When Eric Williams decided to pursue his Master of Business Administration degree two years ago, he didn’t have to look very far to find a program that would separate him from other newly minted MBAs and prepare him to be an insightful and responsible business leader.
A 1996 graduate of Misericordia University, the Dallas resident had already learned firsthand that the institution’s rigorous academic programs and personal attention prepare students to succeed in their careers and in life. For the last six years, Williams has been employed by Sanofi-Aventis, an international pharmaceutical company, as a sales and senior sales professional, and is presently an executive sales professional and managerial developed candidate.
The foundation for his professional success began with his undergraduate work at Misericordia. When Williams decided he needed a graduate degree to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced business world, the Back Mountain institution’s new program was the logical next step.
“Misericordia has an excellent academic reputation, so when I heard they were introducing an MBA program I knew it would be a perfect fit,’’ says Williams, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from MU. “Plus, in an ever-changing and highly competitive pharmaceutical sales market, I saw Misericordia’s MBA as a way to differentiate myself among the other managerial candidates within Sanofi-Aventis.’’
Williams became a member of the first MBA class at Misericordia when he enrolled last fall. The challenging academics and experienced professors have not disappointed him during his first 11 months in the program. “The program has met my expectations to date,’’ he says. “I expected to get hands-on experience from my professors by conducting class and applied projects.
“The most valuable lesson I have learned so far is that every subject has many different opinions. It is up to the student to perform the proper research to develop a clear, concise and objective opinion on the matter,’’ adds Williams, the father of two sons, E.J., 6, and Zachary, 19 months.
The Misericordia MBA blends the traditional MBA curriculum with skills that address the ethical and human sides of business today. It also offers students two opportunities to earn the advanced degree. Traditional students can pursue the degree as a fifth-year component of a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree curriculum in a full-time day class format — the only program in the region that can be completed by taking daytime classes. Through the Center for Adult and Continuing Education, working professionals can attain their MBA in a convenient part-time, 14-week night format in as little as 17 months.
Both formats offer students a distinct advantage in the ever-changing marketplace. The Misericordia MBA is unique because it requires students to supplement their studies with experiential learning, and ethics, psychology, sociology, philosophy and communications courses that contain ethical components. It also places a larger emphasis on the human side of management- and leadership-based business courses.
“Graduating in as little as five years with both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA will increase the marketability of our graduates in the fast-paced business environment,’’ said Corina N. Mihai, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the MBA and organizational management graduate business programs. “Our curriculum focuses on the human side of management and leadership skills that will greatly benefit the future leaders of local, national and global businesses. Misericordia’s MBA teaches students to become the future leaders of organizations where people matter.’’
Furthermore, the recent DePaul University study, “How Relevant is the M.B.A.? Assessing the Alignment of M.B.A. Curricula and Managerial Competencies,’’ concludes that “recruiters want business schools to pay more attention to people-oriented skills like leadership and communication.’’ MU’s MBA provides the best of both worlds: A challening program that enables its students to compete in today’s job market, while also giving them the people skills employers want.
“Misericordia’s MBA is built upon a foundation of ethical business operations,’’ said Fred Croop, associate professor and chair of the department of business and dean of the College of Professional Studies and Social Sciences. “It focuses on sound, moral decision making in the office, the boardroom and the marketplace, while also emphasizing the kinds of skills businesses say they are looking for in newly minted MBAs.’’
