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Second MAIAA Cohort Starts Something in Business and Athletics

The second cohort of the Master of Arts in Business with a specialization in Intercollegiate Athletics Administration (MAIAA) program started classes in August and the diverse class includes 10 students who come from coast-to-coast with varying experiences in athletics to study in this unique program. The MAIAA program is a joint collaboration between the UNL College of Business Administration and the University of Nebraska Department of Athletics.
 
Dr. Donde Plowman, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business Administration, said, “At most universities the academic side of the house and the athletic side of the house actually don’t have much to do with each other. In CBA we embrace the opportunity to collaborate with the Nebraska Department of Athletics because running a successful athletic department is about operating a complex business. Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst’s commitment to the relationship between academics and athletics is unbelievable. This program is a testament to his commitment.”
 
The MAIAA program draws heavily from the more widely known MBA program and is the first program of its kind to offer a guaranteed paid internship to students in the Husker athletic department. In addition, students are required to take a seminar class to fully immerse them in all aspects of intercollegiate athletic administration. Graduates of this cutting-edge program will have knowledge of general business issues and an understanding of collegiate and professional business concerns.
 
Students in the second cohort are:
·         John Baker from York, Nebraska, graduated from York College
·         Jordan Bloesser from Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney
·         Brenna Boulanger from Dover, New Hampshire, graduated from the University of New Hampshire
·         Ryan Coomes from Lincoln, Nebraska, graduated from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln
·         Branden Enstrom from Sequim, Washington, graduated from the University of Oregon
·         Logan Faller from Lincoln, Nebraska, graduated from Midland University
·         James Hajek from Omaha, Nebraska, graduated from Weber State University
·         John McCaig from Lincoln, Nebraska, graduated from Wayne State University
·         Alex Wach from Wauneta, Nebraska, graduated from the University of Nebraska– Lincoln
·         Ethan Weeder from Osmond, Nebraska, graduated from Dakota State University 
 
MAIAA 2017 Cohort
MAIAA 2017 cohort at Memorial Stadium
“The MAIAA program gave me the opportunity to experience a different part of the country and pursue a degree few schools have,” said Enstrom, a former Ducks softball team manager. “The ability to take classes in such a distinguished business school combined with the chance to work hands-on in the athletic department really caught my interest right off the bat.”
 
Boulanger, a former women’s ice hockey player, added, “I chose this program because it offered a unique blend of a business degree with a focus in athletics. No other program in the country offered such a unique program that combined real world experience at a prestigious university in both athletics and academics.”  
 
The program includes 10 courses in addition to the internship for a total of 36 credit hours. Applications are being accepted for the fall 2016 cohort. Deadline for application is March 1, 2016. The MAIAA program will host a campus visit day in April to give admitted students the chance to visit campus, sit in on a class and attend a Husker athletic event. For more information, visit http://cba.unl.edu/maiaa or contact Brandon Urry at 402-472-5397 or burry2@unl.edu.
Published: September 11, 2015