Winston-Salem, N.C., university honors its first MBA graduates.

Byline: Jeanne Sturiale

Dec. 14--About two years ago, Lisa Duncan decided to jump-start a long-time career dream -- getting an MBA degree.

Managing time was Duncan's main concern. She had a one-year-old son and a full-time marketing job at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

She chose Winston-Salem State University's evening MBA program, then brand-new.

"The timing was great," Duncan said. "I really didn't want to commute to UNCG (the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). Wake's (Wake Forest University) program was time consuming. I had a child, a family."

In the fall of 2002, Duncan began coursework on the Winston-Salem campus, under Reynolds' tuition-reimbursement plan.

Along the way, Duncan lost her job in a …