Alishia Stevenson
University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
Age: 43
“RN, Administrator, Healthcare Executive, wife, and mother driving excellence in senior care and community leadership.”
Hometown: Cooperstown, PA
Family Members: Travis (husband), Lilly (daughter), and Greyson (son)
Fun fact about yourself: I enjoy hunting and fishing.
Undergraduate School and Degree: BSN at Clarion University
Where are you currently working? Wesbury as the VP of Clinical Operations and Administrator
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles: Currently serving as VNA Alliance Executive Board Member, President of the Maplewood Baseball Boosters, Treasurer of the Maplewood Girls Basketball Boosters, and Secretary of the Maplewood Girls Volleyball Boosters.
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am the proudest of being able to have maintained Dean’s List distinction throughout my fulltime EMBA program, while managing a family and fulltime executive level position while continuing to contribute to our community boards in various capacities.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of being selected as our CEO’s successor upon his retirement.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? Elise Boyas would have to be my favorite professor because of the passion that she exudes in her teaching and her ability to connect with students while continually pushing them beyond their comfort zones.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? I chose this program because of the collaborative cohort approach and the ability to maintain my career despite the rigor of the fulltime program.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The biggest lesson that I gained is that disciplined prioritization and effort make even the most ambitious goals achievable.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Throughout the EMBA program, my days rarely had a clear finish line. I would move from leading a full day in healthcare to sitting in the stands at my children’s athletic events. When the final whistle blew, I would begin the drive to Pittsburgh, often arriving at midnight or later before a full weekend of classes. It wasn’t just about juggling my responsibilities; it was about being present where it mattered most. I wanted my children to see me sitting in the stands cheering for them as they got the kill, made the basket, or scored their first touchdown despite needing to be fully prepared and engaged in the classroom just hours later. Those moments defined my EMBA experience and taught me a deeper understanding of discipline, sacrifice, and intentional prioritization.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? DO IT!! While the demands of the program are real, so is the return. The knowledge, growth, and connections you will make are unmatched.
What was your biggest regret in business school? If I have a regret, it’s that I did not pursue the program sooner, given its impact on my personal and professional growth.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? There were a few opportunities where the business school integrated AI into our programming, but I feel that the most impactful was our elective course on responsible AI for business leaders that provided us with the opportunity to explore AI capabilities and the impact on our organizations. Through this exploration process and use of AI models, it allowed me to develop a predictive tool to be used in our organization to determine asset requirements for perspective residents.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose the EMBA program because I wanted to be fully present in the experience. The in-person weekends and cohort relationships created accountability, connection, learning, and relationships that extended far beyond the classroom.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I was fortunate to have my employer support my tuition costs which made the program accessible and affordable.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to assume the role as CEO and continue our organization’s mission through thoughtful and strategic leadership while ensuring sustainability for years to come.
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