To recognize the more than 17,700 students who earn their degrees annually from graduate and professional education programs in Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee proclaimed April 4-8 Graduate Education Week.
The proclamation acknowledges that these programs promote academic excellence and critical thinking skills; increase the earning power of Tennessee citizens; attract new businesses and creative ideas like artificial intelligence and neuroscience; generate internationally recognized scholarship; and produce leaders in education, healthcare, higher learning, businesses and government. The programs also have a $1.1 billion-dollar economic impact on the state.
According to Bruce Behn, associate dean for graduate and executive education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business, “During Graduate Education Week, we want to express our appreciation to the 811 currently enrolled graduate students who decided the Haslam College of Business was the best place to advance their education and their careers,” he said. “We look forward to seeing them progress up the career ladder in their chosen fields of endeavor.”
Mary Goss, executive director of Graduate Business Programs, said the administration, faculty and staff are always excited to welcome a new class of graduate and professional education students.
“It is our pleasure to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to take the next steps in their professions,” she said.
During the week, students in these programs talked about the value of the education they are receiving. Ryan McClatchy, a buyer at Leidos in Knoxville who is working on his MS in Supply Chain Management, appreciates that while helping professionals advance their careers, graduate programs also accommodate working professionals who are balancing their careers and education.
“The Haslam graduate program does a great job of applying practical knowledge and experience in a way that gives you the power to take your career to the next level,” he said. “They allow you to learn at your pace and have a balanced approach with the understanding that many individuals are working while earning their advanced degree.”
Mary Thompson, senior site manager with Knoxville’s Summit Medical Group, is working on her MBA in Healthcare Leadership. She says Haslam faculty designed the Executive MBA program to educate students on core components of business and leadership, drawing from industry experts’ insight.
“We are taught how to apply skill sets in our careers to generate continued return professionally and personally,” Thompson said. “The support of faculty and peers is outstanding, and that stands out to me from other programs.”
Thoa (Kate) Pham, a graduate assistant working on her MS in Business Analytics, said Haslam’s MSBA enabled her to connect her work in the theoretical framework to business applications.
“I feel so lucky because I am instructed by brilliant professors in the field who are extremely dedicated to their students, presenting their materials every day so we can get as much as possible of both the methodology and practical examples from the real world,” she said.
Josh McGinnis of Knoxville, a graduate assistant and MBA candidate at Haslam, found the full-time Haslam MBA unique in the way it surrounds students with faculty and resources that position them for excellence in every endeavor.
“The teaching staff, career team and admissions team are all fully invested in the success of each student and actively participate in equipping students with the contacts, resources and knowledge to achieve any goal, academic or otherwise,” he said.
About the Haslam College of Business Graduate and Executive Education Programs
At the master’s level, Haslam offers the following programs: the Haslam (full-time) MBA, Professional MBA, Executive MBA (Global Supply Chain, Healthcare Leadership, Strategic Leadership), Aerospace & Defense MBA, Physician Executive MBA, Master of Accountancy, Master of Management and Human Resources, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Statistics, Master of Supply Chain Management Tri-Continent, and Master of Supply Chain Management Online. PhD program areas include Accounting, Business Analytics & Statistics, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Organizations and Supply Chain Management.
These programs address real-world challenges through an interdisciplinary approach where students develop new analytical and leadership skills. Faculty are industry thought leaders, seasoned practitioners and accomplished researchers who ensure the learning experience applies directly to each participant’s current or future job. Learn more about Haslam’s graduate and executive education programs.
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CONTACT:
Scott McNutt, business writer/publicist, rmcnutt4@utk.edu
