ALEX MYERS CHOOSING KU When Alex graduated with his Bachelor of Science in business administration from Albright College in 2015, he never imagined he would be back in school. Working for six years in commercial banking, he knew he wanted to pursue a master’s degree to take him to the next level of management. “I was drawn to Kutztown’s MBA program because of the coursework and the program’s accreditation. The flexibility of hybrid and online courses was important to me, and I have learned more than I thought I ever would at KU.” Now, Alex works full-time as a business development analyst at UGI Energy Services while completing his MBA degree part-time. LEADERSHIP Alex’s MBA course load includes two graduate certificates – leadership and business decision-making. He has always been interested in leadership, and throughout his career, Alex has experienced different leadership styles. Alex has been a leader since playing baseball as an undergraduate. Now, he is a coach for an adult recreational summer team. “As I move through my career, leadership is a great field to study. I want to be the change and help people grow themselves and the companies they work for.” MAKING CONNECTIONS Alex has found new connections and networks through his coursework, especially his Spring 2023 capstone course. In this class taught by Dr. Gary Chao, Dr. Saehwa Hong, and Dr. Therese Maskulka, he worked with other graduate students to develop a marketing plan for a new electronic bike business. “That course forced me to manage my time because I had weekly meetings along with my full-time job. I learned to keep an open mind and there is never just one solution through working with classmates.” Alex was challenged through market research in an industry he had never worked in before. “KU’s courses force you to look at things big picture, and all the courses teach you the foundations that build on top of each other.” Alex’s courses have introduced him to a variety of people in the MBA program, and he believes that a mixture of people brings new concepts and ideas to the classroom. He is especially thankful for Dr. Su Kong and Dr. Ashwini Gangadharan. “These two professors have been a crucial part of my education. I try to learn as much as I can from them because they have a vast amount of knowledge.” CAREER ASPIRATIONS Once Alex finishes his program, he hopes his degree will open more doors at UGI. He is also interested in adjunct teaching at a university. “My best advice is to apply yourself as much as possible, ask questions, be open, and enjoy the process.” SPRING 2024 | 23
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