Meet Maryland Smith’s MBA Class of 2018

Ryan Hagemeyer

University of Maryland, Robert H. Smith School of Business

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A patient and happy person, looking to find my passion and career focus.

Hometown: Willmar, MN

Fun Fact About Yourself: I love to travel and to get out and experience the world whenever possible.

Undergraduate School and Major:  

Concordia College, Physical Education and Health Major

St. Cloud State University, Graduate Certificate in Special Education

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools, Special Education Teacher

Lane Education Service District, Life Skills Teacher

Creswell School District, Special Education Teacher

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:As, co-director of the Creswell (Iowa) School District Assistive Technology team (and  throughout my teaching career), I was able to help students and their families by developing and delivering educational programming for students with disabilities. At Creswell, we were able to provide students with access to laptops and tablets for their education. Our task was to find appropriate forms of technology needed by students who could not otherwise access their educational materials. We subsequently provided K-12 students with access to educational materials not previously afforded to them. Students who had shown little to no interest in their education were now engaging and initiating their own learning.

Looking back on your experience, what advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Know why you want to get your MBA. Show the admissions team your personality and that you know what you want to do with this opportunity. Prepare for your admissions interview as you would for a job interview. Have questions ready for the interviewer.

Take the GMAT seriously. Determine how you study best and find a program that supports you in your study habits. The GMAT isn’t everything, but it is a big part of your application and is one of the ways schools compare you to other applicants. All of the other pieces of your admissions packet will separate you, but your GMAT can “get you in the door.”

What led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA? Once I was on campus for the Smith Showcase (an academic exercise that engages a prospective student with an alum and professor), I knew Smith’s was the right program for me. The current students and professors I met during that weekend revealed to me a supportive community that I knew would challenge me and launch me into my new career.

Tell us about your dream job or dream employer at this point in your life? My dream is to work in the sports marketing industry. I have a passion for sports and for connecting people to the brands and sports teams they follow.

What would you like your business school peers to say about you after you graduate from this program? That I challenged myself and was willing to try new things. I hope to find a career that I am passionate about and I want my peers to find the same.