Meet Dr. Sharif Melouk—Associate Dean in Alabama’s Forbes-ranked business school
Reading time: 5 minutes
Sponsored
I got to sit down with Dr. Sharif Melouk, Associate Dean of the Manderson Graduate School of Business at The University of Alabama. Read on to find out more about Dr. Melouk as well as his best advice for furthering your career.
Dr. Sharif Melouk has Quite the Impressive Résumé
Dr. Sharif Melouk’s career has no shortage of highlights. After completing his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University, he decided to pivot toward the business world by getting his M.B.A.
Although the world of academia wasn’t always what he had planned, Dr. Melouk never looked back after finishing his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at Texas A&M University.
He’s been with Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business since 2007 as a faculty member in the Operations Management program. After moving up from Assistant to Associate Professor and beyond, Dr. Melouk accepted a position as Associate Dean of the Manderson Graduate School of Business in 2019.
Despite this new job title and all the responsibilities it brings, Dr. Melouk still manages to remain hands-on with the Executive MBA program.
His is Not the Only Impressive Résumé Around
Dr. Melouk is married to Dr. Burcu Keskin, pictured above. Dr. Keskin is a professor in the Operations Management program as well as the MBA and Executive MBA programs.
She also currently serves as an Associate Department Head within the school. I mentioned to the pair that they’re quite the “power couple,” which they laughed off. They did, however, admit to the fact that they both specifically enjoy aspects of their work that allow them to serve others.
“You can somewhat do this job in isolation, if you choose to. Whereas, if you take on these types of service and admin roles, then you’re out there really contributing in a different way.”
Dr. Sharif Melouk, Associate Dean
Originally from Turkey, Dr. Keskin has years of experience under her belt in higher education and academia and enjoys seeing her students take advantage of all their education has to offer.
According to the Washington Post, EMBA students quote an average salary increase of 23 percent upon completion of their degree. But that’s not the only benefit of this program.
“It’s not just the degree program… It’s also the networking.
You have a better rapport with your faculty, you have a better rapport with your classmates—and those people become your lifelong peers.”
Dr. Burcu Keskin, Professor and Associate Department Head
It’s No Secret that Graduate School is an Investment
With these résumés, Dr. Melouk and Dr. Keskin are experts in investment—so why is this one worth it?
“We’re doing a lot more experiential learning… Largely, it will pay off.
I think graduate school will afford you more opportunities down the road given the type of exposure that you have to a wide array of things in your graduate education.”
Dr. Sharif Melouk, Associate Dean
Graduate education can truly be a differentiator when it comes to any career field, but specifically in the business world. The EMBA program at The University of Alabama allows executives with several years of experience to further their education, without hitting pause.
Ivy Exec, a Forbes firm, annually releases a comprehensive list of the best Executive MBA programs in the world. Guess who made the cut in 2019? You guessed it: Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama.
Join a Community of Leaders
In the Executive MBA program, in particular, the community and collaboration aspects are quite prevalent. Joining a cohort full of executives who are established in their fields brings a whole new element to the program.
“That’s really where things can explode in an Executive MBA program. Now you’re coupling that professional experience with the latest knowledge and tools—which is what the faculty provides here.”
Dr. Sharif Melouk, Associate Dean
Learn from world-class faculty like Dr. Melouk and Dr. Keskin, work alongside ambitious executives while furthering your education—all without putting your career on hold. That’s the benefit of an EMBA from The University of Alabama.
Before We Go—Best Advice?
I couldn’t leave this wealth of knowledge without asking for their best advice for someone considering furthering their education with a program like this. Dr. Melouk’s answer was quite simple:
“Do it.”
Dr. Keskin agreed. They both acknowledged that life, finances and more can get in the way, but ultimately, the almost 1,000 graduates of the EMBA Program at Alabama report that the commitment is well worth the sacrifices.
“The first step is engaging in personal conversations at home, then professional conversations with their bosses and supervisors.
I know there are a lot of programs out there printing degrees—we are not one of those programs. You will need that particular support, both professionally and personally, because you earn your degree here at Alabama.”
Dr. Burcu Keskin, Professor and Associate Department Head
Want more info on UA’s EMBA program? Check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn more!
Sponsored by:
