The Business Administration major introduces students to the core areas of business. It prepares students for a variety of careers in private, public and non-profit organizations and to enter the gig economy or start or join small businesses, while earning a concentration in one of the following fields: Management, Sport Management, Marketing, or International Business.
Recognized by Colleges of Distinction, the Business Administration major helps students develop business skills, learn to manage ethical issues, analyze strategic options and apply their learning to real organizational settings in today’s dynamic global business environment. Applied instruction delivered by a diverse faculty, pre-professional experiences, and a focus on critical thinking, ethical reasoning, quantitative literacy, communication and creativity, all contributing to the development of employability skills of our students. All Business Administration students at Eastern earn a concentration in one of the following fields: Management, Sport Management, Marketing, or International Business.
Concentrations
The International Business concentration in the Business Administration major focuses on international practices, standards, market institutions and regulatory structures, as well as market niches and cultural differences. The areas of financial management, international marketing strategies, global operations and logistics receive special attention.
The Management concentration in the Business Administration major teaches students effective management skills required in a variety of careers and organizations in an increasingly dynamic and competitive world.
The Marketing concentration in the Business Administration major addresses contemporary marketing needs by providing a solid overview of current advertising, sales and marketing best practices. Students also analyze factors influencing consumer behavior and marketing research techniques, and examine multicultural perspectives and insights into effective international marketing.
Students in the Sport Management concentration of the Business Administration major prepare for careers in the field through courses in management, business finance, leadership, marketing, and sports psychology.
Eastern’s award-winning collegiate chapter of the American Marketing Association brings prominent guest speakers to campus, participates in educational events, performs community service and competes at the AMA International Collegiate Conference.
Human Resources Management
Eastern's chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) works with the Human Resources Leadership Association to provide students with internship and employment opportunities, and offers financial assistance to student teams competing in regional and national SHRM events.
Internships
All Business Administration students participate in internships, and department staff dedicate significant time to match students to internship opportunities. Internship sites ranged from Pfizer to the Mohegan Sun to the Hartford Courant.
Faculty Spotlight
Craig Erwin
Associate Professor
“I have students develop plans for businesses they are interested in. As they flesh out these business plans, they develop a better understanding of how to build and manage organizations and people.”
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Emiliano C. Villanueva
Professor and Department Chair
“I teach the evolution of globalization, the precedents of contemporary international business issues, and the building of the actual global economy.”
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Fatma Pakdil
Professor
Professor Fatma Pakdil developed the healthcare management concentration for business administration majors and created the healthcare management minor.
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Career Options
Students who pursue undergraduate degrees in Business Administration can have rewarding and successful careers in a variety of professional fields, including:
Sales/Advertising
Business-to-Business Marketing
Sports Marketing
Professional Sports Team Manager
Hospital or Medical Practice Manager
Entrepreneur
Employee Relations/Human Resources
International Marketing
Export Manager
Business Consulting
Successful Alumni
Recent Eastern students who earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with concentrations in Management, Sport Management, Marketing, or International Business, are at the following companies and professional/graduate schools:
Bank of America
Cigna
Florida State University
Guilford Specialty Group
The Hartford
Hartford Athletic
The Hartford Yard Goats
Mohegan Sun
Pratt & Whitney
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Travelers
XL Center
For more information contact
Emiliano Villanueva Professor and Department Chair of Business Administration villanuevae@easternct.edu (860) 465-0478
Eastern students showcased their entrepreneurial abilities at the second annual Big Idea Pitch Competition on March 5. Held in the Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Conference Room of the J. Eugene Smith Library, the event featured student-led business pitches in a “Shark Tank”-style format.
During the fall 2024 semester, Eastern Connecticut State University business students went on tour throughout Connecticut’s most renowned arenas and athletic complexes. From the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts to the XL Center, Professor Charlie Chatterton’s "Facility Design in Sport Management" class offered students a glimpse into the inner workings of athletic/entertainment venues.
Eastern Connecticut State University alumni returned to campus on Nov. 20 to participate in a networking event for the Department of Business Administration. The event showcased a range of career paths within the major’s four concentrations -- international business, management, marketing and sport management.
“Eastern’s small campus turned into a great investment for my future. The small class size allows students to get to know their professors and establish great relationships. I even met my wife at Eastern. The applied learning situations — my co-op position at Pratt & Whitney and my internship at Northwestern Mutual — were very helpful and relevant to my first job at United Healthcare.”
Business Administration
Sara Claudio ’18
Sara is a strategic marketing manager at Aetna. She gained the full-time opportunity after working an Aetna internship as an Eastern student. “My internship helped to provide me with the corporate experience I needed in order to advance my career.”
Business Administration
Jacqueline Kane ’09
Jacqueline is a system integration analyst at Accenture. “I credit much of my professional success to Eastern . . . The leadership and team-building skills I learned are invaluable in my current position.”
Business Administration
Jenny Cespedes ’17
Jenny wanted to have more impact in the healthcare field and graduated from New York University’s accelerated nursing program in 2021. “I work in the heart of the city at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital. I am so thankful to be surrounded by brilliant, educated nurses who strive to be better each day.”
Health Sciences
Chase Hubbard ’21
Chase is in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Hartford. “Eastern’s Health Sciences program has provided me the foundation that I needed, not only in human anatomy and physiology, but also in the functions of healthcare. Eastern has helped me become a well-rounded student and prepared me to step into the widely competitive and professional health industry.”
Business Administration
Nicole Thomassen ’22
Nicole worked as a compliance and privacy intern for Hartford Healthcare (HHC) in spring 2022. The internship helped her land her job at HCC as a privacy specialist and educator. “Be confident and be prepared,” she said, in giving advice to students seeking an internship. “You want to be prepared for interviews by having a clear resume and to answer any questions they may ask.”
Business Administration
Sophia Tsikitas ’22
Sophia interned for the dean of Eastern’s School of Education and Professional Studies in
spring 2022. She credits the internship for helping her develop essential managerial skills, and says “I would not have been in this position if it was not for being involved within the campus community and utilizing all of the faculty and staff that are here to help.”
Resident Hall Director
Troi Branham ’18
Troi interned for a summer with MetLife. Working full time in the Resources Management Team, she completed adherence and compliance reports and analyzed data trends. “I’ve sat in on meetings with company executives and presented both individually and in groups to teams and executives. I’ve learned how to speak and act professionally, and how to work independently while efficiently managing my time and tasks.”
Account Executive
Nicole Hess ’18
A first-generation college student, Nicole studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain. “It pushed me out of my comfort zone every day and continues to make me grow as a person.” Nicole also interned at Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Aetna while at Eastern. She is now an account executive at Clari, a revenue technology platform.
Project Management
Freddy Cruz ’18
Freddy is a consulting manager specializing in technology project management at Deloitte. He was a student leader on campus, serving as president of Eastern’s Organization of Latin American Students and working as a resident assistant and student orientation counselor. “Get involved with anything that’s going to take you to the next level. Find those students who might not be where you are and help them to elevate themselves.”
Sport and Leisure Management
Casey McGarvey ’12
“Professor Chatterton’s class on facility design really showed the ins and outs of facility management—what goes into it.” After graduation Casey worked in minor league baseball before working at the Coast Guard Academy and the University of Hartford. He’s now assistant director of athletics for operations and facilities at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. ‘Athletics can be incredibly rewarding, but it needs to be something you’re passionate about.”
Sport and Leisure Management
Anthony Rosati ’09
“Before taking Dr. Chatterton’s facility class, I had no idea what I wanted to do. Going on tours of all the facilities around the state really opened my eyes to the operations world in sport. Anthony started his career at the XL Center, then moved to the University of Connecticut and is now associate athletic director for facilities, operations and events at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Sport and Leisure Management
Emily Roback ’10
Emily advises current students to build networks in the field. Emily is the senior program director at Yale Conferences and Events, and interned at the Connecticut Convention Center and Rentschler Field before using her network to get a job at Yale. “Reach out to people — go shadow them for a day and volunteer at their events. Forge connections that you can call back on.”
Sport and Leisure Management
Andrew Meagher ’22
Andrew is the promotions coordinator for the Hartford Yard Goats. His job covers everything from branding to community appearances to social meeting and overseeing mascots. His course with Professor Charlie Chatterton was “monumental — my favorite course at Eastern.” It helped him start as an intern with the Yard Goats, and “amplified my career goals.”
Sport and Leisure Management
Katie Berube ’03
Katie is director of global partnerships for the Augusta Entertainment Complex in Georgia. “Eastern’s program exposed me to the magnitude of niche jobs in the sports and entertainment field. It excited me to learn that there was opportunity out there after I graduated.” Katie’s current duties range from intellectual property rights to media, branding, hospitality, events and promotions. “This industry is constantly evolving.”
Licensed Realtor
Ana Skarzynski ’19
Ana worked as a marketing intern with Chartwells Food Service while at Eastern. With aspirations for a career in marketing, the internship allowed her to plan and promote events and put her advertising skills to the test. “I want to pursue marketing in the future; everything I learned here is beneficial. I am passionate about marketing and enjoy putting on events.” Ana is now a licensed real estate agent.
Business Administration
Dontae Christian ’20
Dontae interned with Doc Wayne Services, a Boston-based nonprofit organization that works with at-risk youth. “The kids relate with me. Growing up in the Bronx, I’ve dealt with similar challenges. I was once in their shoes.” Dontae is a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual.
Business Administration
Michael Vesci ’21
Director of Athletic Communications at Post University, Michael “spent three years working in Eastern’s Sports Information Department which helped me find my passion for pursuing athletic communications as a career path. Through Director Bob Molta and my advisor Charlie Chatterton, I created relationships with other Eastern alumni, which led to numerous job opportunities in sports/athletics; it also let to my first full-time athletic communications job at UMass Boston.”
Restaurant Owner
Andrew Gutt ’09
Business Administration major Andrew Gutt is the owner of Stone Row, an award-winning restaurant in downtown Willimantic. Since opening in 2009, Stone Row (and it’s precursor Cafémantic) has developed from a small coffee shop into a niche eatery. Andrew feels that Willimantic has a lot going for it, and sees his restaurant as “another symbol of the community and Eastern working together.”
Attorney
Lucas Watson ’02
Business Administration and Economics double-major Lucas Watson is an attorney at his own law practice. “The support and guidance I received from the faculty and administration at Eastern helped me get to law school and are a major factor in where I am in my career. I learned valuable lessons that I have been able to carry over into my professional life.”
Vice President of Operations
Taylor Brandariz ’11
Business Administration major Taylor Brandariz is the vice president of operations at Drupal Connect. “Eastern taught me what it takes to be a leader. With its well-rounded education, intimate class sizes, and extracurricular activities outside of class, there’s plenty of opportunity to learn the true meaning of leadership.”
Business Administration
Zahary Gagnon ’22
“Eastern equipped me with essential skills in teamwork, time management, data-driven decision making, persuasive writing and presenting ideas. These skills have proven invaluable in my role as a credit representative at Foxwoods Resort & Casino. It’s an exciting and dynamic environment with many fun career-oriented opportunities. I gather financial information, organize data and provide valuable insights that are used for casino credit decisions.”
Baseball Scout
John Mesagno ’21
John is a professional baseball scout with the Oakland Athletics, based out of Chicago. He previously was an assistant baseball coach at Yale University. “The business program is filled with professors who have real experience. I believe this prepared me for life after college. During my time in school, I made lifelong friends and connections that have hel3ed me get to where I am today.”
CVS Health
Hannah Beazoglou ’21
Business Administration major Hannah Beazoglou ’21 is in the General Management Development Program at CVS Health. “I have countless memories of my time at Eastern. The most impactful are the strong relationships that I’ve been able to develop with so many professors who supported me and encouraged me to take risks and showcase my academic ability.”
Sports Information
Michael Vesci ’21
Director of Athletic Communications at Post University, Michael “spent three years working in Eastern’s Sports Information Department which helped me find my passion for pursuing athletic communications as a career path. Through Director Bob Molta and my advisor Charlie Chatterton, I created relationships with other Eastern alumni, which led to numerous job opportunities in sports/athletics; it also let to my first full-time athletic communications job at UMass Boston.”
