every occupied square foot of Delta Dental’s primary facilities in Okemos, Michigan. 

“I remember getting asked ‘How are you managing this project, work and a graduate degree?’” he said. “I’m almost 50, so it was cool to get that kind of recognition from the people I look up to.” 

While the degree has strengthened his career, Bristow believes that the most meaningful impact reaches beyond his own professional growth. As a proud father of one child preparing to enter college and another in high school, he wanted his children to see that education does not have an expiration date.  

“If my story is the push someone late in their career needs to go back to school, I’d take that as a positive,” he said. 

To learn more about Purdue’s online Master of Science in Construction Management, visit the program’s webpage.