ELSE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT – MILLSAPS COLLEGE
MBA STUDENT PERSPECTIVE My parents always said “don’t be a fool, stay in school.” My friends joke that I took them too literally. At 30, I had plenty to fall back on: a BA in Journalism and a Law Degree, previous careers in the DC political advertising game and as a litigator for the State of Mississippi. However, when I began work at home on a social media startup, I quickly realized that my life as a litigator did not afford me the time or energy my
The program has the intimacy that I expected and the faculty has exceeded even the highest of praise which had previously been heaped upon them.”
M. Ray Grubbs, Professor of Management
ALUMNUS PERSPECTIVE I pursued an MBA from Millsaps’ Else School of Management as a full-time student, and strongly believe that this decision was a key contributor to my success today. As a recent college graduate with limited real-world work experience, I wanted to broaden my perspectives and understanding of the “business world”. The personal approach, small class size, flexibility and engagement of the faculty initially attracted me to Millsaps. The classroom instruction, strategic advice and potential opportunities identified by the faculty, staff, and my fellow students exceeded my expectations. The Else School provided a strong program with individual attention to meet my needs and personal objectives. The faculty consisted of local business leaders, professionals, academicians, and professors with business experience. This combination provided insights into real corporate situations and diverse points-of-view to challenge the class and individual student’s thinking. Classroom learning often consisted of engaging class discussions and group projects to simulate a work-place environment. The professors’ continued involvement in the business community offered real-time insights and opportunities for hands-on learning throughout the program. I remain in contact with several of the professors to this day, seeking not only career guidance but a different perspective on challenges from time to time. The benefits of participating in the program continue - a great value. Not only the business skills I acquired, but also the relationships I established with faculty and fellow students and the knowledge gained both in and out of the classroom continue to benefit me to this day – 18 years after completing my degree. Pursuing an MBA at Millsaps’ Else School was one of the best decisions I have made, both from a professional as well as personal perspective.”
Allison Graves, Director of Federal Government Affairs, Entergy Corporation, Washington, DC. Millsaps College MBA graduate, 1995.
Using Millsaps’ above-and-beyond accommodating staff, I have been able to fast-track my degree to a little over a one-year life hiatus and an in-depth crash-course in business administration. Most importantly, while the workload is on par with what a graduate workload should be, Millsaps has given me invaluable time daily to work on my business. Looking back on all that I have learned in this nearly one year
new venture required. It did, however, provide the opportunity to stake out and discover business, something about which I had always been curious. I chose to pursue an MBA at Millsaps’ Else School, not because the program was minutes from my house, but rather because the Millsaps program was intimate, affordable, and its faculty were highly praised. The program has the intimacy that I expected and the faculty has exceeded even the highest of praise which had previously been heaped upon them.
in small classes distinguished by their interaction between faculty and student, in partnerships with the business community where students translate content into action, and in personal relationships with faculty, employers and the larger community. At the Else School, our faculty and staff understand that growing programmes is not our end game. Our priority is to equip our students to reach their fullest potential as informed, ethical leaders. As such, our students are never a means to an end; they are the end.
Millsaps College and the Future What exciting developments can readers expect from Millsaps College and the Else School of Management over the next 12 to 18 months? Over the past several years, the Else School of Management has been developing its entrepreneurial initiatives under the umbrella of our ELSEWorks initiative. Among other undertakings, ELSEWorks has received funding for providing business assistance to support
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of business school, I laugh that going back for a business degree got so much thought. Moreover, looking back at the hard work and dedication that the Else School team exerted from day one, often seemingly just for me, I know that everything about my future Millsaps MBA is first class.”
Christopher Lomax, CEO and Founder of Aimlistly. Current Millsaps College MBA Finance/Marketing student.
a creative economy in one of the more disadvantaged areas of the region and has started a student investment fund to support various sectors including computer networking technology, medical devices/pharmaceuticals, renewable energy technology, and hospitality services. Increasingly, our graduate students have been involved in these activities. The Else School is also looking forward to expanded internship opportunities with our community partners in the coming months. Facility and technology enhancement that give students and faculty greater flexibility to pursue academic goals is also a priority for future development.
Biography ★ Dr Kim Burke, Professor of Accounting, Dean of Else School at Millsaps College, Mississippi.
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