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4 0 t h r e u n i o nA World of OpportunitiesJ O H N D E W E Y ’ 71John Dewey ’71 never imaginedthat he’d move to Texas, but he haslived there for more than two decades.The Massachusetts native was a Californiaresident before relocating to theLone Star State—a decision that ledhim to a career with American Airlinesand an opportunity to travel the world.Dewey was finishing up his master’sin business at the University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles, when AmericanAirlines conducted interviews on campusfor a job in finance. “The positionmeant I would have to move to Dallas,Texas,” says Dewey. “It’s the last placeI thought I would end up. But theyhooked me by saying you could workduring the week and on the weekendsyou could visit your family in Bostonor go to California to see friends—not to mention the perks of travelingaround the world.”The last opportunity sold himand since then he has traveled to all50 states, seven continents and some75 countries. Dewey’s multifacetedcareer at American Airlines began inthe financial and budgeting area andtransitioned to the new business division,where he helped expand projectssuch as the duty-free business. He’s alsobeen involved in international businessand customer relations managementat the airline.Dewey says he maintained an importantbelief throughout his career—to sustain a diverse perspective in life.That’s something he learned from hisNobles education. He says, “Even inthis era of specialization, I think it’svery important to maintain a generalistperspective whenever possible. Whenyou’re not doing different things, it’seasy to get lost in a single perspective.”The September 11, 2001, attacksprofoundly affected American Airlines,leading to deep budget cuts and massivelayoffs. Dewey chose to take anearly retirement option in 2003 andtransitioned to teach parttime at theUniversity of Phoenix in Dallas, Texas.He also works as director of marketingand sales for Rich-Heape Films,a company that covers overlooked historicaltopics about Native Americans.Ironically, Dewey—whose father wasa part-time teacher at Nobles from the1960s to 1980s—didn’t want to teachafter he earned his BA in sociologyand philosophy from Harvard College.“I loved what I learned at Harvard, butit wasn’t very practical unless I plannedto teach,” he says. “Given the time, Ididn’t see that I could make a decentliving from teaching. It’s a delayedreaction. But it is in my blood.”—Tiffany TranJohn Dewey ’71 leads a canoeing group on the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas.30 l the NobLES Bulletin l Spring 2011