As twin brothers, Andew and Steven Lue have a lot in common — including two higher education degrees. The duo earned B.B.As in logistics and intermodal transportation from Georgia Sothern University and recently graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Haslam College of Business’ Online Master of Supply Chain Management program.
Meeting Family, Work Obligations While Pursuing Degrees
Andrew, a senior supply chain program manager with Amazon, is based in Virginia. His professional experience spans analytics, automation, fleet product management, procurement and logistics. Steven, who is also a supply chain program manager, works for Google in Georgia. He has a background in consulting and demand/supply planning.
Both siblings balanced school commitments with work and family life. Steven is a married father to a 14-month-old, as well as a five-year-old who just began kindergarten. Andrew and his wife, who serves in the U.S. Marine Corps, have a 20-month-old son who was born shortly after Andrew joined the program — the baby even made a few appearances in virtual class meetings.
Because of their demanding schedules, Andrew and Steven had to be selective when choosing a school and program for continuing their education. Haslam’s online supply chain master’s degree offered a strong academic reputation, as well as an asynchronous, three-semester format that worked for their busy lives.
“We both had the itch to go to grad school,” explains Andrew. “For my brother, it was one option: UT. I considered a couple schools, but the flow and format of the program made it the best choice.”
Curating Professional Depth
The twins decided to pursue graduate degrees to remain well-rounded supply chain professionals and keep their skills relevant and current. They cite multiple areas where the program enabled them to enhance their skills.
“With the rapid emergence of AI and how it’s implemented everywhere, there is a huge need to showcase how you add value,” Andrew says. “This program has already helped me showcase that additional value.”
Steven also emphasizes the importance of honing sought-after skills. Calling supply chain a giant umbrella of specialties, he noted several areas he was excited to explore.
“Most of my career has been in planning,” he explains. “Seeing more on the procurement side and getting theoretical knowledge of inputs and outputs was helpful. I specifically enjoyed the program’s finance class, where we explored supply chain implications on a balance sheet. As you progress in your career, you have to speak the financial language.”
Helping and Learning
Andrew and Steven acknowledge that being further along in their careers gave them different perspectives than many others in the program. Yet, they learned from their fellow students, finding value sharing viewpoints from different backgrounds.
“Almost every class had group work. What I found is good looks different per person. People lean on you more if you’re further along, but there have been classmates from Capital One and other big companies who brought unique perspectives, especially in procurement,” says Andrew.
Steven agrees. “In our simulation course, there was a classmate we deemed ‘Mr. ROI’ because his team had the highest return on investment from the simulation,” he recalls. “People bring unique perspectives from the military, manufacturing and other industries. It was cool to see.”
The Brother Dynamic
Completing a graduate degree with a sibling has its advantages, as Steven and Andrew kept each other on track. Andrew explains it is like having a built-in study partner.
“Life gets chaotic, so it was also nice to have someone to bounce ideas off or ask for help and understanding,” he adds.
“Our careers are similar but different,” Andrew says. “For the planning class, Steven helped explain things I hadn’t experienced. I’ve been in procurement, so I helped him there.”
While having an accountability buddy was helpful, Steven and Andrew are also quick to acknowledge a healthy sibling rivalry.
“There’s also a tinge of competitiveness — like, ‘Hey, I got a 97 on this. What’d you get?’ That competitiveness keeps us pushing each other,” Steven says.
According to Hannah Carter, Haslam’s assistant director of online specialty master’s programs, the Lue brothers were standout students whose commitment elevated every stage of their academic journey.
“It’s been so rewarding to watch Andrew and Steven move through the program together,” she says. “They are incredibly high achievers, as well as great examples of the dedication and drive we see in our supply chain students. We’re excited to welcome them into the Haslam alumni family!”
Looking Ahead, Together
Steven and Andrew traveled to Knoxville to attend their graduation ceremony on December 12 in UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena. As they reflect on their joint journey through graduate school, they remain optimistic on how their new degrees will provide career resilience, depth and adaptability in an AI-driven industry. The brothers encourage students and professionals seeking similar outcomes to take the leap and enroll in Haslam’s Online Master of Supply Chain Management.
According to Steven, “If you feel you need to be more well-rounded or get more supply chain knowledge, you should definitely complete this program.”
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Contact:
Leah McAmis, senior editor, leah@utk.edu
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