Erin Parks visited Seton Hill for the first time as a volleyball recruit.  

“When I came to visit the campus,” she says. “I immediately felt a strong sense of community among the students and staff.” 

Erin ended up liking Seton Hill so much that she went straight into graduate work on the Hill after earning her Seton Hill bachelor’s in business human resources and marketing. Now an operations specialist with BSM Consulting, she was kind enough to answer a few questions about her Seton Hill experience.

Why did you choose Seton Hill for your undergrad and your MBA?

I loved that it was a smaller school, as I wanted to have more meaningful relationships with my professors versus just being a number in the classroom. This provided a unique educational environment and really helped me excel in my coursework that eventually translated into my professional life. This made the decision to continue to pursue my MBA at Seton Hill a no-brainer for me.

Why did you choose to specialize in project management for your MBA?

To be completely honest, project management was not my strong suit going into the program. I selected to specialize in project management so I would be able to develop and refine the skills needed in order to be successful in this aspect of business moving forward. I believe this also provided me with a well-rounded education in business and has allowed for me to excel in my career.  

Other graduates have said that the student-athlete experience provided them with career (and life) skills.  Did you find that to be true as well?

I find this statement to absolutely be true. Being a student-athlete provided me with the opportunity to learn how to juggle multiple schedules, keep myself organized, and the ability to work well in a team setting to achieve a common goal. I also believe that being an athlete, you really understand what your personal strengths and weaknesses are as well as identifying those of your teammates/colleagues. By leveraging this knowledge, you are able to work better together and create the best possible outcomes. 

What was the journey like from the MBA Program to your current position at BSM Consulting?

I actually started working at BSM Consulting in the middle of my MBA Program. This provided me with a unique opportunity to be able to immediately apply some of the topics covered in class into my everyday work. 

Do you have anything you’d like to share about the MBA Program (or your undergrad degrees) with people who may be considering them?

Do it. If you are considering it, I highly recommend making the commitment. Getting your MBA will only serve you well in your career and it gives you an edge in an extremely competitive job market.