Designing Your MBS Experience – Orientation: Part 2
The first of two “Orientation: Part 2” sessions was held virtually last night, August 12, 2021, with students checking in from locations near and far—from New Jersey to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and California. (Note to students: with the event filled to capacity, a second “Part 2” session is scheduled for August 26, 2021.)
With her signature enthusiasm, executive coach and instructor Kathleen Cashman-Walter, MBA, PCC gave introductory remarks, which were followed by a warm welcome from MBS executive director Deborah Silver, Ph.D., —a business-scientist who has not only led Rutgers Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program since its 2010 inception, but who drove its genesis—co-founding and growing the program from a few students to its current size of roughly 700 students—all of whom are supported by a robust and diverse staff (pictured below).
* Note: Through Rutgers PSM, students earn their Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree. Over time, the program has become known simply as “Rutgers MBS.”
What Makes the MBS Program Outstanding?
Personalized, career-focused, student-structured curricula. At MBS, students select academic courses that align with and support their career goals. “It’s kind of like a ‘design your own master’s degree,’” says Silver, “but within the [framework] of program accreditation, and along with core courses required for graduation.”
Rich, diverse academic offerings. Students are not limited to the MBS Course Catalog—they are able to take graduate-level courses from other departments and schools at Rutgers. “We want you to do that,” says Silver, “because that is what’s going to help you navigate your career path.”
Experiential education at the center. All students have ample opportunities to translate and apply classroom learning to the real world—whether through regular coursework or through signature programs including the MBS Graduate Internships Program and the MBS Externship Exchange.
Recipe for Success
Additionally, through strategic advising and comprehensive executive coaching, MBS students not only work to align academics with their professional future, but work to chart a course for a future that includes personal fulfillment, as well, with harmonious and integrated work/life balance.
To that end, in advance of orientation sessions, executive coach and assistant director Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, asked students to complete an “Odyssey Plan” in which they mapped out three different ways that their life could unfold. Students then discussed their plans with each other.
Finally, alumna Kelly Patraju MBS’20 came to welcome new students, and explained the huge benefit of MBS’s very active, very valuable alumni network—with many members also participating in the MBS Alumni-Student Mentoring Program, which Patraju helped spearhead.
As always, orientation gave students plenty of opportunity to mix, mingle, and connect with students outside of their own industries and academic concentrations through a number of interactive, engaging activities.
We are very excited as MBS students start a new chapter in their lives, and we look forward to being part of their journey!