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Hazel Kennedy (EMBA, 2019) returned to ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ while working full-time and raising a family. Today, she serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at GECU, leading lending strategy and operations while expanding access to credit and homeownership across the region.

She serves on the Hunt Business Leadership Council, providing key feedback on industry alignment and the College’s role in advancing regional economic development.

Her journey from ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ to executive leadership is shaped by mentorship, resilience, and a belief in education as a generational force.

The ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ MBA Inflection

Kennedy pursued a ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ MBA to lead with greater impact and navigate increasingly complex leadership roles.

“I was surprised by how immediately applicable the EMBA coursework was,” she said. “I could take what I learned in the classroom and apply it almost instantly at work.”

The program sharpened how she approaches strategy, collaboration, and long-term planning.

“The ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ EMBA experience continues to influence how I lead and plan for long-term impact,” she said. 

Mentorship

A mentor – also a ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ graduate – encouraged Kennedy to pursue graduate studies and helped her recognize the depth of her potential.

“She helped me see what was possible and gave me the confidence to step into it,” she said.

That early investment in her growth continues to shape how Kennedy supports and develops others.

Expanding Access

At GECU, Kennedy has led initiatives in lending, strategic planning, and operations, including the launch of GECU’s Title Agency to create a one-stop mortgage experience. Her work focuses on financial inclusion and expanding access to credit and housing for underserved communities.

Education as Legacy

Kennedy traces her commitment to education to her grandmother, who learned to read and write as an adult, and to her children — who are both ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ graduates.

“Education transformed my life,” she said. “Supporting ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ is my way of honoring our family legacy and helping open doors for others.”

She continues to support mentorship, internships, and professional development opportunities for ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ students – continuing the cycle of opportunity that began with her own Miner journey.