Three executive degrees have enhanced the careers, lives of numerous alumni.

Auburn University recently marked a major milestone, celebrating 25 years of graduate executive education. Visiting alumni, students, and faculty celebrated this silver anniversary with a weekend of campus activities, including a reunion banquet, football tailgate, and brunch.

Comprised of three separate degree programs—Executive MBA (EMBA), Physicians Executive MBA (PEMBA) and Master of Real Estate Development (MRED)—Auburn’s executive programs have enabled hundreds of business professionals, physicians and commercial real estate developers to advance their careers through an innovative hybrid learning model that fosters lifelong connections and exceptional education.

These graduate executive degree programs are designed for mid-to-senior level professionals who are already established in their careers and seek to elevate their leadership skills without stepping away from their professional roles. They feature a cohort-based structure—encouraging participants to learn collaboratively and build lasting professional networks—that blends distance learning, on-campus residencies, and domestic and international study trips.

Auburn’s pioneering approach to graduate executive education

Kim Kuerten, former executive director of Graduate Executive Programs, was a member of the founding leadership team that developed the college’s three graduate executive programs and championed the innovative "hybrid" delivery model launched with the EMBA in 1998. This model's success led to its adoption in subsequent programs (PEMBA and MRED), enhancing their reach and impact.

Kuerten noted that while schools in major cities held frequent on-campus classes, Auburn's location necessitated a different strategy. The hybrid model was designed to accommodate professionals unable to commute regularly, offering a flexible blend of distance  learning and occasional residencies. This approach allowed students to advance their careers alongside their studies, establishing Auburn's executive programs as leaders in accessible education.

“We knew we had to leverage outside of our geographic area,” Kuerten said. “We designed a hybrid program from the beginning, and I will say now, 27 years later, almost every [executive graduate  degree] program is hybrid. We were really one of the first hybrid programs in the country.”

Joe Collazo, assistant director of Graduate Executive Programs and adjunct faculty member, said another unique characteristic of Auburn’s EMBA program is its emphasis on deep understanding and interpersonal relationships.

“We’re extraordinarily committed to expanding the functional capabilities of our students, not just giving them a diploma at the end of a set of courses,” said Collazo, who has taught courses on leadership, ethics, and change management.

Students gain lifelong friendships and professional connections by being part of a cohort that completes their courses together. Each student brings unique expertise and knowledge to the cohort, which creates a pool of intelligence that supports students long into their careers, Collazo said.

The alumni perspective

Frank Bernardo (’12), director of procurement for Tenet Healthcare in Dallas, appreciates the faculty and EMBA cohort network he developed while at Auburn.

“They continue to pay dividends from business relationships to lifelong friendships,” said Bernardo, who noted that the degree has given him the brand superiority, credibility and differentiation that he was seeking from an MBA program.

“The EMBA program has equipped me with the tools and knowledge needed to effectively navigate business complexities associated with some of the largest corporations in the United States,” he said. “As a professional negotiator, I am constantly exposed to new technologies, strategies and ideas, and my Auburn EMBA consistently enhances my ability to achieve the desired outcome for my stakeholders and company.”

After earning her PEMBA degree in 2023, Melinda Rathkopf started a job at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and was soon promoted to medical director of allergy/immunology. She also serves as an associate professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

“[I] loved the experience, loved the learning and made amazing friends and we keep in touch,” said Rathkopf, who attended the 25^th anniversary celebration September 13-15 while visiting Auburn on a family trip. “I enjoyed attending the [celebratory] events to see friends and network.”

Robert Conley, who wanted to deepen his knowledge of real estate development, earned his MRED degree in 2019. Today, he is a developer, broker, and investor of Conley Development Group, a brokerage and property management company based in Atlanta.

Conley found field studies particularly beneficial. He and his cohort traveled to New Zealand and Australia to visit commercial real estate projects in various stages of development.

For Conley, like many other graduates, Auburn’s executive programs offered limitless opportunity and growth.

“The overall support was absolutely phenomenal and amazing, and for that, I am very grateful to Auburn, to the entire Auburn family, for this opportunity,” he said. “I think it’s the greatest program in the world.”

Kuerten left Graduate Executive programs in 2023 to become administrative director of The Winchester Institute for Real Estate Development at Auburn, but she was pleased to reconnect with her former colleagues and scores of alumni at the anniversary celebration.

“It has been an absolute privilege to be a part of something that has made such a difference in so many students' lives over the last 25 years,” she said.  

The next 25 years

In 2024, Frank Oprandy stepped into the role of executive director of Graduate Executive Programs at Harbert College. Oprandy expressed his honor at taking on a role shaped by the dedication and vision of his predecessors.

"The foundation laid by Kim and the Graduate Executive Program’s team, as well as countless faculty, has been instrumental in establishing the high standards and innovative approaches that define our programs today," Oprandy remarked. "Their commitment to excellence has advanced the careers of our alumni and enhanced the reputation of our institution globally."

Oprandy is optimistic about the future of graduate executive education at Auburn, emphasizing opportunities for growth and innovation.

"We are building our vision of our programs with a commitment to delivering exceptional student experiences and educational offerings that meet market demands,” Oprandy said. “Our goal is to evolve in relevant and innovative ways and to to compete and win in the highly competitive  graduate business education marketplace.”

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Learn more about Graduate Executive Program degrees through the Harbert College of Business.