Master of Business Administration, Class of 2002

Specialization:
Management Information Systems

Employer:
Marriott International
Bethesda, Maryland

Spotlight
Joe Allen thinks highly of graduate education, particularly the MBA, as an important credential that exposes a person to all aspects of business whether a small or big organization. As part of his academic training, he studied international business, marketing, and IT practices in London, Paris, Stockholm and Edinburgh. “I strongly recommend the international trip,” Allen says. “Seeing how an international business operates and interacting with the people who work there is much more engaging and life changing than just reading about it.”

Allen found the MBA experience enlightening. “I learned that there is more to business than I ever imagined before attending graduate school,” says Allen. “In the Loyola MBA, I learned about all facets of business and how each is so important to the overall management of a given business.”

Before Loyola, Allen earned his bachelor’s degree in Education and Psychology from Worcester State College. He currently works for Marriott International, in Bethesda, Maryland and is a certified Change Management Instructor. He also holds a state teaching license and has spoken on learning technology at the American Society for training and development.

“My graduate degree has helped my career, not just for the diploma I received but more importantly for the experiences I gained and have been able to apply directly to my current job,” Allen says. He feels that the collective benefit of relevant courses, outstanding faculty, and fellow students at Loyola provide him with new perspectives, and knowledge he is applying daily. He even got a raise once he completed the program. “I got a salary increase when I finished the MBA, but more importantly, I elevated my career.”