Mark Donovan

What did you study at UIS, and why?

I pursued the MBA in the College of Business at UIS.

When were you at UIS?

I believe I joined in the Spring of 2007 and finished up in the summer of 2009 but you’ll need to fact-check me!

Why did you choose UIS?

It was a myriad of factors.  Firstly, it’s part of the well-respected University of Illinois system so I knew that the quality of instruction, infrastructure, and overall quality would fit a minimum standard that might otherwise be in question elsewhere.  Also, at the time, many of the classes were held in-person which was important for me because I placed a lot of value on the component of expanding my network and doing project work with professional peers.  Since campus was a short 15-20 minute commute from my office in downtown Springfield, this was a benefit.  Lastly, I knew that UIS was also continuing to make parallel investments into e-learning capabilities that could supplement the classroom learning which an important requirement for classes that were typically being held in the evenings or on the weekend.

What are your favorite memories from your time at UIS?

My favorite memories from my time at UIS were getting together and socializing with our classmates outside of the class.  Many of us shared multiple classes together and through projects that required coordination outside of the classroom, we became close friends.  On campus, I have memories of attending some of my first UIS basketball games and joining my first workout classes at the newly constructed TRAC.

Were there any professors, classes, or campus experiences that were really memorable?

I have vivid and fond memories of Dr. Wright’s statistics class, Dr. Karri’s introductory class, and Kevin Purcell’s electives on both Power and Consulting.  Each of them have shaped my approach to critical thinking in today’s world, both at home and in business.

What do you do now, and how did you get into that career?

I am in banking and joined the industry in 2002 right when internet banking was graduating from an edge use-case to becoming a competitive standard.  My undergrad studies were in Finance and Economics and I always enjoyed learning how our banking system was the arms and legs of our monetary system.  I also was very interested in how banks were such critical purveyors of local capital that kept all businesses, large and small, moving along in commerce.    

How did your education at UIS prepare you for your current role?

Getting a Master’s is the next phase of “adulthood” in education and it requires more independence, initiative, and discipline to earn yourself value.  Like me, many of my peers were starting careers and fitting education in alongside day jobs and other growing obligations.  This sense of mutual sacrifice is part of what makes the experience memorable and meaningful.  Also, the Master’s program provided a broader cross-section of students from different undergrad disciplines as well as different professional industries.  This alone is extremely hard to simulate in any other environment.  Lastly, I was lucky to have professors who didn’t coddle the students and pressed them to think independently and critically, for which the business world will always be in high demand.

Was there a moment when you realized your UIS degree made a difference in your path?

When I think about the wide group of friends that I maintain today and think about how many of them are because of my MBA experience, that’s a contribution in my life path that I’d never trade.

Have you had any proud or meaningful accomplishments since graduating?

Since graduating, I’ve married the love of my life, Lara, and also successfully, thus far, prevented mutiny with two children and furry friend.   Professionally, I’ve been entrusted by peers and superiors to the role of Chief Operating Officer of INB, N.A. which brings a never-ending opportunity for change and challenges – whether that’s people, teams, technologies, regulations, products, or even a pandemic!

What advice do you have for current UIS students who want to follow a similar path?

I don’t there ever is a similar path, so don’t ever get too focused on emulating steps.  The world around us is ever-changing and success is fleeting.  The most fundamental advice that I think that withstands time is to continue to invest in learning for yourself and those around you.  And ensure the people that you invest in are curious and have a continued desire to learn.  The challenge with long-term learning is that you eventually start learning that some of your prior learnings were wrong!  This helps you keep an open-mind and prevents you from being too dogmatic about what you think you know…..   

Would you recommend UIS to future students? If so, why?

Yes, I think UIS has to be on the table for consideration for anyone that is thinking about how they continue to invest in their lifelong learning journey.  The only constant is change and I feel like UIS is working and investing in the trenches alongside other businesses and institutions to stay competitive which is exactly what’s necessary.  The professors that I speak with are always inquiring and looking to improve and tweak their curricula for the betterment of UIS.  The staff out there work hard to engage with the business community across multiple initiatives and research.  I see executives at UIS put in the extra effort to attend community and business events in the evenings and on weekends.  It’s the accumulation of all of these things that create a vibrant institution like UIS that positively affects so many groups of people – this is the type of perpetual reinvestment that makes a university great.