Master of Liberal Arts Students

“Deep learning in Leadership and Ethics through the liberal arts lens is a dream come true for me as a student. The UChicago MLA program allows me to transfer my real-world experience in scaling startups to the realm of academic thought and beyond, all while being a part of an exciting learning community that challenges my current notions and helps me grow as an individual and executive.”

Cara Brennan Allamano

Chief People Officer, Lattice

“As I grew in my consulting career, I realized that EQ becomes increasingly important over IQ as one assumes leadership responsibilities. The MLA program gives me a unique opportunity to get formal classroom training in the liberal arts, especially in the disciplines of classical philosophy and ethics that have helped me hone my leadership skills.”

Kaushik Bhattacharya

Director, Data & Analytics, North Highland

“School has always been a happy place for me, and I had desperately wanted to study literature. The MLA program has made that possible and opened me up to a broader skillset. I have formed connections with students from all over the world, including Columbia, India, Australia, and China. I look forward to my class each week and can’t wait to discuss the readings with my professor and peers.”

Fatema Burhani

Mathematics Teacher, UChicago Laboratory Schools

“I pursued an MLA because I wanted to satisfy my interest in asking tough questions in a structured yet flexible, and rigorous learning environment. The program more than met expectations. It taught me to ask better questions, dig deeper for answers, challenged me to consider perspectives outside my expertise, and connected me to a community of talented and curious individuals.”

Sarah Hope Marshall

Founder and Principal, Profound Hope Industries

“The MLA has provided me with an unparalleled intellectual feast without requiring relocation that might interrupt my professional life. Waking up early in the morning here in Shanghai and immediately diving into the prescient geniuses of Weber or Kant, I am able to discover time-tested insights that help me think more clearly and make better decisions in this time of unpredictability.”

Fei Ni

Chairman & CEO, Pingyuan App-Ark Education

“If you want your idea to win in today’s fast paced, time-starved, and technology-driven workplaces, the ability to communicate and advocate your position coherently and concisely is a key differentiator. The MLA program helps you develop skills to better organize your thoughts, sharpen your points, and deliver a strong argument.”

Brian O’Connor

Head of Embedded Banking, JP Morgan

“The MLA is a unique opportunity to challenge myself to think differently, explore new fields of study, and enrich my life by building robust intellectual relationships with colleagues and professors. The magic of this program is the way in which it teaches you, through rigorous study and debate, to become the most passionate and empowered version of yourself.”

Natalie Schreyer

Freelance Journalist

“I am sure the motivation to enroll at the Graham School differs from one student to the next. For me, my hope was that I would be exposed to new and challenging thought during my time there. It isn’t just that my hope was realized—it is how the experience seems to have changed the way I think, listen, read, and write.”

Mark Heaney

Chief Executive Officer, DTRT Health Acquisition Corp

“Each deep conversation with my professors, each vivid discussion with my classmates, and each page of the books I read, help me to better articulate my worldview, understand what may have been holding me back previously, and paint a vivid picture of the future destinations that I want to explore.”

Fabiola Delgado

Assistant VP for Finance and Chief of Staff for National Laboratories, University of Chicago

“I pursued the MLA because I was looking to satisfy my curiosity about a range of topics and complement my other interests and activities. In addition to achieving these objectives, I appreciate the exposure I have received to a range of opinions and perspectives. I feel I am a better listener and have improved my critical reasoning skills as a result.”

Kelly Martin

Senior Director, Investment Banking, William Blair & Company

“As a midcareer professional whose role is increasingly focused upon leadership and management, I wanted to undertake further study and the MLA with its concentration in ethics and leadership was a perfect fit. I had always felt that I could enrich my life experience through further study in the social sciences and humanities. I have been rewarded so greatly in these areas through my MLA studies.”

Joseph Monaghan

Partner, Holding Redlich Lawyers

“I have always had a passion for learning and a desire to challenge myself. The MLA program presented a way to enhance my skills—not only as an individual but also as a participant and leader in our society. The MLA attests to the fact that there is inherent value associated with studying the humanities and in developing a background and comfort with the diverse topics that comprise the liberal arts.”

Andrew F. Shorr

Division Head, Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Respiratory Services, Medstar Washington Hospital Center; and Professor of Medicine, Georgetown University

“I became much more interested in people and a much more empathic leader because I now had the ability to understand the context behind any problem and solution, and I keep getting insights…even three years after graduating.”

Omer Imtiaz

Director, PwC

“Once you start, there is a thirst within you for more, We’re always looking for courses to take and books to read. The desire for new knowledge and understanding never ends.”

Rosemarie and Tom Mitchell

Cofounders, ABS Associates

“Over the years, I developed blinders, inadvertently looking at things quickly from the same perspective. The MLA program has taught me to slow-down, take a step back, and come at a challenge from different angles. There’s no rush. I feel I’m much more deliberate now as opposed to being automatic.”

Murad Sabzali

Founding Partner and Board Director, CG Life