For an ultramarathoner and ironman who also served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique form of adversity.

“Delay, uncertainty, and deferral, are a few themes that come to mind,” said Mosi Smith, a 2021 MBA candidate focusing his studies in sustainable business and advanced strategy and leadership. “However, with equal prominence, I am reminded of the upside—the intangibles we have enhanced over this time: resilience, perseverance, and creativity.”

Like most things, Smith has taken a worldwide pandemic in stride, and sought out moments of clarity, learning, and growth.

“The world as we knew it looks markedly different moving forward,” he said. “We have the opportunity to continue shaping and creating what it will become. Furthermore, we have a bit more latitude to affect our own paths while navigating it in the process.”

Smith cited his Industrial Ecology course with senior instructor and industry mentor Joshua Skov as a prime example of adaptability in education. He described how Skov conducted “walking office hours” as a way for students to connect with him for an in-person discussion while also respecting social distancing guidelines.

“As one of my first instructors at UO, he set a high bar for content delivery and student support,” Smith said.

Smith also sets the bar high for himself. Even in his down time, his activities tend to support the community and those he cares about.

He uses many of the races he participates in as fundraising opportunities for the charities—including The Big Fish Foundation and the Semper Fi Fund, both nonprofits supporting veterans. He even created and organized multiple running events to support the Semper Fi Fund.

Personally and academically, running has shaped his life. It was participating in the Eugene Marathon that drove Smith move to Oregon.

As Smith finishes his final credits toward completing the Oregon MBA on the one-year accelerated path, he is concurrently working as an intern for Nike in the Marketing Vanguard Program.

Smith said his experience with his Oregon MBA instructors prepared him to advance quickly in his career.

Just like running, he said, you have to put in the work.

“I’m looking forward to applying multiple lessons learned from Josh Skov, Hong Yuan, Doug Wilson, Shelley Villalobos, Scott Kerslake, Michael Crooke, Rich Hill, and more,” he said. “Beyond that, I aim to convert that experience into a greater opportunity.”

—AnneMarie Knepper-Sjoblom ’05, Lundquist College Communications