Many people have asked about the composition of the University at Albany Weekend MBA Program students, alumni, and faculty. These people are curious about what they do, their background, and their areas of research. To begin to answer those questions, we will spotlight a Weekender regularly to allow them to share their story. Enjoy the profiles and please contact Program Director Don Purdy at dpurdy@albany.edu, at 518.442.4964, or at @UAlbanyMBA if you have any questions, need additional information, or would like to sit in on a class!

1. UAlbany Weekend MBA Stories – Whitney Selover
Director of Special Events and Travel, The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The word Cooperstown is often used as a metonym for the National Baseball
Hall of Fame and Museum, where 27-year-old Whitney Selover has served as
Director of Special Events and Travel for the past five years.
You’ve heard it said that nothing is more American than baseball – with the
exception of perhaps, apple pie. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak, as
approximately 315,000 visitors travel to Cooperstown each year to visit the
Baseball Hall of Fame. “The passion that people have for baseball is
remarkable,” notes Whitney. “It’s grasp on American hearts is unmatched.”
Surprisingly, it’s not the history or iconic culture of the game that intrigues
Whitney the most. “I was born and raised in Cooperstown but baseball was
never really on my radar,” she admits. In fact, the first time Whitney set foot
in the renowned Baseball Hall of Fame was the night before her internship
began there in 2006, just before her senior year at Villanova University.
“I don’t know a lot about the game of baseball or the stats of those who have
made it their career,” she confesses with a smile. But her lack of passion for the game hasn’t hindered her
success. If anything, it’s propelled her forward because stardom doesn’t stand in the way. “To me, they’re just
people like you and me. It’s my job to help them and their families with the logistics of getting to Cooperstown
and having a good experience.”
Baseball fans everywhere chomp at the bit to rub shoulders with ballplayers who are at the pinnacle of their
career. However, Whitney’s fulfillment comes not from meeting the inductees, but from meeting their families.
“I have the honor of interacting with the moms and dads who drove these players to and from Little League
every day before anyone else knew their name. They sacrificed so much and it’s truly awe-inspiring to see how
much it means to them.”
Her favorite part of the job is seeing the popular Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony come to fruition
after working hard on it all year. She calls it a “product of love” to see an inductee on stage reading his speech
while his wife is moved to tears. “That’s usually when I start crying,” she says with quietness.
It’s no wonder, when you consider the values Whitney’s parents instilled in her. The youngest of three and the
only daughter, Whitney grew up understanding the importance of gaining perspective from other people. “You
don’t really know anything about yourself until you go to another country and experience another culture.”
Whitney’s international studies in Australia, England, and Taiwan taught her that people all around the globe
have very similar needs and wants. “We’re not that different from each other,” she says. “There are certain
universal standards that transcend skin color and cultural attire. You can really disarm your prejudices by seeing
people for who they are regardless of differences.”
Business Administration 220
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
P: 518.442.4964 | F: 518.442.4975
E: dpurdy@albany.edu | Twitter: @UAlbanyMBA
W: albany.edu/business/weekendmba | Google+: plus.google.com
Facebook: facebook.com/weekendmba | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donpurdy
YouTube: youtube.com/ualbanymba | SlideShare: slideshare.net/UAlbanyMBA

2. A global study exchange student with the Rotary Foundation, Whitney traveled to Taiwan in the spring of 2011.
Likening that particular language barrier to the Great Wall of China, Whitney learned communication happens
through body language, actions, and shared values. “I discovered people are people no matter where they live,”
she expounds. “We care about our families and we empathize with friends and loved ones who are struggling.”
Whitney Selover always knew she would pursue her Masters one day because her parents encouraged her to
embrace it as part of her journey. The unanswered question was simply deciding where. “I needed to find
something that fit my busy schedule,” she says. “I didn’t want to do it online because my hands-on experiences
had been so positive with my internships and studies abroad.”
After considering specialized programs for sports management and special events, Whitney chose the University
at Albany Weekend MBA Program for its broader business foundation and cohort structure. “The cohort
structure is a brilliant opportunity to interact with other professionals,” explains Whitney. “Professors and
textbooks can’t give you everything. UAlbany’s diverse, challenging cohort structure is the perfect way to learn
because the whole class is in it together.”
Having just started the UAlbany Weekend MBA Program in August 2012, Whitney is pleased with how she’s
already expanded her professional network. “Learning from 29 different perspectives holds great value for me
personally. And hopefully I’ll be able to impact my classmates’ lives, too. The goal is to better each other.”
The final element of the Hall of Fame's motto, ‘Preserving History, Honoring Excellence, Connecting Generations’
is what drives Whitney Selover. “We actually have a lot more in common than we think or believe,” she shares.
“Once we recognize that, we have the freedom to really open up our minds.”
Suffice it to say, if Whitney had a motto of her own, it may very well be, “Work hard. Play hard. Learn hard. Live
hard.”
Connect with Whitney Selover here:
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/whitney-selover/40/649/39a
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/whitney.selover
For additional information on the program, please contact Program Director Don Purdy at dpurdy@albany.edu,
at 518.442.4964, or at @UAlbanyMBA.
Business Administration 220
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
P: 518.442.4964 | F: 518.442.4975
E: dpurdy@albany.edu | Twitter: @UAlbanyMBA
W: albany.edu/business/weekendmba | Google+: plus.google.com
Facebook: facebook.com/weekendmba | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donpurdy
YouTube: youtube.com/ualbanymba | SlideShare: slideshare.net/UAlbanyMBA