If you’re looking to earn an advanced degree in supply chain management, it’s hard to beat the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, whom Gartner and US News & World Report have ranked tops in supply chain management graduate programs. But you don’t need to take their word for it: hear from current and former students about how UT’s Master of Science in Supply Chain Management Online degree teaches the strategic insights and operational knowledge you need to lead and innovate in today’s global marketplace.
A SCM Degree with an Advantage
Backed by a top-tier research university (home to the Global Supply Chain Institute) and award-winning experts, and with a flexible online format, the MS SCM Online at UT gives working professionals a leg up with a degree that stands out in the field.
“Nothing beats an education from a top school where the top supply chain minds can help me learn, grow, and be successful.”
—Hunter Rich
Nathan Brandon, MS ’23, was working at GSO Healthcare as vice president of sales operations and supply chain when he decided to get his MS SCM. The University of Tennessee was his choice because of its comprehensive global supply chain program, as well as professors who have ‘done it.’ “While they are academics, they are also practitioners of the craft,” Brandon said. With his degree, Brandon intends to reinvent the healthcare supply chain.
That faculty experience also was a draw for Drayton Collingwood, MS ’23. A merchandise logistics lead at Academy Sports + Outdoors, Collingwood was attracted by the research and content produced by key staff members such as Dr. Alan Amling, Dr. Pam Donovan, and the Supply Chain Institute as a whole. He intends to use his SCM skills to “lead the strategy arm of a supply chain—I want to work on building programs that are agile and forward-focused,” Collingwood said.
Jessica Schwarm, MS ’25, a logistics coordinator at Nucor Steel, was ready to acquire new supply chain skills to help her move into a leadership role in logistics or operations. “I did my research and knew that UT was where I wanted to study. From the faculty to the culture, the University of Tennessee had everything that I was looking for to broaden my education.”
Ready for a Leadership Position in Supply Chain Management?
Advance Your Career With an MS SCM Online from UT
Hunter Rich, MS ’23, an operations manager at Amazon Pathways, was also looking to advance in his career. At UT, he found a school that could really help him excel to another level. “The University of Tennessee is a top ten school—year in and year out,” he said.
Lauren Jenkins, MS ’23, was already a Vol when she picked UT for her master’s degree. The subcontracts specialist at Leidos, Inc. knew the top-ranked university would provide her with an exceptional and challenging program. “Overall, the world-class faculty, cutting-edge curriculum and the online flexibility drew me to this program,” Jenkins said. She plans to advance in her career at Leidos and is considering pursuing a business/supply chain teaching position at community colleges.
These five high-achievers are leading the future of supply chain management, thanks to the education and support they received from the University of Tennessee. Their first-hand insights about how they reached their professional goals with a UT MS SCM Online degree can help inform your plans for your supply chain management future.
What Skills Set UT MS SCM Graduates Apart?
“The skill that I have learned and continue to see over and over again is: think big picture.”
—Jessica Schwarm
The MS SCM Online at UT prepares future leaders to stay ahead of global shifts in a dynamic and ever-changing industry.
“No matter the area of supply chain, thinking ‘big picture’ and how decisions are made and how those decisions will affect other areas of the supply chain is perhaps the most valuable skill I have learned,” Schwarm said. Brandon agrees, saying that “seeing the world on a global scale and being more focused on global dynamics” has expanded his skill set.
“The integral view of the supply chain has been critical,” Collingwood explained. Envisioning the whole picture “has helped me transition into a role that is responsible for advising operational teams beginning in procurement and ending with the final customer. I have been building out an On-Time In-Full vendor management program and using tools learned in the program to analyze network maps, review total cost of ownership reviews and negotiate freight terms.”
For Rich and Jenkins, focusing on smaller projects gave specialized insights that could significantly impact their careers. Rich explained: “Going into the masters program, I had a very basic understanding of Excel and only knew how to do basic formulas. Now, I am setting up plans for staffing and planning labor hours through Excel and calculating and forecasting metrics for the entire Amazon site where I am currently located.”
Jenkins found that group work in the program helped her grow her digital collaboration skills. She has become a key leader in small projects for the company. “In my role today, we use similar techniques [to those learned in Supply Chain Sustainability] to review our potential suppliers at the proposal stage of any opportunities,” she said. “I have used this several times to review potential suppliers or subcontractors.”
These are just a few examples of how the supply chain curriculum prepares students for the needs of the industry today and in the future, giving them in-demand skills they need to make an impact and contribute to the growth of organizations worldwide.
What Support Will MS SCM Students Get at UT?
“The entire support staff/program staff have been helpful, accommodating, supportive, and uplifting throughout the entire program.”
—Jessica Schwarm
Students at the University of Tennessee, students do not manage their academics or career planning alone. A team of program support staff, faculty members, and peers build a network of assistance and encouragement that continues long past graduation.
Program support includes a personal student success coach for support from orientation through graduation. Jenkins found the program well-managed and the coaches integral in making sure students were growing their ability to network and learn more about themselves.
Faculty engagement means live class time and faculty office hours with a team of industry experts invested in your academic and professional success. From flexible office hours to regular communications, students developed strong relationships with their professors. Schwarm also found great value in professors’ industry experience, benefitting from the real-world experience of professors and their relatability as well as their willingness to take time with their students to help them understand the course material. “Most of all, I value the guidance and mentorship that I have received.”
Peer collaboration is integral to the master’s degree experience, establishing an engaged classroom community and a strong professional network. The online experience enables students from different locations and experiences to meet and work together. “I value the differing viewpoints and opinions I was able to learn from my peers,” Jenkins said. “Everyone provided a unique value and perspective, as we came from different backgrounds in supply chain and even different industries outside supply chain.”
For Collingwood, every class required some level of collaborative work, which gave students the opportunity to work with and get to know one another; “These were lasting friendships, and have grown into job opportunities and recommendations in just the short few months since graduation,” he said.
“The classes, the professors, the program geared itself to collaboration and making lifelong friends.”
—Nathan Brandon
Is UT’s MS SCM the Right Program for You?
To determine whether the University of Tennessee is the right place for you to earn your MS SCM, take the time to research different options, evaluate your skills and goals, and consider the advice of current and former students. UT was the best choice for these five supply chain professionals to expand their industry insights and grow their careers. Are you ready to follow in their footsteps and become a SCM leader?
Hunter Rich: “Go for it! Don’t let doubt or fear hold you back.”
Jessica Schwarm: “Your classes will challenge you but they will make you grow and you will gain exposure to all the areas of the supply chain.”
Drayton Collingwood: “Do it. If you are truly passionate about learning and supply chain, you will do great.”
Lauren Jenkins: “I would tell anyone who’s considering it to just go for it. You are capable of hard things and you are strong enough to go out there and achieve them.”
Nathan Brandon: “Dive into the program. Prepare to be involved because you provide insights and expand everyone’s experience.”
Go for It with a MS SCM Degree from UT
“The University of Tennessee gave me the opportunity to learn and grow in my field and helped me gain confidence in what I do for a living. It also helped me land a phenomenal job just because of the degree I earned and the school I attended.”
—Hunter Rich
Are you ready to heed the advice of others who have successfully leveled up their supply chain management careers with an MS SCM degree from UT? “Go for it” with a flexible online program that offers a robust curriculum, engaged faculty, excellent support, and a network of peers and professionals committed to leading the future of the global supply chain.
Take the next step in your career and apply today. Application and enrollment assistance is available; an enrollment advisor can answer any questions you may have and provide you with one-on-one support throughout the application process.
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