Lafayette native Mary Alexander has taken no pause in her education. She graduated from UL Lafayette in 2016 with her management degree, then again in 2018 with her Master of Business Administration (MBA). She is currently a law student at SMU Dedman School of Law.
“I certainly want to find a position where both my MBA and JD will be utilized and my brain challenged,” she said. “One thing I always tell myself is to remain open to any experience — you never know where life may take you.
“As a transplant now, living and going to school in Dallas, I can say that it’s hard to be away from the Cajuns and the lifestyle I grew up on,” she said. “I was born and raised in Lafayette and knew that UL Lafayette was not only a stellar educational institution but that it also had the culture I wanted in a college.
“UL Lafayette provided me with a perfect combination of soul and challenge,” she said.
Mary chose the degree in management to keep her options as open as possible.
“I liked the breadth the degree plan afforded,” she said. “It allowed me to try different subjects such as marketing and finance and discover what drew me to business in the first place.”
Because of the broad range of topics in Mary’s curriculum, she was offered experiences that shaped her education going forward. She completed legal internships, was in the Student Government Association, and she took advantage of UL Lafayette’s study abroad program.
“As an undergrad, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy,” she said. “The experience changed my life not only personally, but academically as well.
“International business became an interest of mine after that summer, and it was one of the reasons I decided to complete the MBA program,” she said.
Earning her MBA at UL Lafayette proved to be very beneficial for attending law school.
“I didn’t realize how much an MBA degree would benefit me in law school,” she said. “Even if I do not become a transactional attorney, understanding the business of law is something I am extremely grateful to possess. I credit that knowledge exclusively to the UL Lafayette MBA program.
“I really enjoyed UL Lafayette’s practical approach to the business program,” she said.
“From planning a charitable event in undergrad to collaborating with MBA students from all over the world to develop a business plan, the majority of my learning at UL Lafayette came from hands-on experience,” she said.
“Now sitting in law school lectures, I miss that way of learning and can appreciate it for what it was,” she said.
Mary also gives credit to the people at the University.
“The people in the B.I Moody III College of Business Administration made my experience what it was,” she said. “The professors who challenged me, the administration who supported me, and the classmates who suffered with me have all changed my life for the better.
“I will always look fondly at my days spent in Moody Hall,” she said.
