After 25 Years in Banking, a New Path to Leadership

“I’ve worked in compliance in corporate banking and have been a licensed realtor for years. At the core of my motivation was service…in order for my work to be meaningful, I need to be helping other people,” Merritt said. Yet while she was often the go-to person when her companies needed help training employees, she wasn’t always involved in leadership decisions.

“I’m a lifelong learner, and I was ready for transformation. When I found the Bachelor of Arts in Management (BAM) program, it was exactly what I needed. It squared with my values; the academics were high-level, and it was formatted for working professionals. My classes challenged me to think strategically and communicate more effectively…and I was able to bring that to my real-life work.”

Merritt, who will earn an MBA in spring 2027, is focused on her next chapter. Continuing her career of service, she hopes to work with an organization to advocate for housing equality and improve the livelihood of the people in her community.

“My experience in BAM gave me a lot of confidence — in many ways, I’m grateful to be earning my degrees now, because it enables me to learn about the most modern ways of thinking,” Merritt said. “BAM is the bridge to my next chapter in life.”