INDIANAPOLIS—A newly established partnership between the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Indianapolis and Orr Fellowship is already demonstrating meaningful impact. Particularly notable is the impact on two women who are leveraging the opportunity to advance their careers while contributing to Indiana’s business community.
About the Partnership
“It makes so much sense.”
That is how Claire Neuman, an Evening MBA student at Kelley Indianapolis, describes the partnership between the Orr Fellowship and Kelley School.
As of November 2024, Orr Fellow alumni can take advantage of an expedited pathway to earn an MBA through the Kelley Evening MBA Program, the No. 1 part-time MBA program in Indiana and No. 16 in the country (U.S. News & World Report, 2025).
Orr Fellowship, founded in 2001, is an early career development program for versatile high achievers and future-focused businesses in Indiana. The organization recruits, assesses, and matches university graduates with high-agency roles in growing Indiana businesses.
Orr Fellows accepted into the Evening MBA Program receive:
- A $2,000 scholarship
- Six credit hours towards their degree (reducing the credit hour requirement from 54 to 48 credit hours)
- Orr Fellows receive credit towards career coaching (X551) and leadership (Z532) courses and three credits towards an elective.
- Evening MBA faculty and staff as a resource for the Fellows’ leadership groups
These benefits are available to all Orr Fellowship alumni who have completed the two-year program within five years of enrolling in the Evening MBA Program.
Among the first to benefit from the partnership are two sisters whose journeys reflect the program’s potential.
Sisters on a Similar Path
Growing up in Zionsville, Indiana and later attending Taylor University, sisters Claire Neuman and Elisabeth Nieshalla have followed remarkably similar paths. Both were accepted into the Orr Fellowship after graduation and placed in jobs around Indianapolis.
Claire is the executive director of Venture Club Indiana, Inc., an organization aimed at supporting Indiana startups and accelerating local entrepreneurs. Elisabeth leads partnerships and strategic communications for Heartland BioWorks Tech Hub.
“It can be a big shock going from college to the professional world. The Orr Fellowship allows us to tackle post-college life with 100 other fellows and go through professional development, team building, or personal development,” Claire said.
Before the Kelley Indianapolis and Orr Fellowship partnership was even announced, both sisters explored the possibilities to pursue an MBA. After researching independently, the pair both chose the Kelley Evening MBA Program.
“I come from a PR and marketing background, and while working, I identified gaps I needed to fill related to business. I explored other options in the area, but the Kelley Evening MBA rose to the top,” Claire said. “The accessibility of the program allows me to still work full time, support my family, and have a challenging but manageable program as well.”
For Elisabeth, one of the best parts of the partnership is access to two well-connected networks.
“These are two very different networks. The Orr Fellowship network is full of people who are in the same stage of life as you. We work in different industries but have similar entry-level jobs and can grow together in the Indiana ecosystem,” Elisabeth said. “In the Evening MBA Program, the average age of the cohort is 33 years old. Having this deeper network, with folks all in different areas of their careers, helps to talk about what we can expect as we come into these future roles.”
Beyond individual success and growth, the partnership aims to help shape the Indiana business landscape.
Impact in Indiana
By combining the Orr Fellowship’s early-career support with the Kelley School’s nationally ranked part-time MBA program, the partnership is helping Indiana retain top talent and strengthen its business ecosystem.
“The caliber and expectations of both the Kelley School of Business and Orr Fellowship are exceptional and not easily replicated. Bringing these two programs together underscores our commitment to strengthening Indiana’s workforce and cultivating the state’s top emerging talent,” said Erin Vincent, director of the Kelley Evening MBA Program.
According to Orr Fellowship President Steven Emch, by placing recent graduates with jobs in Indiana, followed by an enticing opportunity to continue to grow at Kelley, the partnership gives Indiana more time for participants to know the state and make it their home.
“We’ve seen tremendous enthusiasm for this partnership—from a rise in Orr Fellowship applicants to increased interest in Kelley’s graduate programs among our Fellows,” said Steven. “Orr was founded to connect high-potential graduates with opportunities in Indiana, and this collaboration strengthens that mission. We’re excited about the momentum and look forward to deepening our collaboration with the Kelley Evening MBA Program in the years ahead.”
Continuing to grow personally and professionally in Indiana is something that excites both sisters, and they believe their affiliation with both organizations will pay off.
“Today’s job market is so different. No longer does someone work at one company until retirement. People are switching jobs and industries. Indiana has a diverse ecosystem and economy, and I know I can have a professional trajectory that is exciting, fast, and multi-faceted because of my involvement with the Orr Fellowship and Kelley MBA,” Elisabeth said.
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