Lawrence native returns home for dual master’s in business administration, business analytics

Banner Williams, a Lawrence native, decided to branch out and go out of state for school, pursuing her undergraduate degree at Missouri Southern State University. There, she played soccer and worked as a peer tutor. 

Last year, she made the decision to return home to pursue a dual master’s degree in business analytics and business administration, combining her passion for education with a love of and skill for working with numbers. 

After receiving her bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and secondary education, she began teaching high school math in Bonner Springs, Kansas, but found she enjoyed the educating portion of the job rather than the behavioral side. To satisfy her desire to continue educating while working more closely with numbers, she made the decision to pursue a graduate degree at KU.  

“I think that having teaching in your background puts you in a unique position to offer communication skills that other people might not have,” Williams said. “When you’re teaching, you have to adapt very quickly, and you’ll have some curveballs thrown at you, so I think it puts me in an exciting position to be able to have that kind of experience mid-meeting or mid-proposal.” 

Williams was attracted to a dual program because of the opportunity to fine-tune her skills in two areas of interest. She could perform calculations on the business analytical side, while the business administration side allowed her to continue her leadership and communication, which she says has created balance for her. 

“They’re great programs, and the school has lots of connections that help you find a job after graduation,” Williams said. “I was also able to come in and sit in on a class and meet some students in the cohort above me, and everyone was very nice and welcoming. It was a great environment.” 

Williams says that her experience in the School of Business has pushed her to explore new areas that she hadn’t considered before. She has enjoyed hearing from professors’ real-world experiences to understand how in-class concepts can be applied. Williams also recognizes how faculty are willing to work with students and credits it as a key component to her success.  

“I feel like it’s a little intimidating coming from a smaller school to a big school,” Williams said. “I was afraid I’d be a little fish in a big sea, but it was really kind of the opposite. The people here want to do whatever’s best for me to succeed.” 

Not only is her education letting her dive into her passions; she also works as a graduate teaching assistant for BSAN 202 Statistics. 

"Around fall break, I took a step back and realized I was really enjoying my time here,” Williams said. “I’m loving the friendships I’ve made, the classes I’m in and I’m loving being a GTA, which still gives me the teaching experience without behavior management. I realized that this is exactly where I want to be.” 

Currently, Williams works part-time as a distribution center efficiency general at Fastenal, an industrial distributor providing customers with products and supply-chain services to keep operations running smoothly. In her role, she streamlines data analysis tools by creating Excel and Power BI dashboards to automatically update new data received rather than manually putting it all in. 

This summer, she’ll intern at Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Williams cited the company’s connection to the business school as a key interest in her application. She says that having that connection made her feel supported in her decision to apply and accept a position. She plans to graduate in May 2027 and hopes for a full-time position working in data analysis, translating harder concepts into more understandable terms. 

“I’m looking forward to continuing to try different things and seeing what ends up being the right fit,” Williams said. “My idea of an ideal job has changed since I got here and probably will continue to change in the next year and a half, so I’m just giving myself grace, understanding that nothing’s set in stone and letting myself explore the opportunities here.” 

As for her experience back in Lawrence, Williams has enjoyed attending athletic events as an enrolled student and making new friends in classes. Being back on campus is a full circle moment for her, as she attended Hilltop Child Development Center throughout most of her childhood and returned home during her undergraduate years to work as a teacher’s aide there. 

“KU is the heart and soul of Lawrence,” Williams said. “To get to go back and actually be a student is really special and fun.”