Born to Run

Albie Masland '06 is committed to running for a cause

You might remember Albie Masland '06 from his 3,025-mile charity run from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean a few years ago. It benefited the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF), an organization dedicated to helping veterans and the families of soldiers killed in action. Now the veteran services manager for the West Coast with TMF, Masland is at it again, finishing a Florida–California charity run (picking up the course in Texas) begun by another TMF supporter. You can follow his progress here and read on to see what drives him and how myriad connections keep him linked to Dickinson.

Can you speak to how Dickinson’s useful liberal-arts approach helped you along your career path?

My education at Dickinson covered a broad array of subjects, including Southeast Asian studies, business, psychology and a major in political science. I’m currently working outside all of those arenas, but the application of a broad, encompassing educational background has me well suited to discuss and address just about anything. I’m also an excellent addition to any midweek trivia squad—for whatever that’s worth!

What was your favorite organization at Dickinson?

Membership in the Raven’s Claw honor society, White Hats.

What jumps out as a great memory from your time at Dickinson?

When my grandfather, Edward K. Masland ’54, handed me my diploma.

How do you stay involved with Dickinson?

I’m a member of the John Dickinson Society and a committee member for my 10th reunion. My family has a long line of Dickinson graduates—over a dozen—and my sister Sarah is the director of parent relations. I grew up two blocks from the campus and would go sledding in Morgan Field as a kid. My father coached the women’s soccer team when I was younger, and that led to plenty of wonderful babysitters from the team and, admittedly, plenty of boyhood crushes. Dickinson was a part of my life before I ever attended a class on campus, and it remains an important piece of my life and my family history today.

How did you get interested in your work, and what about it excites you most?

I respect and admire service. Having the opportunity to serve those who have served in our military is something I am incredibly fortunate to do on a day-to-day basis. Above all else, I want to help people—that’s my passion and my life pursuit.

What does your current work entail?

I run personal and professional development seminars for transitioning veterans, lead expeditions nationally and internationally for surviving family members of those lost during the wars, connect veterans with opportunities to serve in the community and develop relationships for mutual benefit in the veteran/business space.

What is the most challenging part of your work?

Working with people in a state of transition presents all sorts of challenges, but I love every minute of the work and the people I serve.

If you could have dinner with anyone famous, living or dead, who would it be?

Will Ferrell—100 percent.

You just built a time machine: Where and when do you go?

Roaring '20s.

You’re going to live on an island by yourself for a year: What books, albums and movies do you take with you?

Born to Run, Catcher in the Rye, Born in the USA, Death Row Greatest Hits, Aftermath by the Stones; Anchorman, Blazing Saddles, Forrest Gump.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

I would have been a better student while at Dickinson.

Learn More

• "From Sea to Shining Sea"
• Operation Samalama
• Alumni in Action
• Department of Political Science
• Latest News

Published April 5, 2016