What helped one working mom thrive during the master’s program that led to her new job

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Montrese Williams is a married working mom of two young daughters who finished her master’s degree this past December. This May, when she graduates from The University of Alabama Culverhouse College of Business‘ Online Master of Science in Marketing, she will have more than a degree to celebrate—she has a brand new job and a world of possibilities open to her.

Meet Montrese Williams

Williams was born and raised in Birmingham with nine siblings.

She graduated from Midfield High School, where she was on the dance team, the basketball team, participated in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) AND served as class president and Beta Club vice president!

She’s married, with two daughters, ages three and one, and attends Rock City Church.

For one year, Williams worked as a Transaction Specialist for the Birmingham Housing Authority. Now, she’s excited to be starting a new position as a statistician for the Birmingham Police Department—a position that will draw on data analytics skills she’s learned in her master’s program.

Fun fact: She’s the first in her family to graduate from college—not once, but twice (undergrad and master’s).

Q + A with Montrese Williams, MS in Marketing (Concentration in Marketing Analytics)

To learn more about the Online Marketing Master’s at The University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, we asked Williams a few questions. Here’s what she told us.

Bham Now: What made you decide to enroll in this specific program?

Williams: “It was very convenient. I did some research into top colleges offering online business programs. The MBA wasn’t specifically focused on statistical analysis, and I knew I wanted to analyze data.

The specialized marketing master’s program allowed me to work on data analysis using SAS and Python.”

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Check out some of the skills Master of Science in Marketing students gain:

• Customer engagement + retention
• Data-driven decision-making, blending digital + traditional marketing strategies with cutting-edge technology

Graduates move on into careers such as marketing managers/directors, digital media specialists, marketing analysts, marketing analytics/big data specialists and social media directors.

Bham Now: Why ‘Bama?

Williams: “I did my undergrad at The University of Alabama, ‘Where Legends Are Made,’ so I thought ‘Hey, let’s do it again.'”

Bham Now: What do you like about data analysis? 

Williams: “I’m very goal-oriented and need a plan. In statistical analysis, analyzing the data helps formulate a plan for any business—I can carry this with me to any career field.”

Bham Now: What did you like about the program?

Williams: “I like how flexible it was, because a lot happened while I was in it. I lost my stepfather, who was like a father figure to me, during the first semester. That was very hard on me, but I let the professors know what was going on.

They were very understanding—they allowed me to turn in assignments past deadline as long as I was in active communication with them, and we had one-on-one meetings to make sure I understood what was going on.”

Bham Now: What was it like doing the program while you were working?

Williams: “My support system was vital for being able to continue my education—my husband and my mom helped a lot. Toward the end of the master’s, we had independent studies where I was able to incorporate my job into the schoolwork.”

Bham Now: What would you say to someone else who’s thinking about doing the program?

Williams: “Keep strong faith—that will get you through anything. If you don’t have a strong support system, have faith in yourself and your ability to see it through. If you’re a mom, connecting with other moms during the program is a strong source of support, too.”

Nuts + Bolts: Online Master’s in Marketing

• Convenient: For anyone thinking about changing careers or upgrading skills, this program is 100% online, with no campus visits.
• 3 options: MS in Marketing (Online)
  • General: 30 credit hours
  • Concentration in Digital + Social Media: 30 credit hours
  • Concentration in Marketing Analytics: 33 credit hours
• Accreditation: AASCB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)—a benchmark of quality that fewer than 5% of institutions have earned.
• Application deadline: Accepted year-round
• Tuition: $440 per hour
• Fees: $250 per course

Take the first step toward your future. Apply for UA Culverhouse’s Online MS in Marketing today.

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