06/23/2026
When Magaly Urban, MBA ’26, began her MBA at Saint Joseph's University, she was balancing a full-time career and raising three children. What she didn't expect was a diagnosis that would require two brain surgeries before graduation. “I planned my first surgery for the winter break of my first year, and the second one last March during spring break,” Urban says.
With support from her family, classmates and faculty, Urban persevered, earning her degree and serving as the Commencement speaker for her master's ceremony this spring.
“Markets will shift, careers will evolve and personal challenges appear without warning, but if this Jesuit education has taught us anything, it is that character outlasts circumstance. We have learned to pause and reflect before reacting and to pursue success with purpose,” Magaly said in her remarks.
Her story is a powerful reminder that resilience, determination and community can carry us through life's biggest challenges. Read more about Urban's journey: https://www.sju.edu/news/magaly-urban-mba-26-master-perseverance
