Meet Colleen Leavell, our MS in Business Analytics Program Student Ambassador at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University. Colleen’s non-traditional path taught her to enjoy every second of her educational journey. Circumstances caused her to drop out in her junior year, but her dedication to learning brought her back to George Mason years later where she completed her undergraduate degree and is currently in the MS in Business Analytics Program. Always interested in Big Data, she’s excited to support fellow students in the Master's in Business Analytics Program, and happy to share her experiences.
Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with Colleen to learn more about her journey, and why she chose Costello.
Tell us about yourself.
I have four kids, four dogs, and am married to a great guy. Prior to becoming a George Mason student, I worked in corporate sales, 12 of the most recent years were spent selling CARFAX programs to car dealerships around the country. CARFAX is a data company that gives people the history of their used cars prior to purchasing them
Why did you pursue your program, and why did you choose George Mason University?
I dropped out of George Mason my junior year to support my family. It was always my dream to have a college degree and work in a semi-technical capacity. I finally was able to temporarily leave my career and go back to school. I wanted to take my professional business skills and combine them with technical knowledge so I decided to get my undergrad in Management Information Systems. While completing my undergrad, I learned about the Bachelor's Accelerated Masters (BAM) Program. I've always wanted to work with Big Data and thought the MS in Business Analytics program would be a great fit.
Can you tell us an interesting fact about yourself?
I used to be an endurance athlete. I have completed 17 marathons, two Ultra Marathons, eight half Ironmans, and five 100-mile bike rides. My craziest running experience was participating in a "Calendar Club" in April 2020. Every day from April 1 to April 30 I had to run the number of miles for that day. That means the last week of the challenge I ran a full marathon (26 miles) distance five days in a row!
What are the highlights of your experience so far?
I can't say anything specific because everything has been a highlight. I have wanted a higher level of education for so long that I don't take any of it for granted. If I had to name a few, though, I would say Professor Mehta's Database Management class. The content of that course was really intense for me and every week at class I was pushed so far out of my comfort zone. I learned so much, he's an excellent professor.
What goals do you have for the future?
My goal is to complete my MS in Business Analytics in July and begin working for Hilton as an entry level business analyst. My five year goal is to complete my MBA and work in a director capacity for Hilton. Maybe, one day, I'll get my PhD.
Do you have any advice for aspiring candidates for your program?
Enjoy every second of your journey. We are so privileged to be able to work with such smart and talented people, from members of the cohort, to professors and administration. Don't take any of it for granted.
If you’re interested in learning more about George Mason’s Master’s in Business Analytics Program, register for an upcoming info session or request more information about the program