Student Stories

Originally from Gary, Indiana, Morris Bankston ’09 MBA earned his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 2004. He says: “The Whitman School of Management promotes values I hold both personally and professionally, such as entrepreneurship, service, teamwork, and integrity. Moreover, I chose Whitman with the goal of transforming myself into a well-rounded business leader; capable of solving the most complex challenges in today’s business environment. As I near completion of the Whitman iMBA program, I can confidently say my experiences at Whitman have fulfilled the goals I set for myself at the beginning of my MBA journey.

“My Whitman friends are without question the greatest reward I have gained during my time as a Whitman student. The friendships I have formed via Whitman are beyond invaluable and are core to the comprehensive growth I have realized over the last two and a half years as an iMBA student. At this stage in my career I can say Whitman has helped me enhance the value I deliver to my current company as I have been able to successfully transition between two functional disciplines: starting iMBA first as a human resources professional and now currently serving in a financial analyst role in my company. Long term, I believe my Whitman network will be a tremendous career asset because of the diverse business knowledge I have gained from peers and professors alike.”

Isabel Diaz’10 MBA earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. She now works for Lockheed Martin as a supplier quality engineer. She says: “I chose the Whitman School because of its academic reputation as well as the virtual/residencies combination of the iMBA program. The iMBA affords me the opportunity to meet new people working in industry during the residencies while maintaining the flexibility of learning virtually. The most rewarding experience at Whitman thus far is interacting with people from all over the world and learning from them. The iMBA experience is not solely about learning from a textbook, it’s about learning from your peers. I have made some really good friends in my short time at Syracuse.”

A Syracuse, N.Y. native, Danielle Stone ’10 MBA earned her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. She now works as a financial analyst for Lockheed Martin. She says: "I chose Whitman because it had a top rated online program. I was looking for an MBA program that gave me flexibility, but also a ‘real school’ feel, and the residency period does just that. The residency period is something unique to Whitman, and it really sets the stage for the entire semester.

“The most rewarding experience I have had thus far in the iMBA program is working with all the different people and operating in virtual groups. I had never before been in a group with members living all over the country; it’s a very different and rewarding experience that has helped to shape my leadership abilities.

“The iMBA program and the Whitman School have taught me many rewarding lessons, not only in terms of what I have learned in the classroom, but also the great dialogue that comes during discussions with classmates from different companies with different careers. I find myself often reflecting on others’ experiences and applying the lessons learned to my own job and company. I am still early in my career; however, every lesson and leadership skill I have learned has and will continue to further my career development and advancement.”

Originally from Alexandria, V.A., Angelisse R. Hutchinson’10 MBA earned her bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech. She currently works for Lockheed Martin as a human resources business partner. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, she was a human resources generalist with UXB Inc. She says: "I love the flexibility of the iMBA’s online format and the added benefit of having an on-campus experience through the residencies. I also wanted to attend a university that incorporated a study abroad program. Whitman, unlike many schools I researched, met all of my expectations. In May 2008, I had the opportunity to study Global Finance in London during one of the iMBA’s international residencies. The site-visits in addition to the classroom content and discussions with my peers from various backgrounds made this experience one of the most rewarding to date. The application of what I’m learning in class in to my current role is immediate. I have yet to complete my first year but I am confident that the added curriculum will only enhance my ability to explore additional opportunities within my corporation and beyond.”