U of A Athlete Plans to Build Her Future with Online Construction Management Degree

Raigan Kramer has been many things. She graduated in May 2025 from the University of Arkansas with an on-campus undergraduate degree in Recreation and Sport Management. While earning that degree, she played left field on the U of A women's softball team, where she broke national records, placed high in the university's sports history for her tally of bases and walks, and earned a place on the SEC All-Tournament Team. While playing ball, she maintained a high level of academic excellence, appearing on the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll for both 2024 and 2025.

Most recently, she has enrolled in the U of A's Graduate School and International Education, where she is determined to earn an online master's degree.

 

A Natural Progression

In her last undergraduate semester, Kramer asked her adviser what she needed to do to play her last full season on the women's softball team.

"I was talking to her about what I was going to do in my last semester," Kramer said. "I could graduate in December but, to play the full season, I had to take some class in the spring. We talked about whether I wanted to take an elective or go on to get my master's. I've always been interested in construction. I would have done something construction-wise in my undergrad, too, if they offered it. When I saw that was offered online, I knew what I wanted."

With help from her adviser, Kramer found the perfect fit in the online Master of Science in Construction Management.

Transitioning from on-campus undergraduate to online graduate-level courses hasn't been easy, Kramer said, particularly the addition of the compacted summer semesters.

"It's been tough. I've never done school over the summer. I have a lot of commitments, but the professors have been very helpful and understand most of the people in the program are working full-time. They're very understanding when it comes to certain requirements. They want you to get the work done but for it to be quality work, and they've been very lenient—if you need a day here and there because you're busy with your job or going on vacation in the summer and stuff like that."

Micah Hale, professor of civil engineering, taught Kramer in one of her last undergraduate courses and had nothing but praise for her, both as a student and an athlete.

"Raigan was an outstanding student," he said. "I am amazed at how she could balance the requirements of being on the UA's softball team and the time requirements of graduate school. We are proud to have her as a graduate of our program."

 

Master's Degree

The M.S. in Construction Management program is not quite five years old, with its first class offered in January 2021. In 2020, University of Arkansas alumnus and Little Rock residents Sam Alley and his wife, Janet, contributed $2 million to create the Sam and Janet Alley Master of Science in Construction Management Program Endowment. Alley earned a civil engineering degree from the U of A in 1979 and was inducted into the University of Arkansas College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2023.

The online Sam and Janet Alley Master of Science in Construction Management was the first of its kind in Arkansas and fills a growing need for construction leadership and expertise in all phases of development. The program gives construction managers who already have a bachelor's degree the necessary skills to lead a construction project from the design phase through completion.

The 30-hour, interdisciplinary master's degree program includes detailed lessons and assignments in scheduling, finance, productivity, efficiency, safety, contracts and risk management. The program involves the College of Engineering, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, and the School of Law.

 

A Perfect Fit

The graduate construction management degree couldn't have fit Kramer better if it had been custom tailored to her life.

Kramer chose to study online because, after graduating with her undergrad degree, she intended to return to her hometown of Topeka, where she already had a job lined up at a sports construction company. She wanted to continue working toward her degree even as she moved back to Kansas, Kramer said.

"My dad owns his own construction company," Kramer said, regarding the influences in her life that guided her into sports construction, a field of study that is not seen as typical for women. "Growing up, I've always been around construction. I've always liked it since I was little. Also, when I lived in Fayetteville, I'll call them my Fayetteville family, the McGowans, the parents own a construction company. I did an internship with them and just like being around it."

Kramer now works at Mammoth Built, a sports construction firm in Meriden, Kansas, that installs turf and builds sports complexes. Her experience in athletics, as well as her family's construction business, gives Kramer a unique insight into the needs and problems of construction in general and sports construction projects in particular.

"My job title is project engineer," said Kramer. "I mostly assist the project managers on certain papers and stuff that they need to get their project off the ground, like all the permits they need to keep the project legal and all the paperwork that goes with that."

 

Key Role of Athletics

The draw of a place on the U of A's women's softball team played a critical role in attracting Kramer to the university.

"I chose the university mostly because of softball," said Kramer. "In the beginning, I didn't necessarily choose to come to Arkansas because of the school, but after experiencing it, it was also a really big bonus. I was happy with my experience in my undergrad, and I've been happy so far in my master's, so if I look back with softball or not, I'm glad that I was able to attend the U of A."

The skills of time management and self-discipline she learned in her time on the team translated perfectly to help Kramer with her academics, especially in the high-stress and compact eight-week classes of graduate school.

"The eight-week classes that I'm in now, that's definitely been an adjustment from my time as an undergrad, especially with starting my job and whatnot, but my time on the team definitely helped me build time management skills and the discipline to get stuff done and do quality work."

 

Sports Career Highlights

• SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll (2024, 2025)
• NFCA All-Central Region Third Team (2025)
• SEC All-Tournament Team (2025)
• Finished career with 123 walks, ranking second in Arkansas history
• Ranked fifth all-time in the single-season Arkansas record books at the conclusion of 2025 season for number of walks
• Ranked ninth nationally and second in the SEC in walks per game in 2025

Raigan Kramer hits a grand slam in the quarterfinals of the SEC Softball Tournament. Courtesy, Arkansas Athletics  0:36

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