Hailing from Osborn, Missouri, a small farming town in northwest Missouri, Travis Peaslee’s path to Missouri State University has been anything but conventional.
After serving as a crew chief in the United States Air Force in Destin, Florida, he decided to embark on a new chapter in Springfield, Missouri, alongside his brother.
“I served six years of active duty in the Air Force. I enlisted in July 2015, right after graduating high school,” Peaslee said.
Upon visiting the MSU campus in 2021, he found it met his needs.
“I loved the small campus feel, and the faculty-to-student ratio was important to me,” Peaslee said. “Once here, I fell in love with the Ozarks area and knew this was where I wanted to be.”
Taking on new challenges
Peaslee began his studies in fall 2021, majoring in construction management. He will graduate this May and has already secured a job.
“Post-graduation, I’ll be working as an assistant project manager for Interstates Inc.”
Interstates is an electrical contractor headquartered in the Midwest. Peaslee will work for its regional office in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“I’m especially excited to join my team in Tulsa. The crew at Interstates is made up of top-tier professionals who consistently win major projects across the Midwest,” Peaslee said.
He notes he chose to go into construction after leaving the military because he wanted a career that challenged him and gave him a strong sense of purpose.
“In the military, teamwork is unmatched. Every day, I know the person next to me has my back — and I have theirs. That kind of bond is rare, and I’ve never seen it replicated in any other profession,” Peaslee said. “Construction is the closest thing I’ve found with that same sense of camaraderie. These projects are tough — they’re complex, demanding and ever-changing. You must rely on the people around you.”
Transitioning from military service to full-time student life came with its challenges.
“I remember sitting in my first calculus class thinking, ‘What the heck am I doing here?’ It felt like the professor was speaking a completely different language,” Peaslee said.
However, through determination, support from faculty and collaboration with fellow students, he navigated his coursework successfully.
“Luckily, I wasn’t alone — other students felt the same way, and we formed a study group that helped us all push through.”
Leadership and campus involvement
While at MSU, Peaslee was an active member of several student organizations. They include the Construction Club, Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Club, Society of Automotive Engineers and Sigma Lambda Chi, the only honor society for construction management students.
He currently serves as Sigma Lambda Chi president and was Construction Club vice president from 2023-24.
“Being involved in these organizations helped me build lasting relationships and develop leadership skills that will serve me well in my career,” Peaslee said.
Words of wisdom
As he nears graduation and reflects on his experience, Peaslee stresses the importance of individuality and exploring the diverse opportunities within the construction industry.
“Just because everyone else is doing something doesn’t mean you should too. Find your niche, your interests and chase them,” he said. “Construction isn’t just about field work; there are many different roles and teams to explore.”