Kelsey Skey knew there were more leadership opportunities within her company, Godfather’s Pizza, Inc. But she’d need experience. That’s when she discovered the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership program at College of Saint Mary.
CSM’s MSOL program is a rigorous and immediately applicable leadership development program designed for working professionals. It is entirely online and can be completed in one or two years.
“This is exactly what I needed to take the next step in my career,” said Kelsey, who earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2013 and a post-baccalaureate paralegal certification from CSM in 2021.
Within her first year of the MSOL program, Kelsey, an executive coordinator and paralegal, was promoted to director of human resources and legal.
“My company saw right away that I was gaining more and more experience through the program, so they realized I could take that next step before I even finished,” she said.
Kelsey hadn’t taken an online course until the coronavirus pandemic forced her post-baccalaureate paralegal classes to meet virtually. She soon realized the convenience of online courses and that she could also take graduate classes as well.
“Because College of Saint Mary had that, it allowed me to take it online and trust my routine and structure that I would be able to learn what I needed to learn, apply the concepts and get the homework done all at my own pace and in my own time,” she said.
After meeting with Beth Merkel, PhD, director of the MSOL program, Kelsey knew she had found the right program for her. “She engages with all her students and wants them to succeed. You can definitely tell that the first time you met her,” Kelsey said.
Kelsey finished the MSOL program on July 28 and was excited that she persevered through completing her degree.
“Having my master’s degree will help me feel more accomplished in my career and give me the confidence to answer the hard questions that come up,” she said. “I want people to be able to rely on me. Having a graduate degree is a great achievement and it’s something I’m excited to have.”
