Caleb Kemer ’26, MBA ’28, is used to playing ahead of the game. A lacrosse midfielder at Pfeiffer University, Caleb transferred from Belmont Abbey between his sophomore and junior years — drawn to Pfeiffer’s campus environment, a competitive athletics program, and something most undergraduates don’t think about until graduation: a clear, seamless path to an MBA.

“I knew I wanted to pursue my MBA, and Pfeiffer did a really good job of making that transition smooth,” Caleb says.

While balancing a full course load and spring lacrosse season, Caleb began dual-enrolling in graduate coursework, getting a running start on Pfeiffer’s MBA program with a focus in artificial intelligence.

His interest in AI wasn’t accidental. After attending a Pfeiffer-hosted MBA fair and spotting the AI concentration on offer, Caleb made his decision quickly. “AI was very popular, and I thought it was a really unique chance to get specialized information about a part of the industry I’m genuinely interested in,” he says.

That interest deepened when Caleb enrolled in Business Use Cases for AI — an online course that introduced him to how organizations are applying artificial intelligence in real, practical settings. He admits he came in skeptical of online learning, shaped by his experience with virtual school during the pandemic. What he found was something different.

“The first week was built around getting to know the other people in the class,” he recalls. “I met two other lacrosse players — one in Ohio, one in Illinois. By the time we got to our synchronous session on Zoom, it felt more like a conversation than a class. It felt very different from any online course I’d had before.”

Beyond the course content, Caleb found unexpected value in the diversity of his classmates — students and working professionals at different stages of their careers, from across the country. “I’m going to have to work alongside people of all different ages,” he says. “Getting to hear those different perspectives in our discussions was something I didn’t expect, but it’s something I’ll carry forward.”

After wrapping up his undergraduate degree in May, Caleb shifted fully into the MBA program — same login, same community, same institution he’s called home. He doesn’t know exactly where his career will take him yet, and he’s comfortable with that. “I chose business because it keeps my options open,” he says. “I feel like I have a wide array of skills, and I’ll be able to figure it out.”

For a student-athlete who has spent years learning to compete at the highest level, that kind of confidence is well earned.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional ready to sharpen your leadership edge or simply someone who has been waiting for the right moment, Caleb’s story is a reminder that the right time is often right now. To learn more about Pfeiffer University’s MBA program and how it can fit your life and career goals, reach out to our admissions team at gradadmissions@pfeiffer.edu.