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Fourth MAIAA Cohort Arrives in Lincoln with Big Aspirations

Fourth MAIAA Cohort Arrives in Lincoln with Big Aspirations
2017 MAIAA cohort poses in Howard L. Hawks Hall. (see complete list of names on photo below)
The fourth cohort of the master of arts in business with a specialization in intercollegiate athletics administration (MAIAA) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business arrived this fall. Five females and seven males, including nine former collegiate student athletes from around the country comprise the cohort and began classes at the start of the fall semester.
 
“We are excited to welcome this fourth cohort into the Nebraska MAIAA program,” said MAIAA Program Coordinator Brandon Urry. “The diversity of this cohort is evidence of ever-increasing national interest for this program. The number of applicants for this fall cohort doubled. We feel very confident we have admitted a strong cohort in terms of prior academic excellence and athletic experience who will represent the program proudly as students now and alumni in the future.”
 
Students in the fourth cohort are:
 
· Sullivan Bortner from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, graduated from Becker College (Massachusetts)
· Ryan Christy from Orange City, Iowa, graduated from Northwestern College (Iowa)
· David DeSimone from Bettendorf, Iowa, graduated from Kalamazoo College (Michigan)
· Candice Dominguez from Ventura, California, graduated from Sacramento State University (California)
· James Frey from Meriden, Connecticut, graduated from Central Connecticut State University (Connecticut)
· Summer Horowitz from Briarcliff Manor, New York, graduated from Tufts University (Massachusetts)
· Corey Nelson from Davis, California, graduated from University of California, Davis (California)
· Betsy Reimer from Lincoln, Nebraska, graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University (Nebraska)
· E.J. Stevens from Apple Valley, Minnesota, graduated from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (Minnesota)
· Amanda Van Duyn from Kenosha, Wisconsin, graduated from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (Wisconsin)
· Grayson Wagner from Aurora, Colorado, graduated from Colorado State University (Colorado)
· Dylan Woodbury from Clay Center, Nebraska, graduated from Brigham Young University (Utah)
 
Brandon Urry meets with the new MAIAA cohort during orientation.
Brandon Urry meets with the new MAIAA cohort during orientation.
The MAIAA program was created in 2014 by Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst and Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Donde Plowman, who is the former dean of the College of Business. They started the program to achieve their top goals of educating and preparing the next generation of influential leaders in collegiate athletics through the highly specialized MAIAA program.
 
“The MAIAA program is a one-of-a-kind partnership program between the College of Business and Nebraska Athletics,” said Kathy Farrell, interim dean of the College of Business. “Due to the combination of highly-ranked Big Ten MBA courses and highly sought-after internships in Nebraska Athletics, the MAIAA program continues to grow in both stature and popularity and the number of applicants doubles each year.”
 
Students complete 10 graduate courses or 36 credit hours, in addition to their graduate assistant positions. Students earn their MAIAA degree and the opportunity to take a significant step forward in their pursuit of landing a job in the competitive field of collegiate athletics.
 
The MAIAA program became the first of its kind to offer students a fully funded two-year graduate education with guaranteed internship opportunities in the Nebraska College of Business during their first year and Nebraska Athletics for their second year.  Positions at Nebraska Athletics include opportunities in marketing and fan experience, communications, development, life skills, digital media, compliance and much more.
 
Past graduates of the program now working in collegiate athletics include:
 
· John Baker, Nebraska Athletics Digital Media Assistant
· Branden Enstrom, Oregon Athletics Ticketing Assistant
· James Hajek, Nebraska Athletics Communications Assistant
· John McCaig, Pinnacle Bank Arena – SMG Lincoln, Guest Services Manager
· Cameron Wilson, South Dakota Athletics Director of Events
· Matt Henry, Nebraska Athletics Ticketing Strategy and Analytics Coordinator
· Kevin Ashmos, Nebraska Football Recruiting Assistant
· Ryan Coomes, Nebraska Volleyball Volunteer Assistant Coach
 
Applications for the fall 2018 cohort are now being accepted. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2018.
The MAIAA 2107 Cohort includes: (back row from left to right) David DeSimone, Sullivan Bortner, James Frey, Ryan Christy, Summer Horowitz, Corey Nelson, Grayson Wagner and (front row from left to right) Candice Dominguez, Dylan Woodbury, Betsy Reimer, E.J. Stevens and Amanda Van Duyn.
The MAIAA 2017 Cohort includes: (back row from left to right) David DeSimone, Sullivan Bortner, James Frey, Ryan Christy, Summer Horowitz, Corey Nelson, Grayson Wagner and (front row from left to right) Candice Dominguez, Dylan Woodbury, Betsy Reimer, E.J. Stevens and Amanda Van Duyn.
Published: August 29, 2017