Alumnus who became ‘Accidental Success’ visits ‘MTSU On the Record’

MTSU alumnus Michael Dillard, top left, author of the book “Accidantal Success,” was a guest on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program with host Gina Logue that airs on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5. (Submitted photo and book cover)

MTSU alumnus Michael Dillard, top left, author of the book “Accidantal Success,” is the guest on the Nov. 23 edition of the “MTSU On the Record” radio program, and its Nov. 28 rebroadcast, with host Gina Logue. The program airs on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and is available via SoundCloud above. (Submitted photo and book cover)

An MTSU alumnus who went from unemployment to working around the world shared his story on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Michael Dillard, author of “Accidental Success: Accidental Millionaire Retirement,” first aired Nov. 23 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can hear their conversation via the Soundcloud link above.

Michael Dillard

Gina K. Logue

Dillard, who grew up in Clarksville, Tennessee, credits the federally funded Upward Bound program for helping him find a direction in life with tutoring during his high school years.

“Afterwards, they put us on a (college) campus, and they held our hand to take … college courses,” Dillard said. “If it wasn’t for that assistance, my life wouldn’t have changed.”

Front cover of "Accidental Success" by MTSU alumnus Michael Dillard. (Image provided)

After four years in the U.S. Army, Dillard earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from MTSU, his master’s degree with a specialization in financial planning from Strayer University in Herndon, Virginia, and his master’s degree in accounting from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Dillard put his accounting skills to work as a foreign service officer in the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Dominican Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, South Africa and Zambia are some of the countries in which he worked.

After obtaining training and certification from the Florida-based Center for Executive Coaches, Dillard became a Nashville-based coach, assisting presidents, vice presidents and other high-ranking company leaders.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.