On Saturday, June 27, 2026, the Transatlantic Institute’s 2025–26 MBA cohort celebrated the successful completion of their studies at a festive ceremony on the campus of the University of West Florida (UWF) in Pensacola. After beginning their studies in early 2025 and participating in several joint lecture weekends in Ludwigshafen and Pensacola, 19 graduates received the internationally recognized Master of Business Administration (MBA). The part-time program combines academic excellence with international experience and intercultural exchange.
The graduation ceremony was opened by Dr. Scott Keller, Dean of the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business. He praised the 21st cohort of the joint MBA program as another milestone in the partnership between the University of West Florida and the Transatlantic Institute at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, which has spanned more than two decades. He particularly emphasized that the participants had successfully completed the AACSB-accredited MBA program while juggling their demanding professional responsibilities—a testament to their great discipline and personal dedication.
The guest speaker was Scott D. Ambrose, vice president of a U.S. healthcare company and himself an alumnus of the University of West Florida. In his personal address, he spoke about his own educational journey and emphasized the importance of education for personal and professional development. He encouraged the graduates to take responsibility for their own life paths, to view challenges as opportunities, and to distinguish themselves through self-discipline, resilience, and integrity. Education, he said, is the key to overcoming obstacles and achieving long-term success.
On behalf of the graduates, Lucas Brenner, Maximilian Leonhard, and Leah Blöhs then addressed the guests. Looking back, they described the past 18 months as an intense period during which they were able to balance professional responsibilities, personal life, and their studies. It was precisely this dual burden that made the MBA program particularly valuable. In addition to professional knowledge, they gained new perspectives, international experiences, and close friendships. With a twinkle in their eyes, they recalled their extraordinary stays in Pensacola: In January 2025, the cohort experienced a rare snowstorm; in the summer of 2026, it was a tropical storm—two experiences that earned the group the nickname “Storm Cohort” and further strengthened their bond. They also highlighted their exchanges with American students as well as their joint visit to Hambach Castle, which impressively underscored the importance of democracy, international cooperation, and intercultural understanding.
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Raab, Executive Director of the Transatlantic Institute, emphasized the special importance of international educational cooperation in his address. Drawing on a quote from Albert Einstein, he reminded the audience that understanding between cultures is an essential prerequisite for peace and successful cooperation. In addition to sound management knowledge, the graduates had, in particular, strengthened their intercultural competence—a skill that is more important than ever in a globally interconnected world. At the same time, he paid tribute to the successful partnership between the Transatlantic Institute and the University of West Florida, which has now lasted more than twenty years. With the 21st cohort, the joint MBA program now counts more than 250 graduates. He extended special thanks to the students’ families, whose support had contributed significantly to their academic success.
A special highlight of this year’s graduation was the induction of all graduates into the international honor society Beta Gamma Sigma. This distinction is awarded exclusively to students at AACSB-accredited business schools worldwide who rank among the top performers in their class. For the first time in the history of the joint MBA program, the entire cohort met the requirements for this special academic honor.
The graduation ceremony reached its climax with the ceremonial presentation of the master’s degrees. Together with family, friends, and representatives from the University of West Florida and the Transatlantik-Institut, the graduates celebrated the successful degree they earned after completing a challenging academic program that has had a lasting impact on them professionally, personally, and interculturally.
For more than 20 years, the cooperative MBA program offered by the Transatlantic Institute and the University of West Florida has combined academic excellence, international perspectives, and professional practice. The next cohort begins in January 2027; enrollment remains open through the end of September. If you have any questions, please contact Kathrin Paul at kathrin.paul@ 8< SPAM protection, please remove >8 hwg-lu.de or 0621/5203-440.
Further information: https://ti.hwg-lu.de/mba
A recording of the graduation ceremony is available via the following link: https://youtu.be/7iO3pEyVByk?is=EvKbKjuIeNJrN1xV
Text: Janina Steffens, Photos: HWG LU
