Jessica Barnard
Pathway(s): MBA in Leadership
Location: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Undergraduate Degree: B.S. in Art (UW-River Falls)
Occupation & Company: Regulatory Analyst at CenterPoint Energy
Years of Work Experience: 23
Why did you chose the UW MBA Consortium? I researched the top online MBA programs and the UW MBA Consortium program ranked very high. I also completed my undergrad degree at UW-River Falls so considering I went to school in Wisconsin, I thought getting my MBA from the UW MBA Consortium would work out nicely.
What has been the best part of your experience thus far? The best part of my experience has been working with the Consortium Staff. All the professors I have had have been outstanding leaders. The communication is always there and I feel assured that my questions will get answered. I also have loved the structure of the course materials for each class and I have been able to apply my current job as an analyst to so many examples in my classes. I am learning new material but also how it connects with my current job as well.
What advice do you have for prospective and/or new students? This is a great program and never hesitate to reach out for questions. The staff is great and wants students to succeed. It feels like we are all on a team and the culture is inclusive. The layout of the course material online for each class is easy to follow. It is also helpful that they have a “Raise Your Hand/Ask a Question” section in each class for anyone who has a question and the entire class can see the response from the instructor.
Please share a fun fact about yourself: I traveled to Europe every summer as a kid but have not been back to Europe as an adult. One of my goals is to get to Europe with my husband for our ten-year anniversary.