When Jessica Holden first arrived at Missouri State University as an exchange student from Lancashire, England, in 2021, she had no idea it would become her academic home. 

But after taking a few classes in the international business undergraduate program, she knew she wanted to return. 

“Turns out, I liked it here so much that I decided to move back to do my Master of Business Administration with a marketing graduate certificate, in 2023” said Holden, who will graduate this May. 

“All the classes I took during my exchange year and master’s program were brilliant and every faculty and staff member I’ve met has helped me improve and pursue my passions.”   

Campus involvement and leadership 

Besides focusing on academics, Holden has been involved on campus. She was part of the American Marketing Association and is an active member of the MBA Association. 

She has also served as director of programming for the Graduate Student Senate. In this role, she planned and executed events for graduate students across campus. 

Professional and research endeavors  

Beyond campus involvement, Holden has built an impressive professional portfolio, working in marketing, administration and relationship management across the food, technology, health care and education industries.  

“Work experience benefitted me because it allowed me to get an insight into what the corporate world would look like after graduation, while also providing training and development,” Holden said. 

Additionally, since last year, Holden has presented her research at four conferences. She recently presented a paper titled “The adoption of virtual influencers by the healthcare industry: benefits and drawbacks” at the Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Conference 2025. It took place from March 30-April 2 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  

She also had a paper titled “Stepping into the role of department chair: A review of the roles and responsibilities” which she presented at the Institute for Global Business Research Conference 2025.  

“There’s been a lot of research! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ability to present my research topics at various conferences and the support given by the College of Business has been extraordinary,” Holden said. “I’ll use the experiences and knowledge gained through conferences, competitions and networking events in my future career.” 

Life after graduation  

For Holden, her time at Missouri State has prepared her well to enter the real world after graduation. 

“I found a job and will begin working as a Business Engagement Coordinator for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce directly after graduation,” she said.
 

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