Meet Dr. Maria Petrescu

What industry experience do you bring to the classroom, and how do you incorporate it into your curriculum? How does it benefit your students?

As a professional, I worked with various international companies in Europe and the US in journalism, public management and education, which allows me to have an ecosystem view on marketing, an aspect incorporated in my classes, especially when discussing the marketing environment. As a researcher on digital marketing and technologies and the co-editor of the Journal of Marketing Analytics, I often share research and analytics articles and case studies in class with applications to the aviation and space industry. I ensure my students realize that better use of qualitative and quantitative analytics in business decisions can make our strategies more effective and prevent accidents and adverse events in the aviation industry.

What types of research opportunities and labs are available for graduate students?

We have excellent research faculty specializing in all essential areas of business, from analytics to finance and risk management. They publish in the top research journals around the world, present at international conferences, write research grants and provide research opportunities to students in class and extracurricular. I encourage all graduate students to get involved in research with their favorite professors in their preferred disciplines. Start with a question, and most academics will be happy to guide you. I am always available to work with my students on research projects related to digital marketing, artificial intelligence and marketing analytics, and I have numerous research articles and conference presentations with students.

What connections within the industry can students make that will benefit them in the future?

One of the key benefits of being in school is networking; so graduate students should take advantage of every opportunity they have. Connect with your classmates and professors on their social media accounts, especially LinkedIn, and start networking. Participate in the lectures, webinars and events we share with our classes, and use those meetings to network and build your professional circle. Moreover, join as many professional associations as you can, especially when recommended by your professors. I’m always happy to introduce our marketing students to some of our top marketing organizations, including the American Marketing Association, and more specialized organizations, depending on their interests.

What do you feel is the key to long term success in graduate school?

Long-term success depends on whether you approach it with a long-term orientation in mind. Yes, you want to graduate as soon as possible and get that degree. Nevertheless, consider yourself five, ten and 20 years from now and start working on goals for this timeframe. Build a long-term professional network, start creating your professional portfolio in grad school, with all the strategies and plans you write for class and even additional research projects. Connect with as many professionals as possible and create a professional social media presence with high-quality digital content. Use some of the planning steps we practice in marketing, set objectives, have a clear target audience, identify your competitive advantage and work on improving it. Do not focus on grades, instead, think about what you got after each class and try to achieve even more in the next one.

What advice would you give to someone considering graduate school?

You all know Edison’s quote on genius being 99% perspiration and the rest inspiration. I’d say there is a lot of perspiration going into the classwork in graduate school, but this should not be your only focus. Make it fun and purposeful. Consider why you are going to graduate school and keep that in mind in courses. Even if you are going to school only for the degree or the pay raise, find something that interests you, set a goal and formulate a fun objective, such as getting to know your favorite brand in detail, which will help you have a meaningful, insightful experience. In your assignments, try to work on useful aspects, maybe related to your business or an entrepreneurial idea you have in mind. Connect with your professors on topics that interest you and collaborate on fun research projects. Participate in exciting events and connect with like-minded individuals from the professional network offered by your school.

What do you think is the greatest advantage of earning a graduate degree from Embry‑Riddle?

There is no better place to be in grad school than ERAU because of the unique combination of professional, academic and research knowledge you can find here, especially related to aviation industry, government and engineering. ERAU students encounter experienced faculty who can share knowledge from their professional careers and research projects and a diverse and knowledgeable student body, which allows for a multidirectional transfer of information among all participants in the class and extracurricular activities. The interactions with industry members and public and private aerospace organizations also represent a great strength for ERAU and its students, allowing access to real-world case studies, guest speakers, networking, internships and career opportunities. Moreover, the ERAU brand is well-known in the aviation industry as a top provider of education and knowledge.