The Online MBA Student Experience

How an MBA Made Her a Stronger Coach

Meet UNOH Student Kathryn “Katie” J. Bodenmiller, Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of Northwestern Ohio

Katie Bodenmiller was working as an assistant women’s soccer coach at UNOH when she started thinking about her future outside the field. She loved coaching, but she also wanted to build skills that would open doors beyond athletics.

The challenge was her schedule. As a coach, she traveled with the team and needed to be fully present for her players. An MBA program with fixed class times wouldn’t work.

Making an MBA Work Around an Unpredictable Life

We do travel a fair amount as a program,” Katie explains. But rather than limiting her options, the online format “provided the much needed flexibility in scheduling.”

“I don’t think I could’ve been a successful coach and resource for our players if I was also worried about making it to my own classes on time. Since I wasn’t required to be somewhere at a certain time every day, I was able to be fully invested in the day-to-day operations of the team.”

The program gave her structure without rigidity. “Having structured weekly due dates and having the ability to work at your own pace was nice.”

Skills That Go Beyond Business School

Katie went into the program expecting to learn about leadership and analytics. What she didn’t expect was how much the concepts would change her personal life.

“The MBA program changed the way I think about several facets of my personal life, let alone professional life,” she says. “It helped me form a personal finance sense through concepts meant to be applied more towards an overall business level.”

Today, Katie is exploring leadership opportunities in collegiate athletics and considering roles in healthcare benefits. The MBA gave her the confidence and vocabulary to move between different industries.

Katie’s story shows that MBA skills translate across industries. The strategic thinking, financial concepts, and leadership tools she learned apply just as well in coaching as they do in corporate leadership. The degree gave her the foundation to move confidently between different career paths.

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Managing Work, Family, and an MBA

Meet Melissa Ricker, Assistant Superintendent for the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Melissa came to the MBA for the same reason a lot of working adults do: she wanted to grow professionally and personally. But she also had a full-time job and three kids at home.

“Flexibility was important to me as I work full time and have three children,” she says.

The UNOH MBA program is designed for exactly this situation—working professionals who need flexibility without sacrificing quality.

A System She Could Plan Around

What helped was being able to see the quarter clearly from the start. “The online program allowed me to see course work for the entire quarter so that I could plan accordingly.”

She built a steady routine around that visibility: “Each night I had a specific amount of time set aside for certain assignments and learning.”

Support When She Needed It

She also felt supported along the way. “Even though the program is online, the instructors provided helpful and meaningful feedback throughout the courses,” Melissa says. She appreciated the ways students could work together through “discussion posts or even group projects.”

Her Advice for Busy Parents

For those juggling busy lives and wondering how to fit school into their plans, she has this advice: “Take it one week at a time… stay on task so you don’t fall behind, and reach out when you need help.”

All faculty were very helpful and responsive when additional help or direction was needed. The program worked because it was built for people like her, and it can work for you too.

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Earning an MBA While Serving

Meet Jaron Armstrong, First Sergeant, U.S. Army

Jaron Armstrong had a clear goal: he needed an MBA to meet promotion requirements in the Army. His motivation went deeper than career advancement, though. As a First Sergeant, he wanted the promotion because it would allow him to help more people.

An MBA Approach That Works With Military Life

The UNOH online program gave Jaron what he needed most: flexibility around his military duties.

“The ability to work part-time fit my busy military lifestyle, which is why I chose this program,” he says. “The online format worked better for me than in-person classes would have.”

What It Takes to Succeed

“Success comes down to your ability to work hard and find balance,” Jaron says. His advice? “The same habits that got you through your bachelor’s degree will work here—you just have to stick with them.”

Jaron wanted professional versatility after the Army and to improve his career prospects. The MBA gave him both.

“The program was consistent, and I met some great people along the way.”

Support for Service Members

UNOH established its Military Relations Department more than 25 years ago to provide personal assistance to all service members and veterans. The mission comes first, and they accommodate accordingly.

Financial Benefits:

• UNOH offers a military discount of 10% off of tuition for the Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program only. This is extended to active duty military, National Guard, reservists, and military veterans.
• Students may also qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits
• Same tuition rate regardless of location—no out-of-state costs

What UNOH accepts:

• Joint Services Transcripts, CCAF credits, and ACE credit equivalencies
• 100% online option: Complete your entire degree with no on-campus requirements.
• UNOH is a member of ArmyIgnitED and authorized for GI Bill® benefits.

For additional financial aid information, visit our MBA Financial Aid page. For full military benefits details, see the UNOH Military Students page.

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Nathan Vandenbroek, an accountant at Knueven Schroder and Co., was looking for an MBA program with an excellent curriculum, an affordable program cost, and a reasonable completion time. He found all of that at the University of Northwestern Ohio. “The online MBA from UNOH suited my schedule and my needs better than being in a classroom,” said Vandebroek. In March 2023, Nathan became a full-time instructor at UNOH, teaching undergraduate logistics and business courses.

What made you decide to pursue the online MBA degree at the University of Northwestern Ohio?

I wanted to advance my career and, as a working adult, found the flexibility of the University of Northwestern Ohio online program perfect.

How has the online MBA degree helped you in your current role?

The program has opened more doors than I thought possible. I have been able to reach people and organizations I never would have without an MBA degree.

What is one of the most interesting or useful things you learned in the program?

Although we were online, instructors like Dean Hobler made a lasting impression on me. My experience gave me an interest in pursuing teaching at the collegiate level.

When Jessica King began looking for an MBA, worldwide reputation was at the top of her list of wants. Her research paid off when she decided to attend the online MBA degree at the University of Northwestern Ohio. King works at Thermo Fisher Scientific, and her MBA allowed her to continue to grow at work. “I didn’t make a career change, but I was able to move up the career ladder within my company,” said King. As of 2023, King works as a director of transportation for global operations.

How has the online MBA degree helped you in your current role?

Getting my MBA from the University of Northwestern Ohio made me a more well rounded employee and has opened up the door to additional roles.

What is one of the most interesting or useful things you learned in the program?

Being in the program and having an established career at the same time allowed me to apply my education real time at work. It helped me think outside the box when problem solving and engaging in continuous improvement efforts.

What led you to enroll in an online program instead of a traditional on-campus program?

With my work travel schedule and busy family life, I couldn’t commit to a traditional on-campus program. Having the flexibility of an online program was key to my success.

Lisa Gould works as a senior vice president of human resources for Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. When she decided to pursue an MBA, she wanted a program that would fit into her busy life. “My work schedule really didn’t match up with an on-campus program,” said Gould. She also wanted a program with the best curriculum offerings, a holistic approach to admissions, and a reasonable completion time, which she found at the University of Northwestern Ohio.

What made you decide to pursue the online MBA at the University of Northwestern Ohio?

The time to complete the program fit well with my schedule and goals, and it was affordably priced for someone who does not receive tuition reimbursement.

How has the online MBA helped you in your current role?

My MBA directly impacted my ability to gain new employment and receive a promotion.

What course stood out most to you in the program?

The first semester, we learned about time management, the expectations of an MBA program, and what to expect in the program. This was very helpful in setting me up for overall success.

When Richard Hanzlik — who currently works as an engineer in marketing for Alpha Technology — wanted to find an MBA program, he took curriculum offerings, program cost, holistic admissions, and completion time into consideration. He ended up finding what he was looking for in the online MBA program from the University of Northwestern Ohio. “I travel a lot for work and needed a flexible program to fit my busy lifestyle,” said Hanzlik. “I would recommend this program to anyone looking to get an MBA online.”

What made you decide to pursue the online MBA at the University of Northwestern Ohio?

My undergraduate degree was in chemical engineering, but my role is in business development. I wanted to learn more about the business and marketing aspects of my position.

What is one of the most interesting or useful things you learned in the program?

I found developing a go-to-market strategy for a new product to be one of the most engaging and exciting exercises of the program.

Did you make a career change after completing the program?

After completing the program, I was promoted from applications engineer to product manager.

Megan Hallworth is a senior development director for the American Heart Association. She decided to pursue an online MBA at the University of Northwestern Ohio because of its reputation for excellence, as well as its affordability and flexibility. “I had a great experience and learned a lot,” said Hallworth. Meagan’s undergraduate degree was not in business, which made fundamental courses like business strategy especially helpful.

What led you to enroll in an online program instead of a traditional, on-campus program?

I wanted the flexibility of going to school while working, and I wanted to be able to apply what I learned in real time.

What is one of the most interesting or useful things you learned in the program?

The business skills I developed were the most useful. I was an English, writing, and education major in undergrad. Learning more about business ethics, quantitative analytics, business strategy, and other introductory skills was very helpful.

Did you make a career change after completing the program?

After I completed my MBA degree, I was promoted to senior development director. I now manage a team at the American Heart Association.