About the Bracken Center

Empowering Jabs Students for Career Success

The Bracken Center for Academic & Career Engagement empowers students in the Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship to translate their academic experience into professional success. We cultivate essential skills—such as communication, leadership, and career readiness—through high-impact coaching, mentorship, and employer engagement. By fostering meaningful collaboration with industry partners and communities, we prepare students to contribute with confidence and integrity in a dynamic global workforce.

Connect with a Bracken Center Faculty Coach

Marina Calabrese marina.calabrese@montana.edu Connect with Marina on LinkedIn	Anne Shepherd anne.shepherd@montana.edu

Contact Bracken Center Staff

Toby Blake Director toby.blake@montana.edu Connect with Toby on LinkedIn	Lydia Ampomaa Graduate Assistant   Connect with Lydia on LinkedIn

History of the Bracken Center

A Legacy of Student Success

The Bracken Center for Excellence in Undergraduate Business Education was established in 2003 through a generous $3 million endowment from the family and friends of Gary K. Bracken, an alumnus of Montana State University’s Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship (JJCBE). A Sidney, Montana native and 1961 accounting graduate, Bracken built a distinguished career, retiring as Executive Vice President and Controller of one of the nation’s largest cable media companies. His vision and commitment to undergraduate business education inspired this enduring gift, ensuring that future generations of students benefit from transformative learning experiences.

Today, the Bracken Center serves as the hub for student professional development, career readiness, and experiential learning at Jabs. It provides career and internship support, communications coaching, and networking opportunities that connect students with faculty, alumni, and industry leaders. In keeping with Bracken’s legacy, the Center fosters a dynamic learning environment where students strengthen the skills, experiences, and professional connections needed to succeed in the business world.