When Hanutej “Hanu” Pershad thinks about his future, he likes to have options ahead.
It’s a personality trait that’s paid off more than once, like when his eyesight limitations left him short of passing a police department physical, or when a worldwide pandemic canceled his internship with the city courts.
Being flexible meant Hanu could keep moving forward after earning his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice at The University of Baltimore despite the job setback. First, he took on a human resources role in the U.S. Army Reserves. Then he came back to Baltimore for an HR job before returning to UBalt for a second degree.
Now he’s working toward an MBA with a specialization in Leadership and Management Development, a program that makes it easy for Hanu to balance work and school.
“The courses are manageable,” he said. “The professors are very professional and friendly, so I can maintain a full-time job while doing a full-time MBA. That’s something I can maintain, and there are resources that I can use if I do feel overwhelmed.”
Being open to whatever comes his way has also opened doors Hanu didn’t know to look for, like a chance conducting research with a like-minded professor.
“I got the opportunity to network with a lot more professionals, … and there’s the support that I have from Dr. Wynne,” Hanu said. “He saw something in me. He saw that I have the interest and I have the skills and the drive. His support is definitely something I really appreciate.”
Hanu first met Dr. Kevin Wynne, an associate professor for UBalt’s Merrick School of Business, during a leadership seminar course in spring 2024.
A year later, Hanu would join Wynne as a research assistant for work the two would later display at the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology annual conference in Denver. A Turner Research Grant, available through UBalt, paid for Hanu’s travel and accommodations to make the experience possible.
“Dr. Wynne had been working on a research project, and I came in toward the end to be able to contribute to the project, and that was my opportunity to present that research at the conference. … Reaching out to him for help, reaching out to him for advice, was one of the best choices I made,” Hanu said.
The project was on human-artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration skill development for artificial intelligence, and just the tip of the iceberg on research potential.
Hanu’s contribution was a powerful addition for Wynne who felt motivated by the student’s enthusiasm.
“Even though Hanu is assisting on a voluntary basis, he has embraced every opportunity and keeps my inspiration going,” Wynne said.
The experience was a strong starting point if Hanu pursues a PhD in I-O Psychology, which is one of his potential future options. But, per his nature, Hanu’s moving forward with an open mind. He’s also still weighing an old dream to go to law school and a new dream for a nonprofit consulting group.
With Wynne as a mentor now, Hanu is confident UBalt is preparing him for whatever comes next.
“I do believe that whatever choice I make, I will make something out of it.”