PMBA Graduate Alex Boehnke’s Valuable Experience at OHIO

Alex Boehnke, December 2020 Professional MBA graduate, is grateful for the College of Business faculty, the students in his cohort, and the concepts he learned throughout the program, making his experience one to remember.

Boehnke is one of many students who had an incredible experience in the program because of the exceptional College of Business faculty, the intelligent students in his cohort, and the fundamental concepts that are taught throughout the program.

As a result of the combination of his experience working with the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, a statewide trade association focused on creating a positive business climate for retailers, and seeing firsthand how his father works to pursue his dreams through his business, Boehnke developed a sincere passion for helping small businesses succeed. This inspired him to return to school for his master’s degree because he felt he needed to gain a better understanding of the business world in order to become a more valuable asset to the Council.

Although Boehnke graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the Ohio State University in 2011, he chose to earn his master’s degree from Ohio University, largely because of the College of Business faculty. Throughout his interview process, he felt they would genuinely care about him and his success if he chose to attend OHIO.

“The interview was more about making sure I would be as invested in the program as they were prepared to be invested in me,” said Boehnke. “I will never forget that interview with Tom Marchese and Elana Harnish, whose questions and interest in me and my background were so sincere. The difference in that process from other programs really stood out to me.”

Boehnke’s perception that the faculty would care about their students was proven to be true. The faculty work together to ensure that the curriculum, resources, and flexibility is truly tailored to young professionals, which positively impacted his overall experience.

“The faculty have been, and remain, very accessible and open to offering advice and guidance,” said Boehnke. “They also have such a diverse array of career and life experiences that are relatable and add value to the program. I love that most of them are still in their respective career fields, which enables them to impart that critical real-world knowledge.”

In addition to the faculty being valuable throughout the program, Boehnke’s cohort also greatly contributed to his excellent experience. By working with his peers, he recognized the importance of cohort-based learning and how beneficial it is to have the opportunity to learn from each other. He feels fortunate to have had the chance to work with an outstanding group of people with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and careers, who he believes were a great asset to him and his PMBA experience.

While his professors and cohort played a significant role in his experience, he explained that without the foundational knowledge, it can be difficult to navigate the ever-changing business environment, which is why he believes his coursework was the most valuable attribute of the program.

While Boehnke ended up having a remarkable experience, he understands the difficulties associated with making the decision to go back to school, as well as the tough choice of where to attend. He emphasized the importance of taking the time to evaluate all possible options and to not just select a school because of its prestige or cost. Instead, he thinks it’s important to choose a school like Ohio University that has faculty who show interest and enthusiasm in their students and who will do anything to help their students reach their personal and professional goals.

“There are a lot of business schools that convey a ‘you’d be lucky to get accepted here’ attitude. At Ohio University, the message is ‘we want you here.’ That doesn’t mean OHIO isn’t selective, far from it,” said Boehnke. “To me, it means the program invests a lot of time in searching out the types of individuals they want to be a part of this experience, so by the time you make it to the interview, the University already knows you’re someone worth investing in.”