You might remember ECPI University graduate Megan Swisher as a former Online Alumni of the Month. Back in 2022, she got her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET) with ECPI Online while working full-time and homeschooling five children.

After a few years of building her career as an engineer, Megan returned to ECPI Online to earn her Master of Business Administration, completing the program in May 2024.

Her drive to keep learning hasn’t slowed down, and neither has her career. When we reconnected, she talked about new challenges she’s taking on and the satisfaction that comes from seeing her hard work pay off.

The Changing Manufacturing Landscape

For the past 17 and a half years, Megan has worked in the manufacturing sector with Hollister Incorporated, a company specializing in ostomy and wound care products. After completing her bachelor’s degree in 2022, she stepped into an engineering role where she was close to the action. “I was on the floor, hands on the equipment, figuring out how to make it better,” she said.

While getting her bachelor’s degree, Megan saw her company and the manufacturing industry evolve. She noticed over the years how “everything is going more towards automation, and technology is our future.” 

One factor she says contributes to this change is the high cost of labor. Keeping production in the U.S. is very costly. Seeing the competitive market, Megan knew that she had to evolve with the industry. She wanted to understand the business side of projects and how it all tied together with her engineering work.

This curiosity led Megan to enroll in the MBA program at ECPI as soon as she got her bachelor’s degree.

A New Perspective

Megan wasn’t after a career change: she wanted to understand the bigger picture behind operations. She knew that she was working in a challenging space where she would have to stand out. “Something important I took away from my MBA is how to stay competitive and build a growing portfolio,” she shared.

While getting her MBA, Megan was still working full-time as an engineer. That alone is impressive enough, but during her studies, Megan received a promotion at her work. It was clear that she was applying everything she learned in class to the workplace in real time.

For Megan, earning her MBA provided a new perspective on her engineering work. This experience gave her the knowledge and confidence to step up and take on more responsibilities.

Leadership in Motion

Since graduating in May 2024, Megan has already received two more promotions.

Currently, she works as a senior project engineer, doing product commercialization. She describes her work as “expanding the company’s portfolio” and “taking machines to a whole different level.” This work has even taken her abroad. After upgrading two machines here in the U.S., Megan flew to Ireland for two weeks to assist with another upgrade there.

Her responsibilities have expanded a lot with her new background. “I’m handling more capital projects now,” she said. “I went from handling $10,000 projects to $7 million projects.”

Megan told me about one of her recent successes. Her company was developing a new ostomy pouch, and she collaborated closely with the core research and development team. When some hiccups came up before launching, the team decided to go back to the drawing board and redesign the product. It paid off, and the final product ended up being a big success.

An Education That Keeps Pace

With how quickly technology is changing, it’s important to keep up the pace. Megan believes that ECPI provides “an education for the now and sets up students for the future.” Her story is a perfect example of that commitment.

Megan represents what ECPI University is all about: putting knowledge into practice. When I connect with alumni like her, I'm reminded that learning doesn't stop at graduation. Our graduates keep building on what they've learned and finding new ways to grow.

About the Author: Sarah Campo

Sarah Campo is the Director of Alumni Engagement at ECPI University. She is passionate about sharing graduate stories, celebrating their achievements, and building meaningful connections that continue beyond graduation.