As a high school student, Alli Selman ’26 (MS) took a trip to Tanzania where she volunteered at a Baby Home and Mothering Center that assisted single mothers in creating a better life.
Most of the clients enrolled in the Mothers Against Poverty program had husbands who had died or abandoned them. The program gave the women the resources to create self-sustaining small businesses that served the community while making money to support their families.
The businesses were as unique as their owners, ranging from a hairdressing business to a fresh-juice dispensary.
“I was so impressed by the women I met, and the way that their businesses empowered them to contribute to their communities, and changed their lives for the better,” Selman said. “I thought, ‘Wow! This is really awesome!’ and that enthusiasm has never left me.”
Selman, a Texas Native, Earned Her Degree Remotely, While Working Full Time
Selman recently graduated from UConn with a master’s degree in Social Responsibility & Impact in Business. The program advanced her interest in business as a vehicle for good.
A resident of the Greater Dallas area, Selman appreciated the online format of the UConn program, which allowed her to continue working full-time as a legal assistant while also taking up to four classes per semester. She was able to complete her master’s degree in one year.
“It was very tough at times,” she said. “The rest of my life took a step aside for a year. My focus was all on work and school.”
Despite living 1,600 miles away, Selman felt connected to the program by attending three in-person course weekends, which allowed her to make friends, work on group projects, meet professors and program leaders, and feel well-connected to UConn. Arminda Kamphausen, program manager, even gave her a tour of Hartford.
Selman found UConn’s program while searching for master’s degrees online. She applied to and was accepted into a number of business- sustainability programs. UConn stood out academically, and she also liked its online format, which allowed her to keep working full-time while attending school.
“A master’s is a big commitment, and I wanted to dedicate the time and effort to it,” she said. “I was able to live at home and cut down on expenses and other stressors. Even though I’ve always been a good student, a master’s degree program is a whole new beast! I would recommend this program to everyone.”
“The professors were great and so knowledgeable, and my classmates were so kind,” she said. “The advisers made it very manageable and were in constant communication, even if it was just a check-in by email. Just knowing I had the support and a team behind me that wanted me to do well, pushed me to succeed.”
Kamphausen said that Selman had the drive and initiative necessary for a sustainability career, but needed the tools and confidence to take the next step.
“Alli brought a wonderful energy and unique perspective to the cohort,” she said. “I’m certain that she’s going to have a tremendous impact during her career, and we look forward to her success.”
Sustainability Offers Proven Benefits for Companies
Selman said she enjoyed all aspects of the sustainability program, but found the skills she learned about corporate sustainability reporting the most valuable.
“As I’m looking at job postings, I can confidently say, ‘I have a solid foundation in this,'” she said. “Everyone believes that good business practices are valuable, but through this program I learned how to document them. I can confidently explain that responsible business choices are appealing to both customers and investors.”
Undergrad Degrees Provided ‘Moral Compass’
Selman earned two bachelor’s degrees at Belmont University, one in social entrepreneurship, the other in faith and social justice. She said her undergraduate degrees sharpened her moral compass and revealed how ethics and morality play into business.
“The UConn program allowed me to see that in practice—especially the sustainability side, which I had little knowledge of when I came in,” she said. “The ‘Global Issues in Marketing for Social Impact’ class taught me to analyze different sustainability reports and understand if a company is meeting its goals and communicating its success efficiently and honestly.”
Selman, who has worked as a legal assistant since 2022, also earned a certificate in corporate regulatory compliance from the UConn School of Law.
“Another thread connecting my education and my experience is that I’ve learned a great deal about compliance practices and adhering to the laws. I know the legal jargon, how to write a legal document, the ins-and-outs of case management. They are all skills that I think will be helpful in my career,” she said.
Selman is pursuing roles in corporate sustainability, human rights, or social impact. She plans to cast a wide net initially and then fine-tune her interests.
“Across the years, my interest has surrounded the theme of impact and trying to positively effect and help others,” she said. “I’m excited to find my niche.”