Imagine for a moment that you could create your own personal college. It would be focused on your particular needs. It would have professors who knew you and shared your passions. Classes would be closer to interesting conversations with a small group of friends than long lectures with dozens of strangers. And help would always be right next door. That’s a close description of Butler University. Learn more about how we take your education personally. 

Marleen McCormick Pritchard
Associate Professor, Management

How have your students encouraged, inspired, or influenced you?
I teach upper-level courses so many of my connections begin with our senior students as they are navigating their last year of college and beyond. They encourage me to teach them practical tools they may use after graduation. I also incorporate reflective activities into my capstone course where students share how they became who they are today and who they wish to become. 

Why is mentoring important for college students?
Universities play an important role in student development. The time at Butler University is a pivotal point in their lives. Our business students are in transition from student to becoming a professional in the global workplace. Mentoring provides individual guidance to college students as they pave their path. 

What advice would you give a prospective student who’s considering Butler University?
While there are many tangible reasons to come to Butler University, there are also intangible benefits that you will gain. You will get important skills such as critical thinking that will help in your future career and in your personal development. 

Lauryn Lintner 
International Business major, Marketing minor
Arlington Heights, Illinois

How has your professor encouraged, inspired, or influenced you? 
Dr. McCormick has been a constant for me during my time at Butler. She has encouraged me through every hardship that I have faced in the past three and a half years. She has believed in me, in times when I didn’t believe in myself. She has answered questions that I didn’t even know were questions. Coming to Butler, I was excited about the opportunities to get to know my professors and have them as support, but I do not think that I fully understood what that meant. Dr. McCormick has been there for me wearing a million and one hats. She has served as a professor, business coach, resume builder, confidant, support system, connection, friend, stand-in mom, mentor, role model, and so much more during my time at Butler. I know that this relationship will not end when I leave Butler. 

What has surprised you the most about this relationship?
What has surprised me most about my relationship with Dr. McCormick is how individualized it is. I am so grateful that I am treated as an individual student with my dreams, goals, and aspirations. I have not been pushed down a path that every student studying business should go down. I have been given the tools and resources from the Butler faculty to go down my path while knowing that the support is still there if I need anything. I could not be more thankful for this support, as it has been something that has allowed me to enjoy my time at Butler so much and stay so passionate about everything that I am doing.

What advice would you give a prospective student who’s considering Butler University?
Take advantage of every opportunity you’re given. It’s so easy to say no to things that scare you or may stress you out, but often those end up being the best opportunities. Coming into college you are set in your ways of what you think you can and cannot do, but when you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things, this is when you grow the most. If you told high school Lauryn the things that I am doing today, I think I would tell you that you were crazy. However, by trying new things and taking new opportunities, I have been able to grow in more ways than I ever thought possible.