MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Creating a

better world

Designed for today’s ever-changing world, the School of Business at George Mason University prepares leaders through rigorous, stimulating programs based on global perspective, industry demand, and leading-edge academics.

We o er a range of opportunities for career advancement in the nation’s capital and around the globe. To learn more, call 703-239-2670 or email gradbus@gmu.edu

MBA MS in Accounting MS in Finance MS in Management MS in Real Estate Development MS in Technology Management PhD in Business

business.gmu.edu

Pictured:

Kevin Scott MS in Technology Management IT Strategy and Digital Transformation Certi cate ’19

George Mason University School of Business

business.gmu.edu

Maury Peiperl, Dean Christina Spring, Director, Advancement and Alumni Relations Kiel Stone, ’07, Interim Director of Marketing and Communications Jennifer Braun Anzaldi, Managing Editor Morgan Davis, Graphic Designer Rachel Chasin, Copyeditor Greg Johnson, ’13, Copyeditor

Cover Illustration by Morgan Davis

For more information, contact Jennifer Braun Anzaldi George Mason University School of Business 703-993-9618 janzaldi@gmu.edu

W This symbol designates that the full article can be found online on our website at business.gmu.edu

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS

MASON BUSINESS NEWS ______________________________ 4

FROM ALUMNI CHAPTER PRESIDENT ____________________ 8

ALUMNI STORIES ___________________________________ 10

MAKING A DIFFERENCE ______________________________ 21

FACULTY & RESEARCH _______________________________ 24

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ______________________________ 29

CAREER SERVICES __________________________________

FEATURES

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN ____________________________

CELEBRATING OUR 45TH ANNIVERSARY _________________ 14

MASON’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY _________________________

ALUMNI-TO-ALUMNI: SHARING THOUGHTS AND INSIGHT ___

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MISSION STATEMENT

We prepare a diverse student body to succeed in a global business environment. We produce outstanding scholarship in business and work to maximize the impact of our expertise. We endeavor to instill a strong ethical compass, and a lifelong habit of learning, in our students and stakeholders. For 45 years, Mason’s School of Business has been advancing learning, applying research to practice, and charting pathways to success for our graduates as well as for our business and community partners. Our vision, to be a place of opportunity where learners at any stage come to develop, enterprises find talent and expertise, and business is a positive force in the world has not only guided our actions but is already becoming a reality. As I approach the conclusion of my five-year term as dean this summer, I am particularly proud, not only of our growth in enrollments, research, programs, and our many collaborations across disciplines and institutions, but of the way we are increasingly becoming a hub of access and impact where thousands are making a real difference in the world.

Our achievements are made possible because of our people—students, alumni, staff, and faculty who perform exceptionally, remaining steadfast in their commitment to our wider community. I’m proud of our people. Of students, like Guillermo Palencia who aims to create a more sustainable future for international communities, and Juhee Jain who selflessly focuses on improving the Mason experience for prospective students (see page 30). Of our alumni, like Trevor Montano whose gift to our student-managed investment fund is providing hands-on experience for finance students (page 4). Of our staff, like Kerry Willigan and the Careers team she leads, who reimagine ways to engage our network to help prepare students for the ever-changing job market (page 32). And of our faculty, who not only fulfill their call to educate students, but who continuously seek to advance knowledge that betters society, like Professor Toyah Miller (page 24). These are just a few specific examples of Mason people changing the world for the better. Beyond individuals, our work is all about building bridges to solve global challenges that none of us can tackle on our own. We have worked hard to develop your School of Business as the heart of business learning and networking for the entire Mason community—local enterprises and government, not-for-profits, alumni, students, and our colleagues in the 13 other schools across the University, from Arts to Engineering, from Health to Education, and from Peace and Conflict Resolution to Mason Korea.

Through our five practice-oriented centers, we bridge research and learning with industry, constantly expanding partnerships to broaden our impact: • The Business for a Better World Center • The Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship • The Center for Government Contracting • The Center for Retail Transformation • The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Please visit the centers page (www.business.gmu.edu/ centers) on our NEW website to read more about our centers and see the schedule of events connecting their work with the wider community.

We recently engaged in a series of business roundtable discussions to hear from our partners in industry about the challenges they face and the ways in which Mason could help. We heard loud and clear that companies are experiencing a shortage of new talent, that they are working to improve their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and that they are seeing or making increased investment in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. At Mason, we are preparing for these challenges by, among other efforts:

• Embedding more and more experiential learning into our curriculum • Bringing panels of leaders from a variety of industries to engage with students • Launching the first Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer executive program • Launching a minor in Managing the Energy Transition, together with the College of Engineering and Computing and the College of Science • Spotlighting faculty research with clear societal impact, such as The Strange Effects of Sexist Humor and Police Bodycams are Making NYC Safer (p.26).

In 2021, Mason was named the most diverse university in the Commonwealth, and one in four Mason undergraduates takes at least one business course. That opportunity to blend the learning experience for students from myriad ethnic, academic, and economic backgrounds is central to the mission of the School of Business, and provides them excellent preparation for the world of work, as well as developing them as effective and responsible global citizens.

In closing, I want to thank you for your support over the past five years, which have been a deeply rewarding experience for me. I look forward to continuing to work with our alumni and friends as well as our colleagues across Mason and in the wider world in my new role as Senior Fellow in the Office of the Provost, as well as continuing as Professor of Management and a leader in executive development and global outreach. Your School of Business is making a difference in so many places, sectors, and lives, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made together. If our past 45 years are any indication of our next 45, we are in for an amazing adventure.

Maury Peiperl Dean, School of Business

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SENIOR ADMINISTRATION

Maury Peiperl, Dean Cheryl Druehl, Interim Senior Associate Dean, Faculty Diane Spence, Executive Director & Chief Business Officer Richard Klimoski, Associate Dean, Research Patrick Soleymani, ’07, ’09, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs & Strategic Engagement Paige Wolf, Associate Dean, Graduate Programs Brett Josephson, Associate Dean, Executive Development Nirup Menon, Associate Dean, Arlington Ventures Jackie Buchy, Senior Assistant Dean, Graduate Enrollment Meggan Ford, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Academic Services & Initiatives Kerry Willigan, Assistant Dean, Career Services Kiel Stone, ’07, Interim Director, Marketing and Communications Christina Spring, Director, Advancement and Alumni Relations Christine Landoll, ’89, ’92, Director, Business Engagement Sara Williams, Director, Strategic Initiatives Lisa Gring-Pemble, Director, Global Impact and Engagement, and Co-Executive Director Business for a Better World Center Anne Magro, Co-Executive Director, Business for a Better World Center Roderick Maribojoc, Executive Director, Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship Jerry McGinn, Executive Director, Center for Government Contracting Gautham Vadakkepatt, Director, Center for Retail Transformation Rebecca Howick, ’15, Interim Director, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship JK Aier, Area Chair, Accounting Jackie Brown, ’12 Area Chair, Business Foundations Claus Langfred, Area Chair, Management Saurabh Mishra, Area Chair, Marketing Pallab Sanyal, Area Chair, Information Systems and Operations Management Alexander Philipov, Area Chair, Finance

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS DEAN’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

Elaine Marion, ’95, Chair ePlus Inc. Anne K. Altman, ’82 Everyone Matters Inc. Marc E. Andersen, ’90 Ernst & Young LLP Shaza L. Andersen, ’89 Trustar Bank Tom Anderson, ’06 Centre Law & Consulting, LLC Horace Blackman, ’93 CGI Kristina J. Bouweiri Reston Limousine Chris Cage Leidos Nancy Collins, ’80 Everest Care Management Debi Beck Corbatto, ’86, ’03, ’18 The Beck Foundation Michael Creasy, ’91 Grant Thornton LLP Paul Cusenza, Nodal Exchange and Nodal Clear James C. Fontana Fontana Law Group PLLC Michael Gallagher, ’94 The Stevie Awards Kaylene H. Green, ’87 Flagship Government Relations R. Jerry Grossman Retired, Houlihan Lokey W. Craig Havenner The Christopher Companies Ginny Heine City National Bank Lillian T. Heizer LCH Consulting Services Mary Davis Holt Mary Davis Holt Enterprises, LLC Rick Hubbard, ’85, ’90 Gemini Communications LLC The Honorable Allen F. Johnson, ’83 Allen F. Johnson & Associates Jeffrey M. Johnson, ’75 Retired, Johnson & Strachan Inc. Brian E. Kearney, ’02 Kearney & Company PC Craig B. Kendall Financial Investments, Inc. Gary N. Loveland Jr.,’84 Retired, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Deepti Malhotra Vision|Mission|Drive Edward J. Newberry, ’84 Squire Patton Boggs John T. Niehoff, ’84 Baker Tilly Jerry T. Pierce, ’92 KPMG LLP Scott Plein Equinox Investments LLC Natalie M. Randolph The Sidwell Friends School Harold C. Rauner, ’81, ’86 National Capital Bank of Washington Mark D. Rothman MYTA Technologies LLC Ola Sage, ’99 Cyber Rx Sumeet Shrivastava, ’94 Independent Board Director and Advisor Courney B. Spaeth growth[period] Bill Strachan Brown & Brown Insurance William L. Walsh Jr., Esq Hischler Fleischer Geoffrey Weber, ’91, ’98 KPMG LLP Teresa A. Weipert Maximus Katharyn M. White IBM Dale “Dusty” Wince, ’12, Former Chair Aligned2 Raymond L. Winn III, ’82, ’85 Deloitte LLP