Mary Helen Deck enrolled in the Manderson MBA program in Fall 2015. She had looked for a business program that would welcome her non-traditional pathway and that would equip her for the work she was most interested in. Manderson filled both requirements for her.
Mary Helen earned her Bachelors of Science (2013) at the University of Chicago where she studied sociology and political science. Her bachelor’s thesis was on why people volunteer in presidential campaigns. While a student at Chicago, Mary Helen worked as a docent in the Smart Museum of Art and interned with Teach for America as a summer intern helping to manage logistics, and then as a recruiter during the academic year. She also studied abroad, serving as an intern for a nonprofit organization in Cape Town, South Africa during the summer of 2007 and the following fall studied in Paris, France.
Before entering graduate school, Mary Helen worked as a teacher at KIPP Delta Collegiate High School as a Teach For America Corps member. It was her experiences in Cape Town and with Teach For America that solidified Mary Helen’s commitment to helping communities build their own strengths to offer opportunity to all persons. The versatility of Manderson’s MBA Program and opportunities to engage with the community and campus were very important in her graduate school decision.
Since arriving at The University of Alabama, Mary Helen has been engaged in several activities through the MBA Program. She is currently the Co-Captain of the MBA Case Team, is a graduate teaching assistant, and has volunteered with various organizations. Moreover, this summer she interned for CBRE and after graduation in May 2017, she will be working full time for CBRE in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.