Building A Core Of Support At Manderson

Makayla Brewer thought she knew where her career was headed. With a University of Alabama bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in criminal justice and history, she envisioned herself going to law school and practicing family or divorce law.

The closer she got to graduation, the more uncertain she became.

“I was on the pre-law track, but I realized I didn’t see myself doing it long term,” Brewer said. “I wanted something that felt more stable, something I could grow with.”

That realization sent Brewer searching for her next step. The answer came through a surprising source: a LinkedIn message. The executive director for the Alabama Center for Real Estate, which is housed within The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, reached out to encourage her to apply to Career Opportunities in Real Estate (CORE), a program designed to introduce students to real estate. “I applied, got in, and that was my first real exposure to real estate. I found myself excited about it.”

Instead of diving straight into law school, Brewer opted to apply to the MBA offered by Culverhouse’s Manderson Graduate School of Business.

“I knew an MBA would give me more flexibility,” she said. “It could open doors in real estate, finance, or even law if I still decide to go down that path later.”

The transition hasn’t been easy. Coming from a humanities background, Brewer admits she had to adjust quickly to the analytical rigor of business coursework. “In political science, a lot of answers were subjective,” she said. “In accounting, there’s only one right answer and if you get it wrong, there are real consequences. That was a big shift for me.”

She credits the challenge with pushing her to grow. “I got humbled in the first two weeks,” she said. “But it was also rewarding to see that even people with finance or business backgrounds were figuring things out right alongside me. That camaraderie has been really important.”

Her MBA experience is already expanding her opportunities. This past summer, she interned with a commercial real estate broker and gained hands-on knowledge about the complexities of developing properties. She’s also working with a regional commercial real estate company, all while balancing a full course load.

Brewer’s global perspective also deepened through study abroad. Last summer, she traveled to Scotland to complete her history sequence, an experience that blended her love of culture with her academic ambitions. “Scotland was incredible—Glencoe was my favorite place,” she said. “It reminded me why I want a career that keeps me engaged and curious.”

Looking forward, Brewer’s MBA is central to her plans. She envisions using it either as a stepping stone into real estate or as preparation for law school with a focus on real estate and international law.

“The MBA is giving me options,” she said. “It’s showing me I don’t have to limit myself to one path. I can explore, learn, and then decide what’s right for me.”

Edwin Stanton writes for the marketing and communications office at the Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama. He identifies and develops storylines to support and promote Culverhouse initiatives like the Manderson MBA.

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