by JUSTIN HERBERGER
News Reporter

Master’s of Business Administration students in the Walker College of Business have formed an organization to unite graduate students seeking to network, organize events and further develop their business skills.

Appalachian State University’s chapter of Net Impact, lead by business administration graduate student and club president Miriam N. Makhyoun, is dedicated to socially responsible and environmentally sustainable business practices.

Net Impact is an international non-profit organization with a mission to inspire, educate, and equip individuals to use the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world, according to netimpact.org.

Assistant Dean of the College of Business and Net Impact faculty adviser Joseph Cazier said the students voted between three different types of organizations when deciding to form an MBA club.

“We feel that our class of 45 students is very dedicated to using our business acumen to better our surrounding community, which is why this club was the best fit for us,” Makhyoun said.

She said the students voted 2-1 to join Net Impact because of the organization’s focus on corporate responsibility, social entrepreneurship, international development and environmental sustainability.

“I really feel like we can make a significant impact,” MBA student and Net Impact Vice President for Finance and Records Kevin A. Glass said. “Not only at Appalachian, but in the surrounding community. Boone is very progressive in its leadership and the way we go about doing things… I’m very excited to get a chance to be a little bit more central in the community rather than just being a student.”

Since last year, the MBA program has tripled its enrollment. 

Cazier said even though the program grew so significantly in the past year, admission standards have not changed.

He said a portion of the enrollment increase can be attributed to students returning to school due to difficulty finding work in the business world, but enrollment numbers cannot all be attributed to the economy.

“Finding a job in finance and banking at the end of last year was extremely difficult,” Glass said.

He chose to return to Appalachian after graduating last May to expand his educational focus through the graduate program.

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