Emerson Lyons, Notre Dame Mendoza MSM Class of 2026
Age: 22
Hometown: Southport, CT
Undergraduate Institution and Major: College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA), Health Science & Music (double major)
Pre-MSM Work Experience: Internship experiences at IPG Health and Cambridge Insurance Advisors. At IPG Health, I was an Account Management intern; at Cambridge Insurance Advisors, I was a Rotational Business intern with a focus in healthcare financial analytics.
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
At the end of my junior year, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare business; however, as College of the Holy Cross is a liberal arts institution, I lacked classroom business experience. I wanted to expand and strengthen my toolkit before entering the workforce, while keeping my options as open as possible. I found that the Masters of Science in Management program perfectly matched what I had been looking for, helping me gain the skills necessary to succeed in business.
Why did you choose Notre Dame Mendoza? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I chose Notre Dame for a multitude of reasons. First, it holds a strong brand name. I wanted to attend a university that was easily recognized and respected, and has a great alumni network. Everyone with whom I connected spoke very highly of the school, both in terms of academics and overall experience. The MSM program stood out to me in my initial research as well, as the variety of classes would provide me with a strong foundation on which I could build my career. It was also important to me that class sizes would be relatively small, as connections with professors are often extremely valuable to one’s learning and success.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the class?
I believe my unique background is my most differentiating contribution to the class. Although this is a STEM-designated program, my undergraduate majors are significantly different from most others. A lot of my classmates studied economics or some other business-oriented major. However, my science and music background allows me to think about and approach topics differently.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
One of my bucket list items is to travel to every country in Europe!
Post-MSM career interests:
Healthcare marketing or consulting.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I would attend at least one of the information sessions and small group Q&A sessions. Everyone in the admissions department is extremely friendly and willing to answer any and all questions with transparency. Every minute spent talking with an admissions member is a minute of demonstrated interest.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I was unable to visit Notre Dame for any of the interested/accepted student events. If I could go back, I would definitely make the effort to fly out to South Bend to meet professors, faculty, and other prospective students in person!
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
The admissions interview. I was nervous prior to the Zoom call; however, the person with whom I met was very personable and eased my anxiety. It felt as though I was having a casual conversation rather than an intense interview.
What is your initial impression of the Notre Dame Mendoza students/culture/community?
Everyone is extremely nice, welcoming, and inclusive. Notre Dame puts a lot of effort into making welcome week and orientation fun and exciting rather than nerve-racking.
What is one thing you have learned about Notre Dame Mendoza that has surprised you?
Notre Dame is always looking to improve the student experience. Faculty members actually listen to students and their requests, and the college is very accommodating to testing and other personal needs.
