{"id":45863,"date":"2026-01-28T15:24:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T20:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/?p=45863"},"modified":"2026-02-04T15:16:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T20:16:24","slug":"chantel-rosario-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/chantel-rosario-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"Flexible M.B.A. Student Spotlight: Chantel Rosario \u2013 Leading with Purpose and Building a Bright Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Flexible M.B.A. Student | U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant | URI Alumna<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Chantel Rosario De Los Santos, a student in <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/academics\/graduate\/mba\/flexible\/\">URI\u2019s Flexible M.B.A. program<\/a>, is on a mission to expand her career horizons and open doors to future opportunities. Chantel earned her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from URI in Spring 2023 and completed her master\u2019s in the same field in Spring 2024. She began her M.B.A. journey in Spring 2024 and is on track to graduate in December 2025. Chantel\u2019s decision to pursue an M.B.A. was driven by her desire to become more well-rounded and to enhance her qualifications for diverse professional roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Military Journey and Leadership<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Chantel\u2019s journey with the U.S. Army began in 2017 when she enlisted as a junior in high school. After completing her training, she started at URI in 2019 and joined the ROTC program through a partnership with the State Guard. In May 2023, she earned her commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and branched into the Quartermaster Corps, a role she chose for its strong correlation to logistics and supply\u2014skills highly transferable to civilian careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her military experience has profoundly shaped her leadership style and goals. \u201cI\u2019ve seen what bad leadership looks like, and I\u2019m determined to provide better guidance for my future soldiers,\u201d Chantel reflects. She prioritizes empathy and clear guidance to ensure her team feels supported and empowered. Additionally, her military background has instilled a mature, detail-oriented mindset. From managing high-stakes responsibilities as a teenager to balancing her duties as an officer, Chantel credits these experiences with preparing her to excel in graduate school and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The URI M.B.A. Experience<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For Chantel, the URI M.B.A. program has been transformative. Coming from a health sciences background, she initially faced a steep learning curve but embraced the challenge. \u201cThe M.B.A. has opened my eyes to enhancing both my personal and professional life. I\u2019ve learned about building wealth, investing, and analyzing data, which are invaluable skills,\u201d she says. One of her first M.B.A. courses, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was particularly impactful, igniting her interest in the interconnectedness of business disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chantel also highlights the invaluable support she has received from URI\u2019s faculty, helping her navigate the transition to the part-time program and providing mentorship and regular check-ins to ensure her success. \u201cTheir guidance and accessibility have been pivotal,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Balancing Roles and Achieving Goals<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Juggling the demands of being a part-time student and a military officer requires meticulous organization. Chantel relies on detailed agendas, daily updates, and open communication with her peers and superiors to stay on track. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility and proactive planning in managing multiple responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead, Chantel envisions her M.B.A. enhancing her career in both the military and the corporate world. The program has honed her analytical skills, particularly in interpreting and presenting data\u2014key competencies for logistics and operational decision-making. Whether she continues her service as a full-time Army officer or transitions to the private sector, Chantel is confident that her M.B.A. will serve as a foundation for future success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Giving Back and Building Connections<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2019, Chantel has been an active member of URI\u2019s Center for Military and Veteran Education (MAVE). She has guided student veterans through the transition from active duty to academic life and witnessed the center\u2019s growth from a small room in the Memorial Union to a vital campus resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chantel also values URI\u2019s networking opportunities. Participation in events like the Veterans Day Observance and the ROTC alumni network has strengthened her connections within the military community and the broader professional landscape. \u201cIt\u2019s important to give back and support the veteran community,\u201d she says, emphasizing her dedication to creating opportunities for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As she approaches the completion of her M.B.A., Chantel\u2019s aspirations remain diverse. While she plans to pursue a full-time career in the Army, she is also open to exploring roles in corporate America. \u201cThe M.B.A. has given me the tools to succeed in any environment,\u201d she asserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked to summarize her URI journey in one phrase, Chantel reflected on how she maximized all the resources URI has to offer. \u201cI\u2019ve left with no student loans and a wealth of experience,\u201d she explains. Her story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the boundless possibilities that come from seizing every opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Chantel encourages veterans and students alike to pursue their goals with determination. \u201cNo one cares about your career more than you do,\u201d she advises. \u201cBe your own advocate, and don\u2019t let fear hold you back. Utilize the resources available and never hesitate to ask for help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Chantel continues her journey, she remains a shining example of leadership, resilience, and the transformative power of education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a class=\"cl-button   prominent\" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/academics\/graduate\/rfi-graduate\/\" title=\"\">request information<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/graduate-school\/apply\/\" title=\"\">apply today<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><a class=\"cl-button  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/academics\/graduate\/mba\/\" title=\"\">m.b.a. options at uri<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Flexible M.B.A. Student | U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant | URI Alumna Introduction Chantel Rosario De Los Santos, a student in URI\u2019s Flexible M.B.A. program, is on a mission to expand her career horizons and open doors to future opportunities. Chantel earned her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from URI in Spring 2023 and completed her master\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5286,"featured_media":45865,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-45863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-student-spotlight"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5286"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45863"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46154,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45863\/revisions\/46154"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/business\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}