After a couple of years in the working world, Marissa Ivery-Rogers realized she would need a graduate degree to advance her marketing career. But she wasn’t sure what degree would work best. She applied to (and was accepted into) two programs: the MBA at Johns Hopkins and the Master of Marketing at Vanderbilt. Ultimately, she says, “I decided on Vanderbilt because it was a shorter program and closer to my hometown of Atlanta.” A campus visit cemented her choice. “I was able to sit in on a class and get real feedback from current students,” Marissa says. “I think the selling point for me was the intimacy of the classes and the kindness of the students and the faculty.” During her year at Vanderbilt, Marissa took advantage of the school’s distinctive Leadership Development Program, which she credits for “giving me an open line of communication with my executive coach. We were able to talk through some of my weaknesses and come up with game plans in order to strengthen these skills.”

She also enjoyed getting to know an array of classmates from different walks of life and opportunities (occasionally at Slim & Husky’s, her favorite restaurant in Nashville), learning from their diverse experiences and perspectives.

Looking back, Marissa says, “The experience [at Vanderbilt] has given me the social, academic, and technical skills needed to navigate the marketing industry with confidence and skill.” And she proved it, accepting a position at a digital marketing agency that is propelling her career forward.

Fun Fact: Marissa is a very good singer—but will deny it if anyone asks.

I think the selling point for me was the intimacy of the classes and the kindness of the students and the faculty.