University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) School of Business master’s degree recipient Anthony B. Mack, Class of 2018, has always embraced the importance of giving back to underserved communities.

Anthony comes by this passion honestly, having grown up under the wing of his father, John W. Mack, an iconic civil rights leader. John served as executive director of the National Urban League chapter in Flint, Michigan, and later was president of the Los Angeles chapter. He also was a member of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners. John Mack was a staunch advocate for equal opportunities in education, law enforcement, and economic empowerment for blacks and other minorities.

As an elementary school teacher, Anthony’s mother, Harriett Mack, was also a strong influence, instilling in her son a healthy respect for education and personal growth. This led him to graduate from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in accounting. Anthony eventually went on to run his own business, after which he pursued a successful career in accounting in the automotive finance industry.

After being passed over for an executive management role and losing out to a less qualified candidate, Anthony channeled his frustration into motivation. He decided to seize the moment and push himself further by continuing his education. Thirty-five years after earning his BA, he felt that obtaining a master’s degree would be key to opening new doors.

Stepping into Public Service

His decision to enroll at UWLA came around the same time he was appointed by Mayor Garcetti to serve on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Los Angeles. In addition to his new job responsibilities, Anthony also had to factor in challenges at home.

Human Relations Commission President Anthony Mack on LA Currents

“At that time, my parents were going through some serious health challenges, and I was one of their primary caregivers,” explained Mack. “UWLA proved to be an ideal option. The close proximity would allow me to go from work to school at the LAX campus and then return to my parent’s home as a part-time caregiver.”

Anthony was also attracted to the school’s hybrid program that allowed for a mix of online and in-person class work. Given the hurdles of working full-time, caring for his ailing parents, and studying, he nearly decided against enrolling. It was at this juncture UWLA President Brown interceded.

“President Brown was kind enough to reach out to me to discuss my reservations about moving forward in the program,” stated Mack. “Between the conversations with President Brown, my uncle, and my father, with all three insisting this was something that I had to do, I decided to move forward to fulfill my passion and purpose. President Brown saw my potential and said that I would be doing my family and my community a disservice if I didn’t follow through and get my degree. That pretty much sealed the deal for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the support.”  

Anthony admits this chapter of his life was a pressure cooker. In addition to the rigor of his studies, he was going through a separation from his wife, and after only months in the program, his parents passed away. “As I think back, I had set goals for myself, but then there were significant bumps in the road that made everything more difficult,” said Mack. “That’s when I would reflect on what my mother would always say to me. She would tell me - What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. So, I stayed the course. And what I ended up learning was, whatever you put your heart and mind to, as long as you stay focused and committed, you can achieve.” 

Graduate Degree Opens the Door to New Career Opportunities

Anthony earned his Master’s in Organizational Leadership & Innovative Technologies, Business from the ULWA School of Business in 2019. He credits his advanced degree with opening the door to becoming President of the Human Relations Commission, which proved to be a particularly important time in the midst of the pandemic. The degree has also opened up a whole host of other opportunities, including his current job as Director of Institutional Advancement for The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Anthony is responsible for directing the University's tuition fundraising program in support of underserved students who are pursuing their Master's and Doctorate degrees in the field of psychology.

“There is so much demand for therapists today that it’s often difficult getting an appointment,” added Mack. “Honestly, there are just not enough therapists to go around. It’s even worse in the Black community where there are roughly seven million documented cases, but only about 4,000 African American therapists to service all of these patients.”

Back to the Classroom: From Reticence to Reassurance

Looking back, Anthony admits he was somewhat reticent about returning to the classroom. After all, it had been three decades since he was a student. Once he arrived at UWLA, he found the process to be completely seamless. “The faculty and staff work with the students to make sure it’s comfortable and manageable and that you can transition in at a reasonable pace,” explained Mack. “I really appreciated the support. In addition to the comradery and collaboration of ideas with other students, I valued the accessibility of the faculty. If you had any questions, concerns, or challenges, it was a very open-door, friendly environment. UWLA doesn’t have a large, stuffy university feel. It's much more of a small, welcoming family feel. I credit President Brown with the quality of this business school. His leadership permeates down through the faculty into the classrooms, reaches the students, and makes for a winning program.”   

Anthony is a big proponent of returning to school to further one’s education. Every opportunity he gets, he tells prospective students about the UWLA business program, as well as the law program. “My advice for anyone who has completed their undergraduate degree, whether you’ve just graduated or you’re five years out - go ahead and get your post-graduate degree,” concluded Mack. “I consider myself blessed in a number of ways, but if it were not for my degree from UWLA, I would not have been able to make the major career chess moves that I have. I always tell young people that the thing you want in life is options. Don’t leave your future in the hands of others. Take control. I’m living proof of what higher education can do to advance your career.”

Anthony admits he has his eye on getting another advanced degree. He looks forward to further honing his skills in the future.