Latoya Burrell
A Minneapolis resident has been selected as a fall semester Outstanding Student at Metropolitan State University.
LaToya Burrell, who graduated with a Master of Business Administration degree, was selected as an outstanding graduate student in the university’s College of Management. She was one of 1,368 students receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Metropolitan State’s 101st commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 in Minneapolis.
Already an accomplished attorney and a teacher, Burrell wanted more and decided to further her education. “My program took me two years, I attended on a part-time basis, and I could continue to work full-time.”
Burrell appreciated “the diversity of the program, overall.” She enjoyed the opportunity to work with experienced and practicing law professionals, as well as students seeking their undergraduate degrees. “The diversity in nationalities and in people’s background made the experience that much more valuable for me.”
Practicing and teaching law, going to school, and maintaining a family can be a lot to juggle. “The idea of being able to balance time, and being able to give 100 percent to the program, yet not neglect my family or my career in the process.” Burrell says that earning her Master of Business Administration isn’t the end, but rather the start of something bigger.
For Burrell, it’s important that her young son sees his mother in her cap and gown, and walk across the stage on graduation day. “I want him to equate that toward graduation, and start to inspire him towards that.” Her husband, also an attorney, championed the decision to continue her education.
Burrell, armed with her master’s degree, looks forward to spending time with her family and her friends, while looking to the future.