On Saturday, June 28, 2025, the Transatlantic Institute's 2024-25 MBA cohort celebrated their graduation in a ceremony on the campus of the University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola. After starting their studies in January 2024 and an initial stay in Florida, the 15 students returned in mid-June for the final stage of the program. In addition to the lectures, the program included a visit to a robotics laboratory and the awarding of honorary citizenship of the city of Pensacola.
Dr. Scott Keller, Dean of the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, opened the ceremony in the festively decorated atrium. He recognized the twentieth cohort as a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between UWF's College of Business and HWG LU's Transatlantic Institute. The students had mastered an AACSB-accredited MBA program alongside their full-time jobs - a testament to their outstanding achievement.
Dr. Timothy O'Keefe, Dean Emeritus and co-founder of the program, looked back to its beginnings in 2002 and drew a connection to the social and technological developments of the time. In his speech, he emphasized that the MBA program is not a personal legacy, but the result of the commitment of many people - especially those who paved the way for it. In this context, he thanked Prof. Dr. Gerhard Raab, Melissa Brode and Kathrin Paul in particular for the partnership that has existed for over two decades. It is they and the students who have shaped the program, mastered challenges and filled it with life. The students themselves are at the heart of this legacy: they combine professional commitment with academic aspirations and take what they have learned into their companies and out into the world.
Next, Dr. Andrew Del Gaudio, a retired Marine Corps infantry officer with a 26-year career who has received numerous leadership awards, spoke about the responsibility that comes with a degree. It's not just about the certificate on the wall, he said, but more importantly the experience, the team and the shared values. Graduates are now required to pass on their knowledge, inspire others and show leadership through intercultural competence. He also emphasized the importance of character, integrity and team spirit.
Felix Schuster and Dustin Ramseger then took the floor on behalf of the graduates. Both reported on the intensive initial phase of their studies and the value of the experience they had gained - not only professionally, but above all personally. The cohesion of the group and the mutual support had made the program something unique. They thanked their fellow students, teachers, families and friends, as well as those involved at UWF and the TI.
Melissa Brode, Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Programs at UWF, summarized that the student group is the heart of the program - close friendships have developed through their journey together. She handed over to Prof. Dr. Gerhard Raab, Managing Director of the Transatlantic Institute. He also looked back with pride on the development of the program and praised the graduation as an important stage in life. In addition to specialist knowledge, the participants had above all developed the ability to understand cultural differences and adopt global perspectives - a key to peaceful coexistence in an increasingly complex world. With the twentieth cohort, the program now has 233 graduates. Prof. Dr. Raab highlighted the students' personal development, discipline and team spirit and congratulated them on behalf of the entire institute.
He also thanked the graduates' families, whose support had made this achievement possible.
After the presentation of the Master's certificates, Melissa Brode quoted the former Dean of the College of Business at UWF: "You can change your hair color, you can change your address, you can change a lot of things, but you cannot change your alma mater."
A particularly emotional moment marked the Degree ceremony: a participant from the first cohort 20 years ago from Germany and a participant from the USA sent greetings from Germany. They talked about how much the MBA program had shaped their lives - both professionally and personally. Today they are a couple with two sons - connected by a degree program that not only influenced their careers, but also established their life together.
Those interested can still apply to Kathrin Paul until the end of August 2025 for the start of the program in January 2026.
Further information: https://ti.hwg-lu.de/mba
The recording of the graduation ceremony is available via the following link: https: //drive.google.com/file/d/1YkGVBeS6WxVT9y8o6qmKmmQ6wZlk_R29/view?pli=1
Article from 02.07.2025, Janina Steffens
