The University of Illinois Springfield College of Business and Management welcomed MBA students to its first-ever Scoop & Socialize event on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, on the fourth floor of the University Hall Building.

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!

I think a good synopsis of the MBA program at UIS would be that the level of care that the professors have for their students, and their work is unprecedented from what I have seen in higher education. Professors consistently ensure that they are available outside of the classroom and are very responsive. Several professors I dealt with were professionals themselves before going into higher education, so they share relevant, real-world experience rather than relying solely on the textbook for the education.

What I appreciated most about the MIS program at UIS was that it didn't just teach theory from a textbook – it focused on practical problem-solving. Completing graduate certifications in Project Management, BPM, and Machine Learning gave me the technical foundation I needed. Representing UIS in case competitions through the Society for Advancement of Management (SAM) taught me how to break down complex business challenges using real data.

The University of Illinois Springfield shaped the way I approach complex problems as a consultant. The Master of Science in Management Information Systems program challenged me to think strategically, solve difficult problems, and approach every opportunity with curiosity and confidence. My capstone project stands out as the defining experience of my time at UIS. Spending months tackling an open-ended business problem taught me how to navigate ambiguity, defend my recommendations, and stay focused when the path forward wasn’t immediately clear.

The MIS program at UIS was more than a degree-it was a turning point. The coursework delivered a rigorous, well-structured, and practical education that perfectly balanced technical skills with a clear understanding of how information systems support real organizational goals. The faculty were knowledgeable, accessible, and genuinely invested in student success. They believed in me, challenged me, and reminded me that growth happens when you stay curious.

The Master of Accountancy program at UIS provided a supportive and personalized learning environment that helped me grow both academically and professionally. Smaller class sizes allowed for meaningful interactions with professors, who were invested in student success. I appreciated the opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant, which further developed my leadership skills as I started my career in public accounting.

Earning my Master of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois Springfield has been an important step in my professional growth. The program strengthened my understanding of financial markets, investments, and risk management while helping me develop the analytical skills needed to succeed in highly regulated financial environments.

I graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2007, and I did not yet know what I had been given. Almost twenty years later, I am the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Veeam, and I can still trace a lot of what I leverage back to a classroom in Springfield. The accounting was real. The forensic training was real: the discipline to follow a number until it revealed what everyone else missed. The real gift was learning to see the people behind the numbers, the risk they were carrying, the story they were not saying out loud. Most leaders read an organization by its roadmap.