Kelly Dahlman

About

Kelly Dahlman, 16, graduated from the full-time MA-HRIR program and is currently a human resources manager at General Mills. She says she chose to attend the program “because I was looking to change careers, and thought the degree would give me the foundation, knowledge, and skills I needed to enter the field of HR. After attending an information session and learning about how the program is nationally ranked, provides access to top professors and builds business acumen,” she says, “I was convinced the program was right for me.” She says she found the program helped prepare her for a career in HR “by building my knowledge base on topics like business, economics, and HR. I found the Graduate Business Career Center immensely helpful in teaching me how to professionally present myself and articulate my career aspirations,” she notes. “I was also fortunate to participate in several case competitions, which trained me to think on my feet and solve real-world problems.” And what led to her decision to join the Alumni Board? “I decided to join the Board because I’m extremely grateful for my experience and I’d like to give back to the program,” she says. “I had such a positive experience and I look forward to being back on campus.” She would share this advice with current students: “Learn about the various jobs HR offers, and find one they will excel in. Students often think they may only be able to transition to a generalist role,” she says, “but there are so many areas in HR that one can move into, and it’s great to explore which is the best fit!”