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“I found [the iMBA program] extremely helpful in many ways. I learned how to approach a bank with a well thought out, organized business plan. I think the most important thing I took away from the program is knowing how to actually manage people and hold them accountable, while at the same time keeping them motivated to succeed.” 

—Katharine Corgan, Owner, Corgans’ Publick House


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JMU has two distinctive MBA programs, each focusing on a critical component of sustainable firm success in today's complex and dynamic business environment, while also covering the required core material of an MBA program. Both programs are accredited by AACSB and use a 'blended' format of instruction.

 

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Innovation MBA Program

The theme of this new MBA program is "Leading through Innovation with Technology and People."



Information Security MBA Program

The purpose of this program is to create a new manager with a strong understanding of business fundamentals, who also understands the business implications of information security.

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Congratulations to the 2013 MBA grads!

 

 

April 24, 2013

Meet iMBA Student Jeremy Vogan

Jeremy Vogan dreams of running his own company one day. His dream began as a young man growing up on a farm in Augusta County. Although he enjoyed farming, he knew he wanted to do something else with his life.

Jeremy also knew he loved to learn.  He was homeschooled through grade 12, then continued to Blue Ridge Community College to study engineering; he went on to earn a B.S. from Old Dominion University in mechanical engineering.

After ODU, Jeremy’s career took him in several directions.  He worked for Hopeman Brothers in shipbuilding, helped start up a successful manufacturing plant in Fishersville, then went on to work for Shickel Corporation as a project engineer in commercial construction.

About a year ago, Jeremy changed careers, joining Countryside Real Estate as a developer and project manager. He says, “Everything I learned at JMU helped put me in a position to do exactly what I wanted. I’m where I wanted to be two years from where I started.”

He says, “When I first came to work in shipbuilding, I watched how the CEO ran the business.  I decided then that I wanted to run a business someday, and started working toward that goal.  I really enjoyed all the various aspects of business.  My undergraduate degree in engineering taught me how to solve problems in business, but I wanted exposure to broader skills.”

After deciding to go to graduate school to pursue his studies in business, Jeremy did in-depth analysis of most of the business schools on the East Coast and even talked to Darden.  But he concludes, “I love living in the Valley; I know a lot of people from JMU.  I liked the JMU model and it is a great value for the investment.”

He adds, “I can’t think of any school I could have chosen that would have fit my career goals better than JMU; it’s the only one I applied to; for me, it’s the best there is.”

The iMBA program includes a mentorship program, a hybrid online/onsite attendance structure, and an international trip at the end.  As a professional with many family, work and community commitments, Jeremy appreciated the flexibility of classes meeting two weeks online, and one week face-to-face.

Jeremy’s mentor was Shickel Sales Manager Don Crawford.  Jeremy recalls, “He helped me think through stuff, and he challenged my assumptions.  He always cautioned me to have a plan before forging ahead.”

He adds, “This program also includes producing a leadership portfolio, which chronicles everything you learn and experience during your two-year journey at JMU. I wrote about speaker and seminars, how the experiences impacted me, and how I changed during that time.”

Jeremy has high praise for the iMBA professors, “Dr. Boyd taught me to really question why people buy things, and put together a solid marketing strategy.  That class stretched me, really pushed me to the limit.  It was one of my most challenging classes.”

He goes on to say, “The project management class that Harry Reif teaches is one of the coolest.  I love the real world stories and real world experience. The class was integrated into Dr. Marshall’s class in finance.  We presented projects to bankers, and received real feedback from them.”

Jeremy also enjoyed Dr. Semaan’s class.  “He taught finance from a philosophical perspective. I will come back to JMU to take his class, which was fun and amazing.”

He says, “I have probably recommended the iMBA program to at least a dozen people.  It is the best one for the value out there.  This program pushes you beyond what you believe you can do.

“The program changed the way I thought about things.  I learned how to give a company a competitive edge and how to create positions of strength from which to operate.  It opened me up to a whole new world and a lot of new ideas.”

Jeremy had the added benefit of a “dream team” he put together early on, that has stayed together throughout the two-year program. He and the four other students on the team worked together closely from the first week of class until graduation. His team is currently considering possible business ideas.

Jeremy’s future indeed looks bright.  With his boundless energy, he will enjoy greater successes, both in his professional life and in his personal family life. 

 

March 29, 2013

iMBA Spring Workshop Successful 

On Saturday, March 23, nearly 45 people attended the iMBA Spring Workshop, which focused on cultural and ethical diversity. Participants completed exercises in doing business with people from different cultures, and the panel discussion centered around taking time to embrace differences within groups.

 

 

February 20, 2013

JMU MBA Program Ranked in Top 50 for Online Graduate Business Programs

U.S. News recently released the list of top 150 online graduate business programs.  JMU’s MBA program came in at 49.

Schools were ranked in the following areas:

  • Faculty credentials and training
  • Student services and technology
  • Student engagement
  • Admissions selectivity

The Information Security MBA program began admitting students in 1999, while the innovation MBA program began admitting students ten years later, in 2009.

The MBA programs continue to evolve and improve, and are continually adding new classes and experiences for the students.

 

February 18, 2013

CoB Information Security MBA Program Continues its Success

The MBA Information Security (infosec) program has been going strong for 14 years.  It first admitted students in 1999. Dr. Kenneth Bahn, professor of marketing in the College of Business, was instrumental in developing the information security concentration.  This was one of JMU’s first distance education programs and it is still in high demand today.   

This program uses a "blended" format of instruction where the students meet with faculty face-to-face once every eight weeks in Reston, Va., on a Saturday at the beginning and end of every course. The rest of the course is completely web-delivered, using leading-edge synchronous and asynchronous teaching methods. The entire program lasts 27 months. The program is fully accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

In addition to an MBA degree, all graduates receive the NSA-approved certificate: Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals (NSTISSI No. 4011).

Program Success

Graduate Henry Bromley sings the praises of the MBA infosec program.  He says, “I can’t say enough about the program. It’s been a real career booster for me.  My professional responsibilities have increased, and my salary has doubled since I went through the program.”

Henry, a 2008 graduate of the InfoSec program, is currently working as an information systems security engineer for Novetta Solutions. He started with Novetta in early February 2013.

Prior to that, Henry worked for Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH), where he helped forge a partnership between BAH and the Infosec MBA program.

He attended Old Dominion University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering.  He recalls, “When I initially started looking at grad programs, I was planning to get an MS in systems engineering.  I actually enrolled in the George Washington University MS program, but I was still doing research on master’s programs.”

That’s when fate stepped in and Henry had a conversation with Dr. Kenneth Bahn. After his discussion with Dr. Bahn, Henry’s focus shifted more toward the MBA program; the additional information security concentration was simply a bonus.

He says, “I wanted information technology management; I really didn’t have any inclination of following information security.”  He adds, “As I progressed through the program, I developed an interest in information security.  I got great feedback from my professors and the research was interesting.”

Many of Henry’s classmates were fellow BAH employees who had eventually recruited him from SAIC.

While in the program, he made a complete career change and left SAIC to join BAH as an information security engineer. He graduated from the program six months after he started with  BAH.

He says, “There was relevancy to the Infosec piece.  For example, once I graduated, I took the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam.  It was relatively easy, as much of the content I had already seen.”

One of his highlights at BAH was producing the IT Sector Risk Assessment Report for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  He says, “I received a certificate of appreciation from the DHS Assistant Secretary of Cybersecurity and Communications.”

While at BAH, Henry collaborated with MBA Director Dr. Mike Busing and the BAH Learning and Development staff to develop a business case to make BAH an official partner with the MBA program.  With this partnership, BAH employees are offered a 15% discount to go through either the Infosec MBA or MS programs. 

At BAH, Henry was a strong champion for the program.  He saw that there was a huge need to get employees trained because the demand was so high, and there weren’t enough people to fill cyber security roles.

He was recently asked to teach an MBA class, which starts this summer, on managerial computer forensics.  He says, “I’m very excited about teaching; I’m looking forward to it.”

Before his recent job change, Henry says, “I put my resume out there to see what would happen; I was pleasantly surprised by the response.  I was able to field offers, and accept the best one for me, which was definitely a step up.”

He adds, “I plan to continue to champion the Infosec MBA program at my new position.  Attending the program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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