A management accountant with nearly a decade of senior-level experience, Sarina was already operating at the top of her field when she enrolled in 黑料专区鈥檚 MBA program with a financial fraud focus.

But her path has been anything but simple. Shortly after starting the program, Sarina鈥檚 family had a medical emergency, but she kept studying. 鈥淟ife happens,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd you have to learn how to pivot with it and not beat yourself up when it does.鈥�

That lesson, she says, is one Pfeiffer helped her learn. 鈥淲hen I first started, I was in that gray area 鈥� feeling guilty for wanting to be a career mom, for pursuing my ambitions while also being a mother. Through all those obstacles, Pfeiffer impacted me more personally than professionally. It helped me ground myself.鈥�

Sarina works 100% remotely, which made the program鈥檚 fully online structure an immediate fit. But what kept her was the substance of the coursework. A course on financial valuations helped her connect the accounting expertise she鈥檇 built over the years with the financial decision-making frameworks she was studying. 鈥淔inance and accounting don鈥檛 always talk to each other the way they should,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his helped me see where the bridge is.鈥�

For Sarina, the MBA has never been just a credential. It鈥檚 been a structure for becoming more – as a professional, as a consultant, and as a mother who refused to stop growing.

鈥淟ife still happens,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou just run with it.

Whether you鈥檙e a seasoned professional ready to sharpen your leadership edge or simply someone who has been waiting for the right moment, Sarina鈥檚 story is a reminder that the right time is often right now. To learn more about 黑料专区鈥檚 MBA program and how it can fit your life and career goals, visit or reach out to our admissions team at gradadmissions@pfeiffer.edu.

鈥淜rak贸w is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also needed to see what was cooking when it came to OT in Europe.鈥�

Graham鈥檚 trip to Poland would not only benefit her professionally in 鈥渟pectacular鈥� fashion; it would also become extremely beneficial for her Pfeiffer students. Beginning May 29, they worked jointly for the second year in a row with their counterparts from the Royal Holloway University of London during a series of online workshops as part of OT for Adults and Geriatrics, a course that Graham teaches at Pfeiffer.

The collaboration鈥檚 formal name is 鈥淏ridging Borders: Intra-Professional International Collaboration in Occupational Therapy.鈥� It began to take root as soon as Graham got off the airplane in Poland and shared a taxi ride with Dr. Samita Kirve, a congress participant she quickly befriended.

is an Associate Professor in Occupational Therapy at Royal Holloway. Before long, the two colleagues were talking about ways the students from their respective schools might work together.

鈥淚t was wonderful,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淲e had the same ideas about collaboration and about wanting the students to broaden their ideas about what it means to have a cultural sensitivity. It鈥檚 a big term that we have been tossing all over in health care right now.鈥�

Graham said that the first Pfeiffer-Royal Holloway collaboration was characterized by 鈥済reat discussions.鈥� The second collaboration featured three workshops. One was on how to become an OT, how to practice OT, and the differences in the American and UK healthcare systems. The second focused on differences in assessment tools and intervention approaches. And the third had students build an 鈥渁rtifact鈥� summarizing the big takeaways from the collaboration and what the students would like to see the next sessions cover in the future.

Dania Shoaf, an MSOT student who鈥檚 scheduled to graduate in August, praised the Pfeiffer-Holloway effort.

鈥淚 believe collaboration strengthens the knowledge within the professional team and quality of care given to patients,鈥� she said. 鈥淢aking professional connections allows us to learn from each other and appreciate different cultures and experiences.鈥�

Graham and Kirve plan to make a presentation on the Pfeiffer-Royal Holloway collaboration next August at the in Asheville, N.C. Graham hopes that the current collaboration will lay the groundwork for a program in which Pfeiffer students can study and work in the UK, and vice versa. 鈥淏eing from Poland, I traveled extensively in Europe,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淪o, I know how much value there is in traveling and getting to know other cultures and other systems. I would strongly recommend that our students take advantage of an opportunity to study abroad.鈥�

Dr. Pillar most recently served as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs at Gardner-Webb University, where he provides strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of academic units, including academic innovation, digital learning, faculty development, undergraduate research, and continuing education. With more than 15 years of academic leadership experience and over 20 years in higher education overall, he has demonstrated a strong ability to advance institutional effectiveness, enhance academic quality, and support student success.

At Gardner-Webb, Dr. Pillar has played a central role in advancing academic strategy, strengthening accreditation processes, and expanding workforce-aligned academic offerings. He serves as the institution鈥檚 liaison to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), guiding accreditation efforts and institutional readiness for reaffirmation. His leadership has emphasized data-informed decision-making, cross-campus collaboration, and the development of innovative academic programs designed to meet the needs of a diverse and evolving student population.

Before joining Gardner-Webb University, Dr. Pillar held senior leadership roles at Queens University of Charlotte, including Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. In that role, he led major institutional initiatives focused on student engagement, retention, and academic outcomes, and successfully directed the university鈥檚 accreditation reaffirmation process with no recommendations for follow-up actions.

In addition to his administrative leadership, Dr. Pillar is an accomplished faculty member and scholar. He has taught extensively in environmental science and chemistry, mentored student research, and led international experiential learning programs in locations such as Italy, Vietnam, Costa Rica, and Micronesia, emphasizing global engagement and sustainability. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Agronomy (Environmental Chemistry) from the University of Georgia, along with degrees from Kansas State University and the University of Minnesota.

鈥淒r. Greg Pillar has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to student success.聽During his tenure at Gardner-Webb University, he has provided effective leadership across Academic Affairs, guiding faculty, staff, and administrators through opportunities and challenges with professionalism, integrity, and collaboration. I am confident that Dr. Pillar will bring the same level of excellence and innovation to Pfeiffer.聽Although his presence and expertise will be missed at Gardner-Webb University, we are extremely proud of this promotion in his professional journey!聽鈥� 鈥� Nicole Waters, DNP, RN, CNE, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Gardner-Webb University.

黑料专区 recognizes Gardner-Webb University as an outstanding institution with a strong commitment to academic excellence, student success, and leadership development. Dr. Pillar鈥檚 work within that dynamic environment reflects both the strength of the institution and his ability to contribute meaningfully to its mission.

鈥淒r. Pillar comes to us after dozens of applicants were narrowed to a small pool of outstanding finalists who visited our campus. By the end of the process, we knew that had discovered in him a person who could not only nurture our traditional, liberal arts-based programming in Misenheimer and nurture the wonderful faculty and staff helping us deliver that programming, he is also capable of innovating within and around that space. We knew that we had discovered an academic leader who understands and appreciates the outstanding work that has been accomplished in our online graduate programming and in the Center for Health Sciences in Albemarle, but also someone who will help add to that growth by asking 鈥� alongside area CEOs and other thought leaders 鈥� 鈥榳hat鈥檚 next?鈥欌�� I know that I speak for the members of the search committee and others who interacted with Dr. Pillar in the search process when I say that we are excited to collaborate with him.鈥� 鈥� Dr. Scott Bullard, President of 黑料专区

Dr. Pillar鈥檚 appointment reflects 黑料专区鈥檚 continued commitment to advancing academic excellence, innovation, and student-centered learning. His extensive experience in accreditation, faculty development, and program innovation will further strengthen the university鈥檚 mission and position it for continued growth and impact. Dr. Pillar will begin his role at 黑料专区 on August 1, 2026

In August 2025, just two days before her youngest daughter left for Appalachian State University, Marissa enrolled in 黑料专区’s MBA program as part of the Novant cohort, a specialized group of healthcare professionals pursuing advanced business education while working full-time. The timing, she admits, was anything but convenient.

“Not only was my daughter going to college, I was about to go out of town for my fortieth high school reunion,” Marissa laughs. “And then Dr. Luck asked if I wanted to start two weeks early to join the first cohort. What did I say? Yes, of course.”

That willingness to embrace change has defined Marissa’s path. Over the course of her career, she stepped away from clinical work for five years to raise her family and write human interest stories for a local Charlotte paper. She covered nonprofits, advocated for community causes, and discovered a deep love of storytelling before returning to healthcare with new purpose. Now, with her children grown and a leadership role she’s still growing into, the MBA felt like the natural next step.

“I’m doing this so I can be a better leader,” she says. “Everyone asks if I’m trying to open my own business. I’m not. I want to understand why decisions are made, and be better equipped to lead the people on my team.”

Her first course, Change Management, arrived at a moment when change was everywhere in her life: a new role, an empty nest, and the loss of her mother all converging at once. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, Marissa found the coursework grounding. Frameworks like Kotter’s Eight Steps gave language and structure to experiences she was already living through.

“It gave us the science behind the strategy,” she reflects. “And suddenly I was seeing it everywhere, in my personal life and in how we manage initiatives at the hospital.”

Now several semesters in, Marissa looks forward to courses in data analytics and managerial accounting 鈥� yes, accounting. “I love numbers,” she says without hesitation. “I want to understand the ‘why’ behind the decisions being made at the top.” For Marissa, the Pfeiffer MBA has been about more than professional development. It’s a statement, to her team, her children, and herself, that learning has no expiration date. “I want to show my team and my children that you can go back to school at any age and get something real out of it,” she says. “This has truly been a gift.”

Whether you’re a seasoned professional ready to sharpen your leadership edge or simply someone who has been waiting for the right moment, Marissa’s story is a reminder that the right time is often right now. To learn more about 黑料专区’s MBA program and how it can fit your life and career goals, visit or reach out to our admissions team at gradadmissions@pfeiffer.edu. Your next chapter might be closer than you think.

Last Name	First Name	City	State
Allen	Joao	Concord	NC
Almond	Jerry	New London	NC
Altamirano	Maria	Mooresville	NC
Anderson	Madeline	Reidsville	NC
Andrews	Mason	Stokesdale	NC
Apostolou Salas	Fanny	Barquisimeto	..
Auman	Natalie	Jackson Springs	NC
Barefoot	Isaac	Garner	NC
Barker	Jacob	Gold Hill	NC
Barnes	Jon	Irmo	SC
Barnes	Hailey	Concord	NC
Bassett	Jenna	Salisbury	NC
Baucom	Onalese	Albemarle	NC
Beaver	Lucas	Thomasville	NC
Belk	Shelby	Marshville	NC
Bellantoni	Christian	Armonk	NY
Bentley	Mallory	Salisbury	NC
Bido	Lily	Coral Springs	FL
Blake	Jordan	Mount Pleasant	NC
Blankenship	Madison	Asheboro	NC
Blevins	Jake	Salisbury	NC
Boger	Lavender	Rockwell	NC
Bolz	Lily	Lexington	NC
Borst	Makayla	Salisbury	NC
Borst	Hayley	Salisbury	NC
Bowman	Abigail	Lenoir	NC
Branca	Quinlan	Mays Landing	NJ
Brandle	Jack	Charlotte	NC
Brandon	Loretta	Durham	NC
Bristol	Thomas	Rockwell	NC
Brown	Andrew	Metarie	LA
Brown	Jaylan	Asheboro	NC
Bruss	Andrew	Concord	NC
Buck	Cayman	Norwood	NC
Bulla	Mollie	Belews Creek	NC
Burgess	Mason	Edgemoor	SC
Burleigh	Sophie	Concord	NC
Burleson	Bricen	Kannapolis	NC
Butner	Ellen	Mebane	NC
Cabaniss-Ali	Lola	Mint Hill	NC
Cabrera Pena	Juan	York	SC
Campbell	Emily	Salisbury	NC
Cannon	Nevaeh	Clayton	NC
Cantini	Niccolo	Capannori (LU)	FC
Cantini	Tommaso	Capannori (LU)	FC
Caranna	Reese	Bend	OR
Carpenter	Reagan	Kannapolis	NC
Carroll	Mindy	High Point	NC
Carroll	Cian	Milford	CT
Carroll	Micah	Salisbury	NC
Caviness	Cohen	Asheboro	NC
Ciccone	Chase	Thomasville	NC
Clendenin	Calissa	Robbins	NC
Cline	Katelyn	Rockwell	NC
Coble	Mckinlee	New London	NC
Coleman	Alim	Harrisburg	NC
Collins	Kadynce	Salisbury	NC
Cooke	Taylor	Winston Salem	NC
Cooper	Charly	Bullock	NC
Cooper	Cameron	New London	NC
Costa de Freitas Balbi Kezen	Hugo	Rio de Janeiro
Cottone	Noah	Concord	NC
Couper	Ella	Harrisburg	NC
Cranford	Hailey	Denton	NC
Crespo	Pierre	Wendell	NC
Crump	Reece	Norwood	NC
顿鈥橝尘补迟辞	Lapo	Rimini	..
Dawkins	Omarion	Charlotte	NC
Deaton	Owen	Rockwell	NC
DeBerry	Mychal	Indian Trail	NC
Denoo	Landon	Fuquay Varina	NC
Dlamini	Nkosinathi	Pietermaritzburg	..
Dozier	Jahari	Charlotte	NC
Drake	Alyson	Concord	NC
Dry	Drake	Richfield	NC
Dualan	Aiden	Carver	MN
Duggan	Bridget	Kernersville	NC
Dula	Dylan	Granite Falls	NC
Duncan	Janyla	Kannapolis	NC
Dycus	Brody	Ashland	VA
Edwards	Mya	Salisbury	NC
Elkins	Caitlyn	Goldston	NC
Evans	Juanita	Aberdeen	NC
Faavesi	Anasty	Rockwell	NC
Faircloth	Savannah	Albemarle	NC
Faircloth	Kayleigh	Albemarle	NC
Faircloth	Skylar	Randleman	NC
Finley	Collin	Stedman	NC
Fisher	Chase	Salisbury	NC
Fletcher	Jeremiah	Brentwood	NY
Fletcher	Owen	Niceville	FL
Flinchum	Madeline	Franklinville	NC
Flores	Anthony	Decatur	GA
Flores Cruz	Sara	Albemarle	NC
Flores Perez	Crysty	Concord	NC
Flores Perez	Yasmin	Concord	NC
Ford	Ariyan	Concord	NC
Foxwell	David	Va Beach	VA
Foxwell	Lukas	Virginia Beach	VA
Francis	Ivye	Denton	NC
Furr	Addison	Albemarle	NC
Galarza Figueroa	Joana	Lexington	NC
Gama	Gabriela	Matthews	NC
Ganesh	Kimberly	Concord	NC
Garro	Drew	Raleigh	NC
Garver	Olivia	Clover	SC
Gatz	Aubrie	Locust	NC
Genao	Evan	Wake Forest	NC
Germain	Claire	Newport	NC
Gillikin	Christopher	Newport	NC
Goldstein	Mackenzie	Bedford	NH
Gonzalez	Ethan	Miramar	FL
Gosnell	Halie	Mount Holly	NC
Gram	Madison	Albemarle	NC
Grandchester	Esther	Raleigh	NC
Griffin	Hailey	Mars Hill	NC
Gunter	Kaileigh	Raleigh	NC
Gunter	Jenna	Concord	NC
Haeg	Brooklyn	Concord	NC
Hairston	Ava	Winston Salem	NC
Hansen	Jonathan	Fort Mill	SC
Harding	Jessica	Richfield	NC
Hartman	Madison	Harrisburg	NC
Heilig	Morgan	Liberty	NC
Henkel	Jacob	Ada	MI
Herman	Kirstyn	Taylorsville	NC
Hollar	Aidan	Taylorsville	NC
Honeycutt	Rylee	Clinton	NC
Hooker	Wesley	Savannah	GA
Hopkins	Tiger	Lewiston	ME
Howard	Victoria	Little River	SC
Howard	SaraKate	Siler City	NC
Huffman	Andrew	Salisbury	NC
Huneycutt	Lannah	Albemarle	NC
Hunt	Chance	Norwood	NC
Hurley	Devin	Troy	NC
Hussey	Kelsey	Bear Creek	NC
Ingenito	Haley	Ridgeland	SC
Iordache	Stefan	Bucharest	..
Isley	Hannah	Rockwell	NC
Isley	Riley	Rockwell	NC
Jaramillo	Jaime	Oakboro	NC
Javier	Joseph	Kannapolis	NC
Johnson	Joshua	Raleigh	NC
Johnson	Kohen	Kings Mountain	NC
Johnson	Morgan	Ramseur	NC
Jones	Joshua	Blainville	QC
Jordan	Anna	Taylorsville	NC
Kidd	Cayley	Bennett	NC
Klotz	Sage	Roanoke Rapids	NC
Krupa	John	Aldie	VA
LaFave	Emma	Jacksonville	NC
Lancaster	Jackson	Concord	NC
Landaverde	Benjamin	Kannapolis	NC
Landaverde	Elisa	Kannapolis	NC
Lane	Peyton	Williamston	NC
Laney	Kennedy	Albemarle	NC
Lauritzen	Jonathan	骋枚迟别产辞谤驳
Lawson	Jeannie	Archdale	NC
Leister	Anakin	Trinity	NC
Lemon	Jaiden	Swansboro	NC
Lentz	Katelyn	Salisbury	NC
Lester	Taylor	Albemarle	NC
Limbert	Seth	Mooresville	NC
Lomax	Madison	Mount Gilead	NC
Lowder	Tierra	Rockwell	NC
Lyons	Rahnier	Ocracoke	NC
Martin	Sara	Concord	NC
Mayhew	Coyt	Statesville	NC
Maynard	Clara	Richfield	NC
McCarthy	Kaylee	Stafford	VA
McDonald	Bethany	Kannapolis	NC
McGrath	Haedyn	Buford	GA
Mecimore	Ben	Oakboro	NC
Michael	Alexander	New Orleans	LA
Michael	Lettie	Lexington	NC
Middelthon	Johan	Davidson	NC
Miller	Lauren	Sailsbury	NC
Miller	Faith	Toccoa	GA
Minus	Jennifer	Dorchester	SC
Miranda Cruz	Jason	Charlotte	NC
Mishak	Hayden	Gold Hill	NC
Moon	Carter	Albemarle	NC
Moore	Rhonda	Salisbury	NC
Moore	Zachary	Indian Trail	NC
Moore	Kendyll	Mooresville	NC
Moore	Haylee	Rockwell	NC
Moran Sanchez	Jonathan	Stanfield	NC
Moretz	Sawyer	Concord	NC
Morgan	Freddie	Albemarle	NC
Morton	Makalyn	Locust	NC
Mosteller	Mason	Hildebran	NC
Mougin	Maya	Blue Ridge	VA
Mowrey	Meagan	Denver	NC
Nance	Ellasen	Cleveland	NC
Nash	McKynzy	Indian Trail	NC
Nelson	Grace	Sanford	NC
Nguyen	Quang	Chicago	IL
North	Tatum	King	NC
Olsen	Shane	Charlotte	NC
Oporto Lujan	Mateo
Osborne	Jacob	HIckory	NC
Owens	Robert	Thomasville	NC
Page	Kirstyn	King	NC
Palmer	Tryle	Unionville	NC
Pardue	Joshua	Siloam	NC
Parra-Cordero	Mia	Salisbury	NC
Perdue	Kyler	Asheboro	NC
Perry	Emma	Rockingham	NC
Petzel	Dawson	Godwin	NC
Powell	Cannon	Harrisburg	NC
Pratt	Ozzie	Wingate	NC
Profitt	Lindsey	Newton	NC
Quesenberry	Lydia	Mount Pleasant	NC
Rangolan	Ethan	Monroe	NC
Rauer	Laurin	Melle	..
Reeder	Rachel	Betsy Layne	KY
Reeder	Wyatt	New London	NC
Reese	Jackson	Bluffton	SC
Riley	Lucas	Thomasville	NC
Rinderle	Logan	Erie	PA
Rios Serrano	Diego	Durham	NC
Rocha	Jacob	St Petersburg	FL
Rodriguez	Saul	Concord	NC
Rodriguez	Genis	Les Franqueses del Valles
Safrit	Samuel	China Grove	NC
Saunders	Sara	Denton	NC
Scott	Marion	Mebane	NC
Shelton	Joseph	Reidsville	NC
Sides	Renick	China Grove	NC
Sides	Emmalyn	China Grove	NC
Siler	Isabella	Thomasville	NC
Simmons	Kamryn	Ellerbe	NC
Sloan	Zachary	Zebulon	NC
Smith	Joseph	Denton	NC
Smith	Zoe	Mount Pleasant	NC
Smith	Madison	Albemarle	NC
Soriano Torres	Dayanara	Concord	NC
Spangler	Gracie	Clinton	SC
Spencer	Khamani	Indian Trail	NC
Spencer	Kamryn	Indian Trail	NC
Steffel	Kaitlyn	N Forest Lake	MN
Stem	Larson	Advance	NC
Stennett	Kayleigh	Kannapolis	NC
Stewart	Landry	China Grove	NC
Stewart	Makenna	Madison	NC
Stewart	Drake	Simpsonville	SC
Sucarichi	Sean	Coral Springs	FL
Sullivan	Megan	Albemarle	NC
Swaim	Hailey	Thomasville	NC
Tardiff	Mason	Peterborough	ON
Tate	Madison	Lexington	NC
Tejeda Gonzalez	Kevin	Rock Hill	SC
Thomas	Jada	Charlotte	NC
Thompson	Bethany	Albemarle	NC
Tomlinson	Morgan	Gold Hill	NC
Trull	Zivah	Richfield	NC
Tucker	Katherine	Salisbury	NC
van Bergeijk	Aristide	Groningen
Vang	Skyler	Albemarle	NC
Vanhoy	Caroline	New London	NC
Varner	Madison	Trinity	NC
Vaughn	Heather	Graham	NC
Velazquez Perez	Mark	Salisbury	NC
Venable	Brayden	King	NC
Vinson	Neely	Salisbury	NC
Wagoner	Virginia	Misenheimer	NC
Washington	Zoe	New London	NC
Wellman	Jayden	Kannapolis	NC
West	Emily	Asheboro	NC
Whitehead	Carson	Ramseur	NC
Wingard	Nevaeh	Concord	NC
Wise	Meredith	Albemarle	NC
Wolfe	Austyn Grace	Winston Salem	NC
Wood	Robert	Dallas	NC
Wright	Molly	Harrisburg	NC
Wright	Jaiden	Leland	NC
Wyatt	Rachel	Stoneville	NC
Wyatt	Emma	Kannapolis	NC
Xie	You	Fayetteville	NC
Yopp	Caleb	Christiansbrg	VA
York	Matthew	Charlotte	NC
Yow	Geneva	Waxhaw	NC

Students enter the program with an average of 3,125 direct patient care hours, acquired through positions including medical assistant, scribe, EMT/paramedic, certified nursing assistant, phlebotomist, patient care technician, and athletic trainer. The cohort also averaged 180 physician assistant shadowing hours.

Students range in age from 22 to 31, with anaverage age of 25. The class is 72% female and 28% maleand includes six first-generation college students. One student is a 黑料专区 graduate.

The cohort reflects both strong in-state representation and national reach. Twenty-three of the 28 students are North Carolina residents, with others coming from California, Florida, Illinois, and Michigan. Twenty students earned undergraduate degrees from North Carolina institutions, and the program received applications from 40 of the 50 U.S. states during the most recent admissions cycle.

Common undergraduate majors include Biology, Health Science, Exercise Science, Biological Sciences, and Psychology, with one student entering the program holding a master鈥檚 degree. Top feeder institutions represented include UNC鈥揅hapel Hill, NC State University, UNC Charlotte, East Carolina University, and UNC Wilmington. UNC Charlotte has historically been the program鈥檚 leading feeder institution.

Caylee Clayton, from Norwood, NC, and a recent graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, stated, 鈥淚 chose 黑料专区鈥檚 Physician Assistant program for its strong community and excellence in PA education, and I look forward to expanding my clinical knowledge as I grow to become a capable and compassionate provider for my future patients”

鈥淭his class reflects the academic strength, depth of character, clinical readiness, and commitment to service that defines Pfeiffer鈥檚 Physician Assistant Program,鈥� said Dr. Christopher Boe, Dean of the Graduate School. 鈥淲e are proud to welcome these students and look forward to supporting them as they prepare to serve patients in and around the community.鈥� The 黑料专区 Physician Assistant Program is based in Albemarle, NC, at the Center for Health Sciences, and prepares graduates for patient-centered clinical practice through rigorous academics, hands-on training, and a mission-driven approach to healthcare education.

The finance leaders thriving in today’s business environment aren’t just technically proficient. They’re strategic advisors who translate numbers into narratives, risks into opportunities, and complexity into clarity. 黑料专区’s MBA in Finance is designed specifically to develop these capabilities – transforming finance professionals from skilled analysts into the strategic partners every organization desperately needs.

The Shift Nobody Warned You About

Traditional finance roles are focused on accuracy, compliance, and control. Get the numbers right. File the reports on time. Don’t let anyone spend money they shouldn’t. Those responsibilities haven’t disappeared, but they’re no longer the full job description.

Today’s finance leaders are expected to forecast market shifts, evaluate strategic alternatives, guide capital allocation, and communicate financial implications to stakeholders who don’t speak the language of balance sheets. This evolution creates a critical gap. Many finance professionals were trained for technical accuracy but not strategic influence. They can reconcile accounts but struggle to articulate why one strategic path creates more shareholder value than another.

The organizations that recognize this gap are actively seeking finance leaders who can do both: maintain technical rigor while driving strategic conversations. This is exactly where Pfeiffer’s program positions you.

What Strategic Finance Leadership Actually Means

Strategic finance isn’t about abandoning technical skills. It’s about applying them in service of broader business objectives. It’s walking into a product development meeting and immediately recognizing that the proposed feature roadmap will push breakeven six months further out than the company can sustain. It’s reviewing a potential partnership and calculating not just the obvious revenue implications, but the working capital impact, the operational leverage, and the effect on key financial ratios that matter to lenders and investors.

Through Pfeiffer’s curriculum鈥攊ncluding Managerial Finance, Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation, and Capital Markets and Investing鈥� you’ll develop exactly this kind of strategic thinking. You’ll learn to build forecasts that withstand scrutiny, spot red flags in due diligence, and evaluate capital structure decisions with confidence.

Traditional Foundations Meet Emerging Frontiers

What makes Pfeiffer’s MBA in Finance distinctive is its dual focus on fundamental finance excellence and preparation for the industry’s future. You’ll master the core competencies every finance leader needs: valuation techniques, capital budgeting, risk analysis, and portfolio theory. But you’ll also explore what’s next through the Frontiers of Finance course, covering blockchain, cryptocurrency, and decentralized finance.

This combination matters because finance leaders can’t afford to be stuck in yesterday’s frameworks. Whether you’re evaluating a traditional acquisition or assessing a FinTech partnership, you need both timeless financial principles and awareness of how technology is reshaping the landscape. The program requires no advanced finance background, making it accessible to professionals across industries who want to lead with financial fluency.

The Competitive Advantage

Finance is no longer a back-office function focused purely on record-keeping. It’s a strategic capability that drives competitive advantage when led by professionals who can bridge financial rigor and business strategy. Organizations need finance leaders who can do more than count the score. They need leaders who can help set the strategy, evaluate the opportunities, assess the risks, and communicate the path forward.

Ready to become the strategic finance leader your organization needs?

黑料专区’s MBA in Finance prepares you to lead with precision, strategy, and insight. Learn more and apply by clicking the button below.

They each need to have practiced as OTs for at least three years and logged a minimum of 4,000 hours treating patients with hand and upper extremity disorders. After that, they must pass a comprehensive exam. What鈥檚 more, the material they need to master for certification isn鈥檛 learned in formal classroom settings, but largely via on-the-job experience and by staying up to date with the latest research and treatment innovations.

Fortunately, one unusual resource for the Burlesons (and other OT alumni at Pfeiffer who want to become hand therapists) has emerged in the free assistance provided to them by one of their former professors at Pfeiffer, , an Assistant OT Professor at Pfeiffer since 2021.

For about a year, Bartholdi, a Certified Hand Therapist since 2003, has been leading his former students through several online and in-person meetings of a 鈥渏ournal club.鈥� He goes over the latest research in publications devoted to hand therapy. He also helps surmount challenges of the more difficult cases that the club鈥檚 participants are working on, and he reviews the latest treatment techniques. He acquaints or reacquaints the club鈥檚 participants with best practices.

鈥淚n a lot of clinics where these students work, they may be the only hand therapist on staff,鈥� said Bartholdi, explaining why he formed the club. 鈥淪o, they really don鈥檛 have a lot of mentorship out there to help them through some of these cases. I have become a resource for them.鈥�

Grant Burleson said he has found the sessions 鈥渧ery beneficial.鈥�

鈥淚f we have difficulty treating a patient, are stuck somewhere, or we want some help, it鈥檚 good to bounce ideas off of each other as fellow clinicians to be able to help treat patients. It鈥檚 also good to study analysis tools like risk kinematics or less commonly treated elbow structures, or to consider how the body works here or how I can help this person there.鈥�

Bartholdi described a myriad of topics covered in the club sessions. Recently, for example, he illuminated different 鈥減rovocative testing techniques and strengthening and treatment techniques revolving around the wrist and injuries associated with the wrist.鈥� He鈥檚 also having his group explore 鈥渉ow we can use casting to improve mobility and function with (patients鈥�) hands.鈥� He鈥檚 planning to share ways to discern the source of pain and injury in undiagnosed conditions in the upper extremities, which he learned about at a recent conference.

Word about the club has gotten around — to the point where grads from other OT programs have begun joining it as well.

Bartholdi said the kind of mentorship he鈥檚 offering through the club 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 traditionally happen鈥� with professors at other programs, and Rachel Burleson praised her former professor for making it happen.

鈥淚t just shows his character and how much he really does care for his students,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 lot of professors could easily just let us graduate, let us go on our way, but you can tell he honestly cares about his students and wants them to be successful.鈥�

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The pilot study鈥檚 results were 鈥渟o significant鈥� that MSOT will replicate the study this fall with a larger number of students from several elementary schools, both near Pfeiffer and in more urban areas, said Dr. Jennifer Waid, an Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy-Pediatrics at MSOT who鈥檚 supervising the research.

鈥淓ven though we are a very digital society, research is very clear that handwriting legibility, especially in grades K-4, has a strong impact on academic success,鈥� Waid said. 

鈥淚f the results of the larger study are as significant as the pilot, we may be able to establish RediSpace paper as an evidence-based tool that teachers can use to support general education students in grades 3 and up who are on grade level, but struggle with handwriting legibility — which, if not addressed, can eventually cause them to fall behind.鈥�

RediSpace paper looks like notebook paper but features slightly bolder margin lines (the left margin is green, and the right margin is red). It also has faint vertical measured marks along the writing line; these provide a space for each letter and blank spaces between words. The vertical marks also provide visual guidance for the size of lowercase letters.

The pilot study looked at the impact on spacing within and between words. Student researcher Ellie Riddle called it 鈥渢ruly eye-opening.鈥�

鈥淲e were able to see firsthand how significantly handwriting legibility impacts students鈥� schoolwork, and how a simple one-step intervention tool (like RediSpace paper) can make such a positive difference in their handwriting,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his research has been incredibly rewarding, and we hope it will encourage teachers, parents, and occupational therapists to use this simple tool to take students鈥� handwriting legibility one step further.鈥�

In addition to Riddle, the MSOT students who participated in the pilot study included Grace Broccoli, Brianna Gulickson, Caroline Jessen, Martha Juarez, Emily Peck, and Mackenzie Prather.

As for the larger study, Waid is seeking MSOT student researchers drawn from the entire program. They will explore how RediSpace paper impacts letter-size consistency, alignment on the writing line, and margin adherence. Waid and her students are hoping to pay for the $3k study cost via a fundraising campaign at聽pfeiffer.edu/pediatricOTresearch.

The two MSOT studies are a response to voluminous research demonstrating that learning to write letters (or gaining handwriting automaticity) supports the learning of phonics, spelling, symbolic representation of the letters and more complex cognitive skills related to literacy, particularly in the years before 5th grade, when students begin becoming efficient typists.

When letter formation doesn鈥檛 become automatic there are numerous consequences. Said Waid: 鈥淚t creates a heavier cognitive load as the child tries to not only remember how to form a 鈥榖鈥� correctly, but also how to sit it on the line correctly, space it within the word correctly, spell the word he is trying to spell, get the sentence on the paper before he forgets, etc. This then leads to sizable challenges when they are trying to plan a 5-sentence paragraph and 5-paragraph essay.鈥�

Students who struggle with handwriting automaticity 鈥渙ften have illegible handwriting and struggle to get their thoughts on the paper,鈥� she added. 鈥淥r, if they can get them on the paper, the teacher struggles to read the content accurately, which can result in lower grades.鈥�

Waid touts the two RediSpace studies as ideal for MSOT students 鈥渋nterested in eventually practicing in pediatrics鈥� because 鈥渢his research will directly apply to their practice.鈥� 

The studies also foster an understanding of the research process, which Waid called 鈥渋mperative鈥� for all OT students. 鈥淥Ts are required to utilize evidence-based practice, which means that all of the assessments and interventions we use with clients of all ages need to be proven effective by research.鈥�