EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT Transforming classroom knowledge into real-world results.
EXPERIENCE BULLDOG BUSINESS | Taking Care of What Matters
THE EXPERIENCE
Live Case Courses: Where Business Happens in Real Time At Mississippi State University’s College of Business, experiential learning is more than an educational philosophy—it is a defining part of the student experience. Through live case courses, consulting engagements and national case competitions, our students apply classroom knowledge to authentic business challenges before graduation. Recent live case partners have included Taylor Logistics, Terra Delyssa, NNormal and the National Outdoor Leadership School. Whether developing supply chain strategies, analyzing international markets, strengthening brand positioning or solving operational challenges, our students work directly with organizations to deliver meaningful, data-driven solutions. Over the course of a full semester, student teams: Define and refine a business challenge alongside a sponsoring organization Conduct research, interviews and competitive analysis Benchmark industry best practices Develop strategic, data-driven solutions Deliver professional presentations with implementation-ready recommendations Guided by faculty mentors, our students bring academic theory to life, gaining experience in client communication, critical thinking, analytics and decisionmaking under real constraints. For organizations, it is a valuable consulting engagement. For our students, it is transformational.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF CASE COMPETITION
Competing on a National Stage Building on the foundation established through live case courses, MSU College of Business students regularly compete in regional and national competitions where they apply classroom knowledge to real-world business challenges. These experiences develop leadership, strategic thinking, teamwork and presentation skills while preparing our students to compete—and succeed—on a national stage. Recent Competitions include: Southeastern Conference MBA Case Competition Florida Southern College Strategic MBA Case Competition CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition IANA Intermodal Case Study Competition Tennessee Valley Authority Investment Challenge These experiences expose our students to complex business challenges while strengthening communication, leadership, analytical and presentation skills that employers increasingly demand.
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Our experiential learning program is the best program in the country. We provide many unique, immersive programs at no cost to the students and many others with very little cost. This sets Mississippi State’s College of Business apart from all others. Our students graduate with firsthand knowledge of what it means to Experience Bulldog Business.” ~ Scott Grawe, Ph.D. College of Business Dean
FACULTY MENTORSHIP THAT MAKES AN IMPACT
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One of the best things is getting to see how our students can compete with students at any university in the country. They are hardworking, intelligent and know how to think strategically and solve real business problems.” ~ MATTHEW WHITLEDGE, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Finance, Dean’s Case Leader Fellow
As Dean’s Case Leader Fellow, Matthew Whitledge works directly with MBA students preparing for national competitions. Through faculty mentorship, industry engagement and collaborative preparation, our students gain hands-on experience that extends far beyond traditional coursework. Whitledge emphasized that case competitions help our students develop confidence, leadership and strategic thinking in ways that cannot be replicated in a classroom alone.
STUDENT IMPACT
Transformational Experiences Before Graduation Experiential learning gives students opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom while gaining confidence in high-pressure, real-world business environments. In 2025, Mississippi State supply chain logistics students earned first place at the IANA Intermodal Case Study Competition during the university’s first appearance in the national event. Competing against universities from across the country, our team was tasked with analyzing a complex logistics challenge and developing strategic recommendations under a strict five-hour deadline. The experience tested our students’ abilities to think critically, collaborate under pressure and apply classroom knowledge in a real-world business environment.
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We’ve all been at different internships, we’ve all had different experiences, so we really discussed a lot and tried to make the best assumptions and decisions we could to really get to what the case was asking.” ~ ELIJAH DAVIS
Junior Supply Chain Logistics major IANA Case Study Team Member
STUDENT IMPACT The combination of classroom instruction, internships and experiential learning gave our team the confidence to compete against nationally recognized programs—and win.
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It’s these types of experiences that really help our students understand what it takes to be successful.” ~CHRISTOPHER BOONE, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Supply Chain Logistics
Mary Jo and Paul Karre Fellow in Business Director of Experiential Learning
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I think the biggest takeaway is the passion that exists. Competitors within the industry still come together and share their ideas to forge a better future.” ~ SOPHIE PERRIGIN
Senior Supply Chain Logistics major IANA Case Study Team Member
WHY DONOR SUPPORT MATTERS
Your Gift Creates Opportunities Experiential learning requires significant investment—from competition travel and industry engagement to faculty mentorship, technology and live case development. The College of Business is committed to ensuring these transformative opportunities remain accessible to our students regardless of financial circumstances. Because of donor support, many immersive learning opportunities are offered at little or no cost to our students.
Your gifts can help: •
Expand live case and consulting experiences
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Support student participation in national competitions
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Provide scholarships and travel assistance
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Strengthen industry partnerships
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Enhance collaborative learning spaces and technology
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Prepare students for immediate career success
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There’s tremendous value in these opportunities. Students gain experiences that prepare them for their careers, help them grow as leaders and allow them to apply what they’ve learned in meaningful ways.” ~ MATTHEW WHITLEDGE, Ph.D.,
Associate Clinical Professor of Finance, Dean’s Case Leader Fellow
EXPERIENCE IS THE DIFFERENCE. Mississippi State students are not waiting until graduation to develop leadership, solve business problems and gain real-world experience. They are doing it now. And donor support makes it possible. For more information, contact our College of Business Development Team: ROB JENKINS, Senior Director of Development Phone: (662) 312-9300 Email: rjenkins@foundation.msstate.edu NATOYA SANDERS, Assistant Director of Development Phone: (662) 325-3431 Email: nsanders@foundation.msstate.edu MARY ELIZABETH TATE, Assistant Director of Development Phone: (662) 722-1995 Email: metate@foundation.msstate.edu KRISTAL TATE, Advancement Coordinator Phone: (662) 325-9055 Email: ktate@business.msstate.edu
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