MBA Outstanding Student of the Year offers advice to those coming next 

Graduating this past May, Doug Chapman MBA’22 was honored as the 2022 MBA Outstanding Student of the Year; a recognition by faculty of his demonstrated overall excellence in academic performance. 

Chapman was recently featured in a video spotlight where he shared memories of his experiences at Mason and offered advice to both current and future Mason graduate students. 

“I am very thankful to have [had] the full support of my employer and my family, which I really think was vital in order to make my overall experience successful, because you can’t do it without a good support system,” says Chapman. 

He later added that although working full-time and being in the MBA program was a challenge, it enabled him to incorporate what he learned in the classroom in real time. “I was able to use my company as a live example of how to do a strategy for the project [in class], and that actually helped because we were able to use some of that [in our company] for our annual strategic planning,” says Chapman. “I’m able to give back to my company and give them something of value while I’m actually learning.” 

Chapman says he chose the Mason MBA for three main reasons: its reputation, being military friendly, and offering in person learning.  

The MBA program is ranked #67 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Part-Time MBA Programs. It is also ranked one of the Best Part-Time MBA Programs for Veterans.

“Working full-time, doing the MBA program full-time, really when it comes down to administrative things, you really need someone to help you quickly navigate through them,” says Chapman. “I was very thankful that both before I accepted the program as well as ongoing during the program, that those support structures were there to really help make me successful so I could focus on learning.” 

“One thing I would tell anyone else is number one that the Mason faculty here is invested in your success. I really felt that throughout my entire program that each of my instructors made themselves available to me and try and get to know you as a person, and I really appreciated that.” 

Chapman currently is the vice president of operations at CoreSys Consulting Services, LLC. 

Conveniently located in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Mason’s in-person MBA program delivers the flexibility and accessibility working professionals need to fast track their careers, pivot industries, or grow their own businesses. Students gain diverse business skills, broader insights, and confidence while developing their professional network by connecting with classmates and Mason’s international business school alumni network of more than 35,000 members. Students have the opportunity to broaden their global business perspective with firsthand international experience through the Global Residency Program. Accelerated or part-time options are available. Learn more about the Mason MBA.