Baylor Celebrates 100 Graduates from Online M.B.A Program
Media Contact: CJ Jackson, 254-710-7628
WACO, Texas (Aug. 14, 2017) – Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business is celebrating a milestone – the awarding of 100 Master of Business Administration degrees via its online M.B.A. program.
The online M.B.A. program started in May 2014 and the first graduate was hooded at commencement in May 2015. The program celebrated the "100th graduate" milestone during August commencement.
As a Baylor Business M.B.A. online student, the route to professional excellence is paved by the same nationally acclaimed faculty and curriculum offered on campus, and by a powerful corporate and alumni network that works to advance graduates' successes throughout their careers.
Graduates of the program come from every walk of life, ranging in age from 24 to 65. Ninety-nine percent of the students are employed full time while enrolled, and 18 percent are military active duty and/or veterans.
Graduates of the Online M.B.A. program include:
Michael Reiswig, president, CEO and board member of OCI Holdings
Reiswig completed his studies in October 2016 at the age of 60. His wife, daughter and niece all are Baylor Bears. Michael enrolled in the program to bring his business skills up to date and fill in areas in which he wasn't well informed.
"The online M.B.A. had excellent accessible professors, outstanding, relevant curriculums and online IT and instructional tools that simply made online learning rich and enjoyable," Reiswig said. "I never felt my time was wasted or what I was learning was not relevant to my career or daily work. My peers see the difference in me and my work performance."
Mike Speciale, United States Navy
Speciale, 30, started and finished the complete M.B.A. coursework in less than one year – mostly while on active duty in Africa.
"[The deployment] was a very stressful time for me, however the faculty and staff at Baylor were incredibly accommodating," Speciale said. "I sincerely felt that the instructors had my best interests in mind when making decisions, and they really tried to work with me through tough situations. Overall, I could not have asked for more support and encouragement while I was working on my degree.
"The experience was an amazing challenge. With anything worthwhile, there will be periods of time where it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Work with your teachers and set mini-goals for yourself that allow you to feel accomplished. Enjoy the time you spend in the classes and make as many friends as possible."
Quincy Jenkins, strategist at Google
The former Baylor University football player graduated from the online M.B.A. program in December 2016. He credits the program with helping him land his job at Google.
"I really took a lot from the Ethical Leadership course," said Jenkins. "Having such a strong sports background, I was of the school of thought that you work through issues and overcome mountains by climbing harder.
"It really helped to temper my leadership style and be a little more empathetic to those who may not work at the same pace as me or come from the same background. I really think it made me a better leader and a better husband. Not everybody is going to respond favorably to those my-way-or-the-highway tactics of leadership."
Jenna Jackson, senior marketing specialist, Verizon/Frontier Communications
Jackson graduated in December 2016. Her goal was to get more education in business, even though she minored in business as an undergraduate, to help advance her career.
"I know the Baylor name itself is huge — especially for this area," said Jackson. "I didn't want to go to just any school that had an online program. I didn't just want to find a random school and go with it. I wanted something that was going to be the best education for me, the best MBA that I could get, especially for an online program. I didn't want to skimp out on my education. I wanted a really good school, and I knew Baylor was a great school."
For more information about the Baylor online MBA program, visit http://onlinemasters.baylor.edu/
About Baylor University
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.
About Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business
Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business cultivates principled leaders and serves the global marketplace through transformational learning and impactful scholarship in a culture of innovation guided by Christian values. Recognized nationally for several programs, including Entrepreneurship and Accounting, the School offers 24 undergraduate and 13 graduate areas of study, as well as doctoral programs in Information Systems, Entrepreneurship and Health Services Research.