Jen Nutini is no stranger to hard work and dedication, having finished 2nd in an ultramarathon over 60 miles long. She applied this same tenacity in her graduate education and now has been named the University of Wisconsin MBA Consortium 2026 Outstanding Graduate by the program’s faculty.
“I am honored to receive this award and to be recognized among such an accomplished group of graduates,” said Nutini. “The program has been transformative. The instructors for this program do more than teach concepts; they invest in the people who show up. Many of the instructors took time to meet with me individually. Each conversation left me feeling valued, supported, and encouraged that I was on the right path to applying what I was learning. I am sincerely thankful for their guidance.”
Nutini has a busy life as the Superintendent of Environment & Sustainability Reporting at Eagle Mine, an underground nickel and copper mine, in upper Michigan, as well as raising a family. Being in a program that fit her lifestyle was important. She notes, “My favorite part of being in an online MBA program was the flexibility to take school with me wherever life happened. Over two and a half years, I wrote papers and discussion replies from the back seat of our minivan, hockey rinks, and swimming pools throughout Michigan and Wisconsin, airports and hotels from Baltimore to the Grand Canyon, and AirBnbs in Florida and the Caribbean.”
Her diligence in completing coursework didn’t go unnoticed. Dr. Kran Dugar, Associate Professor of Marketing at UW-Eau Claire, observed, “Jen Nutini’s innovativeness and work ethic stood out for me when she was enrolled in my MBA 703 class (Fall 2024). Whether it be peer-to-peer or team interactions, Jen was forthcoming with her feedback and support. Most of all, I remember Jen’s innovative idea and pitch for an intelligently designed food preservation system, which highlighted her passion for sustainability as she developed a solution to minimize food waste.”
Prior to her time with the UW MBA Consortium, Nutini earned her B.S. Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University.
Nutini is the 18th individual to be named the UW MBA Consortium Outstanding Graduate. View past award winners.