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Kendall Gessner grad school
Nikolena Samac

Graduate School Success Story: Inside Kendall Gessner's Journey

| By: Leah Harrigan, Senior Staff Writer
Kendall Gessner has been an invaluable leader on and off the field for JCU Women's Lacrosse. 
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS -- John Carroll Women's Lacrosse isn't the same squad without Kendall Gessner. The 2023 Second Team All-OAC honoree has 120 goals in her career, but her statistics, although impressive, can't embody the leadership qualities that her team relies on.

But now, Gessner plays a unique part this season beyond the familiarity of Don Shula Stadium. The dynamic attack is currently pursuing a Master's in Business Administration at John Carroll. 

"I only had two full seasons under my belt by the time I was a senior," started Gessner. "I've had previous injuries, I tore my hip labrum freshman year, got surgery and came back, and then tore my ACL nine months later."

This motivated Gessner to stay, to continue her story and legacy at John Carroll both on the field and in the classroom.

"I was an economics major in undergrad and I knew I wanted to get my MBA at some point, and with extra eligibility from COVID years, I really wanted to come back to John Carroll and play one more time," summarized Gessner.

And for Head Coach Kelsey Shewbridge, this was exciting news.

"Kendall has been unafraid to step into a new role, she's willing to have the hard conversations with her team, she's always celebrating the little things and just overall, reminding her team of positive habits that need to be reinforced to create a strong and competitive program," said Shewbridge. "She's been a guiding light for the team, helping us refocus and remain both strong and resilient."

Gessner's presence has been and will continue to be welcome within the lacrosse program, where the graduate student balances involvement in athletics with a rigorous, but rewarding MBA program within John Carroll's Boler College of Business.

"You can't deny how strong our Boler College of Business is, so I think she saw that incredible opportunity to continue her education and paired that with a chance to remain within our lacrosse program," summarized Shewbridge.

"I'm extremely grateful that she decided to take a chance with a new head coach and jump right back into this program, she continues to put in full effort in more ways than one."

For Gessner, who looks to continue her tenure in Cleveland after completing her MBA, the Boler MBA  program, designed for emerging leaders, allowed her to be immersed into graduate program school instantly, without sacrificing her connection to John Carroll Lacrosse.

"I would highly recommend this option to anyone, especially student-athletes who want to continue playing a sport within a competitive program, which John Carroll athletics guarantees," added Gessner. 

"I also had the opportunity to take a few graduate-level Sports Leadership courses as electives in my MBA, and I think it's nice that John Carroll offers that, especially for someone like me who's interested in sports and wants to see how that applies to the business side of athletics," continued Gessner.

With high-level academics and continued leadership on the lacrosse team, Gessner is undoubtedly prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation, with a healthy amount of confidence and trust in the process. Her professors have noticed Gessner's preparedness, too. 

"What really strikes me about Kendall is the leadership she brings to the classroom," said Professor Chad Anderson, who is Kendall's professor for MOL 5592 Corporate Strategic Management. "The curriculum in strategy is focused on work in small teams, and Kendall clearly helps drive the thinking and contributions of her group as a whole to a higher level.  It's no surprise to learn that she does the same on the field."

The addition of an MBA has allowed the dynamic athlete a chance to reach new career heights, even at a young age.

"I'll be working for Key Bank starting July 15," mentioned Gessner. "I'll be in their downtown Cleveland office in the Enterprise Payments Program, so I'll do training and then I'll enter a full-time role after that."

Not only will Key Bank benefit from the arrival of Gessner come July, but the lacrosse program will continue to look for a guiding presence throughout playoffs, which start Saturday against Baldwin Wallace in the OAC Quarterfinal. 

"Our team definitely leans on her because they truly understand and respect her as a leader," relayed Shewbridge. 

Gessner's story isn't outlined to full capacity without mentioning a devastating injury this season. The star attack suffered a season-ending ACL tear that will leave her on the bench for the rest of her graduate career. But, Shewbridge made it clear that her skill is just one of the multiple reasons why she is so instrumental to this squad.

"Despite the injury, the team still looks to her…she's mentally and physically tough," summarized Shewbridge. "She's unafraid, willing to take chances and has always had goals aligned with making this program grow."

So, Gessner's story is far from over. With a graduate education, overcoming adversity and looking for light in times of struggle, the MBA student is prepared for what's to come.
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