Focus Areas: Psychology and Business and Marketing Education
What would you do if the college major you wanted didn’t exist? If you’re an ambitious, curious student like Maria (Masha) Alexeev, you create it.
Masha began studying psychology at the University of Minnesota, but she was growing increasingly curious about other related subjects.
“When I started, I knew that I needed something more, but I wasn't exactly sure what that was,” Masha says. One day at a health career fair, she met Forest Clark, an academic advisor from the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS). Forest explained that CCAPS offers degrees that let students design interdisciplinary majors that cross traditional boundaries.
That conversation led her to an enrollment advisor, Jeff Olson Krengel, who helped her connect her interests in psychology, leadership, and business. ”Honestly, this was a whole series of events; every single thing just stacked up on each other to lead me to the Inter-College Program (ICP).”
Finding Mentorship and Meaning
Once in the program, Masha’s direction became clearer. Through CCAPS’s mentoring program, she was matched with consultant and coach Mary Kay Delvo, founder of INspiring SIGHT.
“And that was the best decision that I ultimately made, because Mary Kay really helped redefine my career and academic journey.”
Mary Kay confirms that the pairing was a perfect fit. “It was like working with a mini-me, in terms of how I operate and the struggles I had finding my own path,” she says. “I've never fit into a predesigned box and I could see from our first meeting that neither did Masha.”
Mary Kay encouraged Masha to explore the field of organizational leadership and policy development, which led her to business and marketing education courses.
“At first I still didn't really know what exactly that meant for me,” Masha says, “but after talking with Mary Kay, interning at her company, and only, honestly, when I started taking the courses, that everything clicked, and I thought, this is perfect.”
Within days of attending her first business courses, Masha knew she had made the right decision. “All of the courses are working in conjunction right now,” she says. “I'm taking Intro to Microeconomics, Intro to Human Resource Development, and Strategies for Teaching Adults, and I feel like all of them really work with each other, but then they’re also complementary to psychology.”
Masha adds that she is now more convinced than ever that business is, at its core, about people, not just profit. “How do we develop people? How do we make an organization successful? I was curious about these things but didn't know how to approach them with just a background in psychology. That’s where the business aspect came in.”
Mary Kay noticed the difference in Masha when the big picture began to come into focus. “She was determined to go after and create what she knew in her heart would work for her. Once she began to see a pathway, her energy shifted. I saw her light up and make decisions with intention.”
The Big Takeaway and What Comes Next
“I knew I wanted something unconventional and different, and that's exactly what this program is allowing me to do: combine all of my interests across various disciplines, choose my classes, and prepare me for exactly what I want to do. ICP requires you to really sit down and reflect on your classes, and think about why they are important to you on personal and academic levels.”
“I love it that Masha didn't settle and try to fit herself into a prescribed major and way of working,” Mary Kay says. “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet with (her) and be part of her journey.”
"I want to emphasize how much of an impact CCAPS had on me,” Masha adds. “Through them, I got connected to the right resources and people, which truly shaped my academic path. This inspired me to give back to the community that supported me by applying to join the CCAPS board, where I'm now proud to serve as the event coordinator."
In the future, Masha hopes to work in an educational or training role that blends psychological insight with business strategy, especially in mission-driven organizations. Ultimately, she wants to help people connect with themselves to unlock their capabilities, improve overall well-being, and develop the skills to move forward.
Advice for Students
“Number one: Be curious and stay open, because you never know where your path might lead you. If something interests you, take that class. Maybe it'll become a part of your major, because a lot of things changed for me that I wasn't expecting, and if I had been rigid, I would have never found this.
“Number two: Give yourself some grace, and remember that not everything has to be figured out. Allow yourself room to grow, make mistakes, and trust that clarity will come with time. It sure did for me.
“Number three: School isn't just about academics, it's also about building relationships, so go to events and connect with your peers, because those connections will outlast all the times you spent stressing about an exam.”
Masha was awarded Buchta, Karin Larson, and James R. Rognas scholarships.
All photos of Masha courtesy of Vanya Kase.
Mia Boos is a writer and content strategist with the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, covering the College’s graduate programs and undergraduate individualized degree programs. She joined the CCAPS Marketing team in 2014 and has worked for Thomson Reuters and New York University. Connect with her via LinkedIn.
