When Eric Golnick arrived at the University of Miami to pursue his master’s degree, he already had years of military service, leadership experience, and a deep commitment to those who serve.
What he found in the University's Master of Arts in International Administration (MAIA) program, he says, was exactly the bridge he needed as he prepared for the next chapter of his career.
"What I valued most was gaining a deeper understanding of how the business world connects to government and policy," Golnick said. "Coming from the military, that exposure was vital when I transitioned into building and leading companies that work alongside government agencies."
His experience reflects the program's long-standing mission: preparing purpose-driven professionals to lead across government, nonprofit, and international sectors.
Today, that mission is expanding even further.
The University recently launched the MAIA program in a fully online format, opening access to the U’s faculty, community, and career networks to professionals around the country.
Bradford McGuinn, who leads the program, says the online format has quickly broadened the diversity and reach of the MAIA community.
"It's the opportunity to meet students quite literally from around the world in ways that I may not be able to do in a classroom," he said. "We already have students in our new online program from a variety of different states and parts of the world."
He views that global mix as a major academic advantage.
"The opportunity for students to learn from colleagues from very different places, cultures, and traditions ... that's invaluable," he added.
Despite common misconceptions about technology complicating online learning, McGuinn says the design of the online MAIA program does just the opposite.
"The technology doesn't overwhelm the process. It allows instructors and students to focus very specifically on substance," he said. "The design is elegant. It strikes an ideal connection between form and function."
For Golnick, that focus on the real-world interplay between government, business, and policy helped shape how he approaches his work today.
Today, Golnick is recognized as a national leader in veteran and first responder wellness.
As the co-founder and managing partner of Deep Current Strategies and chairman of the National Association for Veteran and First Responder Wellness, Golnick spends his days helping organizations strengthen their impact in communities across the country. His work spans health care, nonprofits, and government partners, all united by a mission to improve support for those who dedicate their lives to public service.
Before launching Deep Current Strategies, he co-founded Forge Health, which grew into one of the country's largest behavioral health providers serving veterans and first responders.
The experience reaffirmed how strategy, policy, and community needs intersect, another theme he traces back to the MAIA program.
"The program taught me how to think strategically across government, policy, and business. I use that every day," he said. "Understanding how decisions are shaped and how policy becomes impact, that's central to the work we do."
That practical orientation remains central to the program, regardless of format, McGuinn said.
"Our program is a professional degree, so it's always with one eye on what comes next," he noted. "We offer a course of study that sets students up for success in their professional life."
That preparation is strengthened, he said, by an emphasis on engagement.
"Engagement is the most important thing," he said. "Stay close to the process. Engage with the instructors, with colleagues, and with the material."
Even in the early stages of the online program, he sees signs of a strong learning community taking shape.
"Already I can sense a good deal of enthusiasm amongst our online students for the substance of the material they're engaging, and for the conversations they're having with me and with their colleagues," he said. "Only good things will follow."
Golnick, who graduated with his master's in 2014, continues to recommend the MAIA program to professionals who want to work at the intersection of global affairs, public policy, or international business.
He offers some simple advice to anyone considering the program, whether online or on campus.
"Use every project to build something tangible: relationships, insights, or strategies," he said. "The more you connect what you're learning to the real world, the more transformative the program becomes."
Applications for the online Master of Arts in International Administration are open until Dec. 19. Apply now or connect with an enrollment advisor today.
