Growing up in Grand Lake, Louisiana, a small town just south of Lake Charles, Katherine Deshotel always knew she wanted more.
After finishing high school in 2015, she set her sights on the 麻豆夜市.
During her time on campus, Deshotel thrived, earning both a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business management and an MBA.
But after stepping into the workforce, she realized that her ambitions were pulling her in a new direction.
鈥淚 started working at a local call center after getting my MBA. I was doing surface level data analytic work, but I knew I didn鈥檛 want to stay there forever鈥 says Deshotel. 鈥淪o I applied for a bunch of jobs and was told I don鈥檛 have the experience or coding knowledge needed.鈥
Driven to break into the field of data analytics, Deshotel returned to 麻豆夜市 鈥 this time in the online M.S. in Informatics program. The flexibility of the online format allowed her to balance her new career with her studies.
This decision would launch her into a financial analytics career, supporting major casino operations with her skillset.
A Familiar Path Forward
When it came time to choose a program, Deshotel went with the familiar choice.
鈥淚 looked at other options, but 麻豆夜市 felt like home,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 knew I would be able to get through it, because this would be my third time as a student.鈥
But this time she was balancing her studies with the demands of a full-time job. The challenge, she says, was learning the new role while working through the program.
"I knew I had to find a balance,鈥 she says. And that鈥檚 exactly what she found with her online studies.
鈥淭he program gave me the flexibility to be able to work on the coursework at my own pace, whenever I wanted to,鈥 says Deshotel. 鈥淓verything was on my terms, besides the due date.鈥
Mastering Data Analytics
Deshotel鈥檚 journey through the online M.S. in Informatics program was demanding but rewarding.
One of the standout features of the program was the network she built with her peers.
鈥淭hrough group projects, I was able to connect with my classmates,鈥 she says. 鈥淭hat's helpful because you go to the next class and have another group project, so you get to work with the same people in your program.鈥
Her capstone project was another highlight for Deshotel. She was able to bring together everything she learned from both the program and her work.
鈥淲e were given free rein to choose what project we wanted to work on and showcase the skills we gained,鈥 she recalls. 鈥淚 was able to use things I鈥檇 learned in my job, plus things I鈥檇 learned in the program.鈥
This hands-on experience, combined with the relevance of the coursework to her role as a regional financial analyst for Penn Entertainment, proved to be invaluable.
鈥淚 learned a lot about the technical hardware information,鈥 she recalls. 鈥淚 support 14 casinos with their financial data. The tech aspect of the program helped me understand our data warehouses in my current job and how that flows.鈥
Earning her M.S. in Informatics in May 2024, Deshotel鈥檚 roots remain strong.
鈥溌槎挂故 feels like home to me. During my time, in both undergrad and grad school, it was just great to be a part of the University. I鈥檓 proud to be a Ragin鈥 Cajun.鈥
With three degrees and a new perspective, Deshotel stresses the value of staying focused and leaning on your community.
鈥淪tay organized and reach out to classmates and professors. Use the resources, people are here to help you. They want to see you succeed.鈥
Ready to advance your career? Learn more about 麻豆夜市's online M.S. in Informatics program.
