Jesse Hunt ‘21 (MAC ‘22) has been a distance runner on the Track and Field team at UNC-Chapel Hill since he came to the U.S. in August 2018 as a recruited student athlete. He is now pursuing a Master of Applied Professional Studies while continuing his involvement with the team. Hunt focused his MAPS degree in the areas of management, marketing and entrepreneurship.
“The Master of Applied Professional Studies is a great addition to my undergraduate and graduate education so far,” Hunt said. “It fills a lot of gaps in my quantitative degrees in marketing and management. It’s a great opportunity to learn some different skills while having the flexibility to continue running.”
Hunt completed his undergraduate degree and later the Master of Accounting program at Carolina, and the MAPS program offered a chance to explore other facets of the University. He pursued coursework in a variety of areas at Carolina, including in the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, the UNC School of Information and Library Science, and the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. He also took classes offered by The Graduate School in professional development, communication and leadership.
“It’s a nice mix of everything,” he said. “It really opened my eyes to the other programs on campus, how world-renowned they are, and how the professors in these programs are super well-accomplished.”
Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Hunt appreciates the diversity of students involved in Carolina’s MAPS program, as well as how the program supports the state and local workforce.
“I think there’s a really important emphasis on the local community and giving back to the North Carolina workforce,” he said. “It’s a good mix of the important aspects that make Carolina so special.”
As Hunt continues running on the Track and Field team, he said, the MAPS program has allowed him the opportunity to learn about things like time management, communication, and teamwork while pursuing his goals at a higher level. Hunt is on track to graduate in August 2023, making him the first MAPS graduate.
The deadline to apply for spring 2024 admission to the MAPS program is October 10, 2023.
— Payton Wilkins