By Shanjali Arulmozhi Arasu
I was first drawn to DePaul because of the new healthcare markets and analytics concentration in the MBA program at Kellstadt. I was excited to dive into my learning journey and take advantage of all the opportunities that Kellstadt had to offer. I had read about these opportunities as I researched which universities to attend, so I had an idea of what to expect when I began my first quarter in fall 2022.
But there’s only so much you can learn about a university by reading about it. Now that I’ve completed my first quarter, I can say there is a lot I’ve learned about DePaul that I wasn’t aware of prior to becoming a student here. Here are the top three things I’ve discovered so far that make DePaul—and Kellstadt—a great place to be:
Job recruiters are quite literally at DePaul’s doorstep
My first day at DePaul, I was greeted by a Crowe pop-up stand with pizza even before I found my way to class. Crowe is an accounting, consulting and technology LLP and they were there that day recruiting business students and graduates and offering internship opportunities. If you would’ve told me before I’d come to DePaul that there would be recruiters literally on my way to class, I would’ve thought you were joking. But that is literally how accessible companies are to students at DePaul. The Big Four companies being KPMG, Deloitte, Ernest and Young and PwC have also made their big appearances at DePaul’s campus. DePaul provides students with many opportunities to know and connect with potential employers on campus. This way students don’t have to go far and beyond to get face-to-face with their dream company.
There’s a student organization for almost every interest
Whether you are interested in archery, cryptocurrency or simply love to read, DePaul welcomes you with more than 498 student clubs and groups that cater to so many different interests. I had always been interested in learning American Sign Language (ASL). I learned some ASL on my own during the COVID-19 lockdown period and was super excited when I found out that DePaul had an ASL club for undergrad and grad students. The club met throughout the quarter with events such as the Deaftopia, where students were able to get to know people in the deaf community and practice their sign language. DePaul’s numerous clubs offer a great way to meet peers in similar courses to you, learn more about a professional career, develop a hobby or simply network!
The career events and opportunities are countless
There are so many opportunities for Kellstadt students to gain real-world experiences in the field of their interest, and many student organizations that put together career-oriented events almost every day. One of my favorite events that I attended was a visit to the BMO office, organized by DePaul Females in Finance.
Students had the opportunity to receive a personal tour of the BMO office and hear from a panel of industry professionals from BMO, Northern Trust and 1871—an innovation hub in Chicago that DePaul students and alumni have special access to. We also heard from four Kellstadt alumni working in analytics, which provided great insight into the various careers in analytics, tips to ace the interview process, softwares used in the analytics field and more.
Another event that stood out to me was the fall 2022 career fair that featured over one hundred companies, ranging from the NFL, PWC, American Heart Association, CVS health etc. This event exposed students from all across DePaul to recruiters and allowed for essential networking. Being able to meet and develop relationships with career professionals from so many different companies was immensely valuable.
DePaul took me by surprise in the best way possible by offering the kind of support I didn’t know I needed in my personal and career life. Whether it was the staff, professors or the clubs, I felt welcomed with open arms and was given a safe space to express myself and learn from those around me.
Shanjali Arulmozhi Arasu grew up in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, earned her bachelor’s degree in the United Kingdom and currently lives in Chicago, where she is pursuing her MBA with a concentration in healthcare markets and analytics at DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. A graduate assistant in the Department of Economics, she is passionate about healthcare management and has plans to work in the field after graduating. Shanjali loves cats and enjoys exploring the City of Chicago in her leisure time.
Mike Robinson served in the U.S. Navy for five years as a nuclear physics instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S.C. The Navy’s submarines and aircraft carriers are powered by nuclear reactors and it was his job to teach future operators the fundamental theories of how they worked. During his last year of service, he also took on a managerial role, which included mentoring and overseeing the training of new instructors and working on various curriculum changes. Being stationed in Charleston was a great opportunity, he says, to explore nature and the outdoors. Today, Robinson is pursuing his MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship at the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business.
Why did you decide to study business?
Mike Robinson
I chose business because it will provide me with valuable skills in leadership and management, along with a solid background of knowledge that will be useful for starting and growing companies. I would like to become more involved in organizations that connect and help others using technology. Whether I join a small startup or create my own business, I believe the experience I gain at DePaul will be vital to this journey.
How is the college experience different for veterans?
My college experience as a veteran is notably different from my experience before as an undergraduate. Most veteran students are older compared to an average undergraduate student, since they have done time in the service first, and they have more hands-on work experience. I think this makes it a bit easier to manage one’s time, meet deadlines and formulate a plan before execution.
At the same time, veteran students might have more responsibilities such as families or work that might demand more of their resources. There is a bit more balancing that needs to be done, but I think prior military experience provides a good framework for this skill. In addition, I found that I really connected with other veteran students as our shared experiences went a long way.
What advice do you give veterans on how their training could apply to studying and pursuing careers in business?
There are quite a few parallels between the military and business school. Veterans have the organizational skills and discipline to get tasks done properly and efficiently, whether it be a midterm paper or preparing for a class presentation. Regardless if a veteran student is pursuing an undergraduate degree full-time with four classes or just going part time for a graduate program, I would recommend that they see the similarities between the military and their program; instead of physical training, there is mental training (learning), etc. Also, setting a schedule is vital; in the military so much of the day is planned for you. With all the freedoms that come with being a student, keeping a planner is essential.
How was your experience transitioning to DePaul as a veteran student?
My transition from active duty to student became much easier once I committed to being a student and stuck to a daily routine. I think it is easy for veterans to wander a bit when they first lose the rigid structure of the military. Once I started attending DePaul full-time, I was able to devote myself to learning and it helped me get a strong sense of purpose and vision, which I think many veterans struggle with when first leaving the military. The time that I did take off between the Navy and graduate school provided me with some time to travel and see parts of the world that I hadn’t seen, such as the Caribbean.
Now I am living somewhere I’ve never lived before (Chicago) and I feel blessed that it has been such a positive experience. It is easy to make friends in the city, build strong connections and find communities to thrive in. Everyone I have interacted with at DePaul (students, professors, advisors etc.) has been friendly, helpful and supportive. I wouldn’t be nearly as successful as a student if it wasn’t for them.
Check out these veteran student resources at DePaul University:
Hundreds of students enroll in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business each year, so what about Kellstadt attracts them and how is Kellstadt supporting their success? In this Q&A series, we’re inviting students and recent alumni to share their perspective on why they chose to study at Kellstadt and why they’re glad they did.
Bill Dolan
Next up is Bill Dolan, a graduate of the Master of Science in Economics & Policy Analysis program. Dolan works in economic consulting. He started as an analyst at Compass Lexecon a week after completing his MSEPA degree in March 2022. Before graduate school, he worked in a similar industry but at a much smaller firm, so although not technically a career change, he says his new role does feel like it sometimes given the significantly different type of work a large company does compared to a small company in finance/economics.
Why did you choose Kellstadt?
What proceeded grad school was a random occurrence in life that knocked me off the train tracks I was on and set me on a new path. I would say, in a few words, this new path initially started with a thirst for knowledge, so I started a journey of self-education with an ambitious goal: to understand how the world works. After a while, I realized two things: first, it’s difficult to turn yourself into a scholar without help, and second, economics—specifically industrial organization—seemed to be the lens through which I was seeking knowledge, the vehicle to better help me understand how things worked.
After deciding I wanted to stay in Chicago for grad school, I researched Chicago universities’ graduate econ programs including their respective classes, and I chose Kellstadt because it had many of the industrial organization topics I wanted to learn about. In fact, my first class—Antitrust—had an optional book to complement the class, and I had already read that book. To be more concise, I felt the MSEPA program and I were a good fit for each other based on curriculum.
What did you enjoy most about Kellstadt?
The Industrial Organization classes—labeled the strategy concentration within the program—was my favorite part of my experience. It wasn’t just the topics that I loved, it was how they were structured and the man that taught most of them. Rafael Tenorio was the professor for five of the seven IO classes I took. The classes were half lecture and half student-lead discussion, which I believe is the future of education, because one day someone will study, measure and show that giving students more equity in the class makes for better learning. Rafael too, specifically, was my favorite teacher I’ve had at any level, in any form of education, so I guess that probably explains part of why I loved those classes too. He had the perfect blend of wisdom, patience and a great sense of humor. Plus, he really cared, which is what matters most.
Also, I have to say the classes not only helped me better understand the world, they taught me how to think about the world, which changed me as a person and helped me mature.
There are a handful of MSEPA professors who structure their classes as half lecture and half student-lead discussion. I had a total of eight: the IO classes plus Gabriella Bucci’s class, Economics of the Public Sector. I loved all of those classes, and I’ve never had an academic experience with a 100% approval rating until that specific type of class structure.
Giving the students a chance to reason through case studies together makes for more engaging classes, more focused students and more fun. Despite the tough days of the pandemic, we laughed a lot in those classes. They were always the highlight of my week.
Which professor has made the biggest impact on you?
I’ve spoken about the biggest impact on me being those eight classes. After that, Gabriella Bucci’s mentorship was the biggest part of my experience in the program. Simply put, she’s a wonderful person, and I’m lucky she was the director during my time in the MSEPA program. There are always a handful of professors who really care and want to help their students achieve better lives. Gabriella specifically not only cares but is a powerful personality, a great listener, and gives excellent advice on life and career.
What would you say to someone who is considering studying at Kellstadt?
I can only speak for the econ side of Kellstadt. I will say, regarding the MSEPA program, there’s great leadership that cannot be accounted for enough. There are several people who care and will lend you their time and wisdom, which again is invaluable. It’s a linear equation: you get out what you put in. If you’re focused and care, the education will transform you. You’ll be much closer to the version of yourself you want to be because you’ll learn how to think. Lastly, there’s just a bunch of wonderful people who run the program and are a pleasure to be around; it’s kind of an underrated part of life, spending your time around good people.
Learn more about Kellstadt’s Master of Science in Economics & Policy Analysis Program.
Read the other spotlights in this series:
Chaunice Dixon, an MBA alumna, shares how she discovered her interest in sports business marketing while studying at Kellstadt.
Randa Mahmud Ulankiewicz, a student in the Master of Science in Marketing Analysis program, shares how much Kellstadt’s faculty members have impacted her professional career.
Palak Patel, a graduate of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program, shares how she discovered her passion for global supply chain management at Kellstadt.
Hundreds of students enroll in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business each year, so what about Kellstadt attracts them and how is Kellstadt supporting their success? In this Q&A series, we’re inviting students as well as recent alumni to share their perspective on why they chose to study at Kellstadt and why they’re glad they did.
Next up is Double Demon Chaunyce Dixon, who holds a BA in sociology from DePaul and graduated this past June with her MBA from Kellstadt, with a concentration in marketing. Dixon is a career changer, with her eyes set on a career in sports business marketing, which she says is a niche she discovered while studying at Kellstadt.
Why did you choose Kellstadt?
Chaunyce Dixon (LAS ’13, MBA ’22) discovered her interest in sports business marketing in a course she took at Kellstadt.
After graduating as an undergrad, I went into sales, but I quickly realized that sales did not interest me. At that time I was unsure of exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to do something in the marketing industry. That’s when I decided to go back to DePaul for my MBA.
What sold me on Kellstadt was the quality hands-on education that I knew I would get. I wanted a hands-on learning experience; I didn’t want to just learn from a textbook and lectures. I’m happy to say that Kellstadt gave me the experience I was looking for.
What did you enjoy most about Kellstadt?
Initially I was unable to experience all that Kellstadt had to offer due to scheduling conflicts that resulted in me not being able to join organizations like I wanted to. But that all changed during lockdown because when everything went remote, it gave me the flexibility and access to join various organizations in the program virtually.
I became the events director for the Kellstadt Marketing Group (KMG) student organization and helped to plan amazing events for students. I was also the marketing assistant for the School of Hospitality Leadership’s career fair. Both of those roles gave me the chance to become more involved and build my skills in creating and executing events.
Another great experience I had was being in the MBA program with my older sister Alexandria. She and I were both completing our graduate degrees at Kellstadt at the same time and graduated together in June. It was great being able to relate to each other’s journeys. Our youngest sister, Madisyn, started her undergraduate journey at DePaul as a transfer freshman last year, so we were able to guide and support her too, which was very special.
What Kellstadt course made the biggest impression on you?
The sports sponsorships course taught by Andy Clark had the biggest impact on me by far. During that class I was introduced to the world of sports and the different facets of the sports business industry, outside of the actual game. I had the opportunity to meet leaders in the industry and have one-on-one chats with them to gain further insights.
Prior to this course I had zero interest or knowledge in sports. I based my favorite sports team on if I liked their uniform. This course changed that because I started to see sports as a business; it is more than individuals playing a game. There is so much that goes into putting on an actual game outside of the players that really caught my interest and made me want to explore more. Since taking this course I’ve learned about sports sponsorships, activations, partnerships and the different brands that have deals with certain leagues or teams.
This class opened my eyes to career possibilities I didn’t know existed. Right now I am fully pursuing a career in sports business marketing and looking for roles specifically in sponsorships, partnerships and activations. I have also been considering becoming a sports and entertainment agent and eventually opening up a sports and entertainment agency.
What would you say to someone who is considering studying at Kellstadt?
There are so many opportunities to network, explore your interests and expand your career horizons when you’re a student at Kellstadt. To be completely honest I was unsure if I wanted to return to DePaul since I already went there as an undergraduate. But the amazing admissions staff in Kellstadt helped me so much and made me aware of a Double Demon scholarship I was eligible for because I was already a DePaul alumna. I decided to go for it, and I’m glad I did.
Read the other spotlights in this series:
Randa Mahmud Ulankiewicz, a student in the Master of Science in Marketing Analysis program, shares how much Kellstadt’s faculty members have impacted her professional career.
Palak Patel, a graduate of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program, shares how she discovered her passion for global supply chain management at Kellstadt.
By Alexandria Alyse Walker
Four years ago, I embarked on a new vocation in special events fundraising to help advocate for the needs and betterment of Chicagoland communities challenged by health and economic hardships. What should have been an intimidating journey for someone with my limited experience in this field (my background is in the performing arts) ended up being one of the most profound and rewarding experiences of my life.
Being a student at DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business exposed me to incredible opportunities that allowed me to gain professional hands-on experiences relevant to my career goals. It also gave me a unique opportunity to gain valuable insight from my professors, connect with my peers, grow my leadership skills in student organizations and network with top industry leaders. It is without saying that DePaul has changed my life.
Alexandria (left) with her sister Chaunyce, who also graduated from Kellstadt in June 2022. (Photo by Nicholas Moody)
As I look back on my graduate experience, I sit here with tears in my eyes in complete gratitude for all that God has done for me and for all that I have gained academically, professionally and personally as a student at Kellstadt. Below are some gems that I have discovered in my journey that I hope will be beneficial for you:
Don’t be afraid to pivot from your original plan
During my time at Kellstadt, I discovered that my path was not linear. It is not uncommon for students to come into a program, take a class unrelated to their major and discover that they want to pursue a different area of study than the one they had originally intended. It is also not uncommon to pursue an advanced degree in a completely different field than your undergrad degree.
If you find yourself pivoting from your original goal or field of study don’t view it as a setback or failure. Every experience you encounter in life is a stepping stone towards you reaching your purpose, so embrace the journey!
Be open to taking courses outside of your program
Coming into my program I knew that I was called to pursue a career in hospitality and philanthropy, but after exploring different courses I discovered an interest in hospitality and entrepreneurship.
This opened the door for me to connect with faculty at DePaul’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, get involved in internship opportunities, gain leadership experience in student organizations like DePaul’s chapter for the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO), expand my network and gain skills I needed for a career in hospitality leadership and entrepreneurship.
What I love about DePaul is that it embraces students’ diverse interests and backgrounds and invests in preparing them for a more confident and successful future. And the Kellstadt program gives students the opportunity to explore courses that stimulate new interests within different departments.
You encompass so many incredible talents that will open doors for you to change the world, so do not limit your ability to be effective in other areas.
Blue Demon sisters Alexandria, Chaunyce and youngest sister Madisyn (center), who just finished her freshman year studying biology sciences at DePaul.
Take advantage of student events, organizations and networking opportunities
DePaul has so many events for students both on campus and virtually. There are many opportunities to socialize, network and engage with peers, professors and industry professionals, as well as get involved in student organizations. DeHub, Handshake, LinkedIn and other social media channels are great tools you can use to explore career and internship opportunities, and stay connected to upcoming events and school updates.
Participating in student events enhanced how I experienced my DePaul community and made me feel more connected to my professors and peers. It also helped me build my network and get involved in student organizations and committee groups, where I gained hands-on experiences pertinent to my career goals.
Lean on your professors for career support
My professors were great resources for me throughout my time at Kellstadt. They not only provided me industry knowledge, but they matched me with valuable opportunities that aligned with my career interests and goals. Having that support was instrumental in my success and my academic and professional development. Don’t underestimate the opportunities and connections that can come from cultivating relationships with your professors, and even classmates.
Stay proactive in the pursuit of your goals
Coming into my program I was adamant about gaining as much experience as I could since I was new to the field I was pursuing. This motivated me to advocate for opportunities on my own, such as internships with UNICEF Chicago, The Parkinson’s Foundation, The Little Village Chamber of Commerce, and other places that helped me gain skills integral to a career as a fundraising leader for nonprofit events.
Being a DePaul student opened doors for me. I gained insight and experience in philanthropy as a fundraising and volunteer board member with the Young Associates Board with Lurie Childrens, WGIRLS Chicago, Young Leaders Fund with the Chicago Community Trust, and the Chicago Women in Philanthropy organization.
Walk with faith
Finally, there is one word that comes to mind when I reflect on my graduate journey—and that is faith. Having a strong performing arts background, I never believed that I was capable of anything else until God showed me that He had more in store for me. I put God first in my life because He empowers me and directs my steps. Walking in my faith, I was reminded that no goal is out of reach.
Alexandria at DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. (Photo by Nicholas Moody)
Alexandria Alyse Walker is part of the graduating class of 2022 in the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. She holds a master’s degree in hospitality leadership and operational performance. Graduating with distinction, she is a proud member of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society and ETA Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management honor society. Alexandria has two sisters, Chaunyce who is a 2022 DePaul MBA graduate and Madisyn who is finishing her freshman year at DePaul University. Alexandria looks forward to working with nonprofit organizations to advocate for social issues through her philanthropy work and furthering her entrepreneurship aspirations in the hospitality industry by opening a coffee house in Chicago.
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