Business Matters

Chrissy Eaton ’27 first visited OSU’s campus with her son. “He’s not old enough for college yet, but he wants to be a robotics engineer when he grows up,” said Eaton. “So, I bought tickets to a basketball game, and we toured the robotics engineering department, just to help keep that dream alive in my son. The campus was stunning, and I deeply appreciated all the ways OSU offers students a chance to succeed.”  

After more than six years in the credit union industry, Eaton decided to pursue her MBA with a focus in organizational leadership so that she could work towards a chief experience officer position. When Eaton began exploring options for her graduate degree, she sought a university that offered a high-quality education and a degree that would carry weight on her résumé. She found herself thinking back to that tour of OSU with her son and how positive, inspiring and well-respected the university seemed. She ultimately decided that OSU’s College of Business was the right fit for her. 

Once on campus, Eaton’s first impressions of OSU were only further affirmed. “I have yet to find a teacher, professor or instructor that isn’t willing to meet with me one-on-one, even outside of office hours.” Eaton says. “They clearly love what they do, and are just as excited about my education as I am.”  

Earning an MBA is a big commitment, but Eaton says, “if it’s important to you, you’ll find the time.” Eaton’s days often start at 4:30 a.m., waking up long before her kids to study and get work done. In the evenings, it is family study time at her home. She and her son do their homework together while her youngest, only five, draws pictures for the fridge by their side.  

Taking online classes has allowed Eaton to fit school around her life.  She has found it encouraging that after just a few short years of concentrated study, she will earn a degree that will allow her to make more money and ultimately have more freedom.  

“The College of Business is well respected across the nation and offers the opportunity to not only gain an education, but to create lifelong connections with professors, classmates and community members.” 

One community member in particular who has helped change the trajectory of her career is Nancy Kneisel. Eaton was a recipient of the OSU College of Business Gary & Nancy Kneisel Scholarship, a scholarship awarded to primary caregivers. Receiving this scholarship has allowed her to spend time and energy focusing on school, work and her kids, instead of how to pay for her degree.  

This past October, Eaton was invited to attend the College of Business’s annual Impact at Work dinner, an evening where alumni and friends, faculty and staff, and industry board members celebrate the meaningful effect of their contributions to a student’s success. Eaton had the opportunity to meet and enjoy dinner with Nancy Kneisel. “It was a joy to be given the chance to speak with Nancy, and to thank her in person for the ways she’s changed our lives,” Eaton said. “She regaled us with stories of her travels, gave advice on how to positively impact your employees and customers; had countless fun anecdotes about being an entrepreneur, and had many relatable life lessons.” 

Eaton also received the JD Power Fellowship, a scholarship awarded to women candidates who demonstrate leadership qualities. “This not only made a large financial impact to our lives, but helped reinforce the idea that I was on the right course,” she said. 

Eaton discovered her passion for leadership early on in her career and is excited about the positive change she can have at her company once completing her MBA. While her initial experience with OSU was only meant to keep the dream of higher education alive for her son, Eaton’s discipline, tenacity and intellect have come to epitomize the outer bounds of what a graduate business student can do.