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Business schools seek out accreditation to obtain quality assurance as an institution of higher learning, as well as to ensure an environment of continuous improvement.
Maria Sartin ’24, a business graduate and international student from Hamilton, New Zealand, balanced academics, athletics, and entrepreneurship during her time at Concordia. A record-setting track athlete, she launched Uncontainable, an activewear brand promoting women’s confidence and holistic well-being, from her dorm room in 2020. She created custom pieces for Concordia teams and grew her business to serve both U.S. and New Zealand customers. In 2024, Sartin won Concordia’s annual Business Plan Competition, impressing judges with her vision of building a community around her brand. Dean Karl Hoenecke praised her poise and entrepreneurial drive. Beyond business, Sartin served as president of the International Business Club, worked at CU Active, and thrived in a supportive faith-based environment that shaped her character and leadership. Athletically, she set multiple school records in track and came close to qualifying for nationals, later placing second at the New Zealand championships and preparing to compete internationally. Looking ahead, Sartin will pursue an MBA at a Division I university in Arizona while training toward her dream of representing New Zealand in the 2028 Olympics.
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Kellie earned her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Communication Studies from California State University, Long Beach, and her Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. She has served on several nonprofit boards in her community, including the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Ronald McDonald House Charities. She has been teaching college courses since 2008, teaching at California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College before finding her home at Concordia, where she can combine her love of teaching with her Christian beliefs. She has taught a variety of classes in communication, leadership, and business, but tends to focus on workplace communication and behavior, professional writing, internship/career preparation, and professional development skills.
After a national search, Concordia University Irvine announced on October 17 that Karl Hoenecke, MBA ’14, as Dean for the School of Business and Economics. Hoenecke has served as Assistant Dean and Interim Dean at Concordia since 2022. Prior to that, he taught for seven years as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business and Economics.
Find out how Concordia’s School of Business and Economics took learning to a new level by actively involving their students in the IACBE Accreditation process.