Online Graduate Degree Offers Flexibility and Career Advancement

The program was launched in 2021 through the university's School of Applied Sciences.

The student stories highlighted below illustrate the impact of the MSSA program for the Class of 2024.

Dean Demers

Dean Demers, of West Hartford, Connecticut, was seeking an online graduate program that offered an opportunity to learn programming languages that are essential to his career goals. He was also looking for a unique blend of flexibility, community and career advancement opportunities.

He found all that and more in the online master's program in sport analytics program at Ole Miss.

As an ESPN researcher, Demer's career can be unpredictable and his schedule can be challenging. He knew that adding another demand on his time in pursuit of a graduate degree was a challenge he was willing to accept because he wanted to quickly advance his career to the next level, preferably in an analytics role with a professional sports team.

"Being able to obtain a master's degree in 12-15 months is a major plus as someone who hopes to progress quickly," he said.

Megan Black, graduate enrollment manager for the School of Applied Sciences, has observed Demers' appreciation for the camaraderie he's found with peers in the program and his dedication to preparing for his future.

"Dean has shown a commitment to learning and preparing himself for his future career that's truly impressive," Black said. "He knows what he needs to do to be able to be successful on his chosen career path, and he's dedicated much time and effort toward accomplishing his goals.

"With online programs, this isn't always so evident, but Dean has made himself stand out among his peers."

As far as advancing his professional goals, Demers is eager to get to the next step in his career and apply what he's learned in a position where he can help professional teams make smarter decisions and predict outcomes.

"One of the best ways to grow in the sports industry is learning sport analytics, with data and technology continually getting stronger," he said. "I feel like I have got a wide range of skills to add to the resume that could help in many different areas of sports analytics, from front office decisions, player development or business related."

Patrick Herry

When he was in high school, Patrick Herry realized that he wanted to pursue a career that combined two areas in which he had natural talent: analytics and sports. This was solidified when the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native was in college at Louisiana State University and worked with the LSU baseball team as a student analytics manager.

When he began looking for a master's program that would strengthen his knowledge of analytics and skills in programming and data management, the Ole Miss MSSA program immediately stood out as the right one for him.

Because Herry is working part-time, choosing a program that he could fit around his other commitments was a primary concern, especially because his work schedule could be unpredictable.

"The MSSA program has been a great opportunity for me post-undergrad to pursue something I am passionate about while having the opportunity to still work as often as necessary," he said.

Herry found that the online nature of the program has not hindered his ability to make connections with his instructors and peers. In fact, he found that they have been extremely professional and supportive throughout the past year.

"My fellow classmates have been very helpful in providing feedback through discussion posts and answering questions whenever possible," he said.

"When communicating with teachers, I have found that each teacher has every students' success at the forefront of their class, and every teacher in the program has been both willing and able to assist in any way to help students reach their goals."

Through the program, Herry has gained insights of both how to work with data and how sports teams use data. Further, he has applied knowledge from his coursework both to his job as well as to personal research related to sports data.

"I believe that earning this degree will impact my life by providing me with both a new network of professionals as well as an additional boost to my skills and abilities as I pursue full-time work in sport business," Herry said. "The ability to add a reputable school like the University of Mississippi to my resume and network will help me establish myself in a difficult yet rewarding profession."

Delaney Rummell

With one year of athletics eligibility remaining and a keen interest in building a career in athletics administration, Delaney Rummell transferred from the University of Illinois to Oxford to compete in the SEC as an infielder for the Ole Miss softball team.

She was excited that the MSSA program complemented her plans by allowing her to complete her graduate degree in one year.

"This program fits perfectly into my life," said Rummell, of Lisle, Illinois. "I could not imagine a better fit for my fifth year of being a collegiate student-athlete."

The fully online delivery of the program was a major bonus for Rummell as a student-athlete, especially since she was able to build her schedule around her athletics commitments.

Rummell has excelled in her coursework and impressed the MSSA faculty with her high-energy approach to the program.

"Delaney consistently delivers exceptional work with remarkable speed, maintaining a standard of excellence in quality," said Minsoo Kang, MSSA program coordinator. "Her bright and kind demeanor shines through in every interaction, making her a joy to collaborate with.

"Remarkably, she balances her achievements with her commitments as a student-athlete in the M.S. in Sport Analytics program."

All of Rummell's experiences at Ole Miss, from academics to athletics, have been beneficial, and she said she's excited about how the degree will influence her career goals.

"This program has truly exceeded my expectations," she said. "I feel very prepared to enter the sport industry, and this program has played a large role in my readiness for the next chapter."

Delaney's next chapter will begin in June in Indianapolis, where she'll begin a postgraduate internship at the NCAA national office working in leadership development.

Isaac Ukwu

A big part of the reason Isaac Ukwu chose Ole Miss as a transfer student-athlete for the Rebels football team was the opportunity to enroll in the MSSA program.

Not only did the program offer him an opportunity to complete a master's degree in one year, he was drawn to it because it offered an intersection between two aspects of his life, sports and data.

A defensive end from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, Ukwu admitted that, other than playing or coaching, he hadn't previously considered sports as part of his long-term career plan. However, the MSSA program opened his professional goals to new possibilities and other aspects of sports, such as front office management or analytics.

Ukwu also values the feedback and focus he received from his instructors and has impressed those who have witnessed his academic and athletic journeys.

"Isaac exemplifies the resiliency and dedication required to be a high-level student and athlete," said Carter Kruckenberg, assistant director for athletics academic support.

Ukwu was a consistent contributor during the Rebels' 11-2 campaign in 2023, and in April, he signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.

Looking ahead, he understands how valuable his master's degree can be and how the real-world applications, concepts and topics will benefit his career path.

"Obtaining a master's degree is no easy feat, and it is a symbol of great achievement in your field," Ukwu said. "Also, it will expand my work opportunities and earning capabilities."

See more photos from the MSSA Class of 2024