Ashbala Amin earned her bachelor of science in economics with high merit from the Lahore University of Management Sciences, where she served as a teaching assistant for econometrics and data analysis and as a research assistant on a digital market linkages project. Professionally, she has worked with PwC Advisory and the LUMS Consultancy Group, delivering data driven insights to support client decision making.
Meet the Inaugural Full-Time M.S. in Business Analytics Class
The inaugural class of Full-time M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA) students at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business comprise a diverse group of early-career professionals with a shared interest in using data, analytics, and emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges.
The 56-student cohort represents 16 countries and speaks 26 languages, with students bringing a wide range of academic backgrounds and perspectives to the 10-month, in-person program in Washington, D.C. The class has an average GPA of 3.5, an average age of 24, and an average of one year of professional experience.
“We are excited to welcome the first full-time, on-campus MSBA class to Georgetown McDonough,” said Nita Swinsick, associate dean and managing director of graduate and executive degree programs admissions. “This cohort reflects a breadth of perspectives and experiences while also representing the next generation of professionals who will use analytics and AI to solve global business challenges. We look forward to seeing how they learn from one another and build on the opportunities available through the Georgetown community.”
The cohort is 46% female, with 62% representing U.S. diversity and 24% identifying as underrepresented minorities. International students make up 39% of the class.
The students also bring varied academic perspectives to the program. Nearly half of the class (46%) studied business as undergraduates, while 20% studied economics and 11% studied computer science. Others come from social and behavioral sciences (9%), arts and humanities (4%), engineering (4%), health and medical sciences (2%), physical and earth sciences (2%), and other fields of study (4%).
Designed for recent graduates and early-career professionals, the Full-time MSBA builds on the success of Georgetown McDonough’s established online program with an immersive, on-campus experience. The program combines advanced analytics, AI, and machine learning with business strategy and leadership, preparing students to translate data into meaningful business decisions.
The program uses the same MSBA curriculum that has been successfully delivered online, bringing the established academic foundation into a full-time, in-person format. The program also offers students flexibility as their professional and personal circumstances evolve. Students who begin in the full-time, in-person format can transition to the online MSBA program if their plans change, allowing them to continue their Georgetown education in a format that better fits their needs.
The inaugural students began their Georgetown experience with an intensive three-week Opening Term, combining coursework with opportunities to build relationships across the cohort and the broader McDonough community.
Students gained early connections to Georgetown alumni and fellow MSBA students through a series of community-building and professional development events, including a career panel featuring alumni, bringing together the full-time cohort with students in the online MSBA program who were on campus for their Opening Residency. Full-time and online students also participated in a networking reception with Dean Paul Almeida and alumni, creating opportunities to learn from graduates and begin building relationships that will extend beyond the classroom.
“From the first weeks of the program, we have seen students begin to connect the technical foundations of analytics with the business challenges they will encounter in their careers,” said Babak Zafari, professor of the practice and academic director of the MSBA programs. “The Opening Term gives students an opportunity to establish a strong foundation together, both academically and personally, while beginning to think about how data, AI and machine learning can inform business decisions. These early experiences and the connections with our broader MSBA community set the stage for the collaborative, applied learning that will define their experience in the Full-time MSBA program.”
As they begin their experience at Georgetown, students will benefit from the program’s Washington, D.C., location, close-knit cohort environment, and opportunities for experiential learning. The curriculum integrates technical areas including data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence with business functions such as finance, economics, marketing and operations, enabling students to connect analytical insights with real-world business decisions.
Students will engage in immersive experiences alongside a small class of peers, including a final capstone project to solve a current business analytics problem with a local, national, or global sponsor. They also build practical experience with industry-standard analytics, AI, and cloud computing tools.
During their time at McDonough and beyond, MSBA students also gain access to the McDonough Career Center and a dedicated career services director to support them with their individual career goals. Students benefit from tailored career assessments, on-demand career workshops, resume and interview support, structured career coaching, and career strategy sessions. They also join a global network of professionals and alumni for ongoing networking and mentorship opportunities.
The inaugural cohort marks a new chapter for Georgetown McDonough’s MSBA program, expanding its reach to students seeking an accelerated, in-person pathway into data-driven business careers while building on the program’s existing foundation in analytics education. The full-time program complements the established online MSBA, giving students multiple pathways to pursue the same rigorous curriculum while providing the flexibility to move between formats when their needs change.
Meet a few students from the MSBA Full-time Class of 2027:
Sion Hirai holds a bachelor of arts in business administration from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, with experience in capital markets, IPO research, and strategy within venture-backed startups. Drawn to the intersection of data and national security, he is pursuing the Georgetown MSBA to deepen his analytical foundation and build toward a career at the forefront of defense technology, autonomy, and AI policy.
Lauren McClure is a graduate of Spelman College, where she studied health science and was part of the first graduating class of the cosmetic chemistry minor. Her academic journey has shaped her interest in how science and data influence consumer behavior in the beauty industry. Drawing on her academic and professional experiences, she aims to help create a more inclusive beauty industry through products, marketing, and consumer experiences that better reflect and serve diverse communities.
Rachel McCrea graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor of science in business administration, a major in business analytics, a double minor in data science and applied artificial intelligence, and a collateral in international business. Through internships in banking and defense research, she gained experience applying data and analytical skills to real-world problems and developed a strong interest in the ways data can inform decisions and create meaningful impact. She came to Georgetown as a merit scholar to deepen her expertise in machine learning, AI, and data communication while building on her undergraduate foundation. McCrea is especially interested in the intersection of data, transparency, and policy, and hopes to build a career using data to promote informed decision-making and meaningful impact.
