MIT SLOAN ANNUAL FUND FELLOWSHIPS 2020–2021 RECIPIENTS
FELLOWSHIPS AT MIT SLOAN
THE IMPACT OF YOUR GENEROSITY STARTS HERE. Each incoming MIT Sloan class brings together a set of remarkable students who balance passion for their work and their studies with a tenacity for pursuing results, creating change, and growing as community-minded leaders and citizens of the world. Even, and perhaps especially, in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, it seems that MIT Sloan students’ aspirations have never been higher—and, enabled by your generosity, students who receive fellowship funding have the opportunity to focus on nothing but those aspirations. Your support of the MIT Sloan Annual Fund makes possible the time, space, and resources they need to put their ideas into practice. Your support of fellowships through the MIT Sloan Annual Fund makes a profound impact on not only the students who receive fellowship support, but on every member of the Sloan community. Thanks to your gift to fellowships, you help to provide an unsurpassed educational environment to students from an ever-broadening range of backgrounds and experiences, and you help to strengthen the school’s competitive edge among its peers. You lead by example, in your field and in the MIT Sloan community, inspiring your peers and students alike to continue the virtuous circle of fellowship giving.
1 in 3
85%
Including 36% of the MBA Class of 2022, more than one-third of the MIT Sloan student body receives support from fellowship funding.
85% of MIT Sloan students report they are pursuing a degree in order to change the trajectory of their careers.
9 points
$7M+
When offered a fellowship award with admission, 51% of candidates chose to matriculate at Sloan; without the offer of a fellowship award, the matriculation rate drops to 42%.
More than $7 million was distributed to students this year, with average yearly awards totaling more than $35,000.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
JEANELLE NAME STUDENT ACKERMAN DEGREE MBA ’22 Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
“S F accae ince coming vollauttoil MIT entioSloan, exceatI’ve rerrora foundtemquis endlessque new porrore corest adventures andlataturescit engaging magnimpor ways to get secea involved dest reperum with the community. id ut et alique I’veliquam, enrolled vendicaborem in the Enterprise quas es excepudictiTrack Management corum and faccatatus. was selected Que as porrore one ofcorest the lataturescit VPs for the Healthcare magnimporClub. seceaI dest wantreperum to express id.”my deep gratitude to you for your generous gift to MIT Sloan, which is supporting my ability to attend the program. I cannot thank you enough, and I can assure you I am already cherishing every minute of my time at MIT Sloan.”
BEN DALUSMA STUDENT NAME MBA ’21 DEGREE Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
“ TFhank so much forexceat enabling my development, accaeyou vollaut il entio rerrora temquis que changing my life, and inspiring me to secea be a better porrore corest lataturescit magnimpor dest leader. truth is, getting my MBA at MIT Sloan reperumThe id ut et alique liquam, vendicaborem quas changed the course my career Que and porrore opened corest my es excepudicti corumoffaccatatus. eyes to newmagnimpor opportunities. Thedest financial support lataturescit secea reperum id.” through my fellowship is 100% the reason why I decided to come to Sloan. I’m looking forward to personally contributing to our MIT Sloan fellowship pool in the near future.”
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
RAJ ANAND MFIN ’22 Hometown: Patna, India The pandemic certainly posed great challenges for all students, and especially for international students like me. Leaving a full-time job in India and starting my master’s online with a student loan was one of the most difficult choices I have made in my life. But throughout this journey, I received exceptional support from MIT Sloan. The school made every effort to support students at every step. I would like to thank you for supporting me with your generous gift. It’s only because of your fellowship support that students like me, who come from an economically weaker section of society, can continue their studies as a part of the MIT community. The fellowship also gives students the courage to take a leap in their careers. I hope that one day, I will be on the giving side of the table and have the opportunity to help more students like you have helped me.
I would like to thank you for supporting me with your generous gift. It’s only because of your fellowship support that students like me, who come from an economically weaker section of society, can continue their studies as a part of the MIT community.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
JOSÉ TOMAS DE GREGORIO MBA ’22 Hometown: Santiago, Chile Although last semester was different than I expected because of the pandemic, my experience has been great. I’m really grateful that MIT Sloan has made a huge effort to get students into classrooms, especially while other business schools barely had any in-person classes. As a first-year student, this has been an important chance to meet and connect with my classmates despite COVID-19. I don’t have enough words to express my appreciation to you for supporting my fellowship. It has allowed me to focus more on my professional development and look for career opportunities in areas that interest me, instead of looking for more lucrative opportunities that would allow me to pay back a student loan. Having come from a job in the public sector in Chile, the fellowship support has been especially helpful. Many, many thanks!
I don’t have enough words to express my appreciation to you for supporting my fellowship. It has allowed me to focus more on my professional development and look for career opportunities in areas that interest me, instead of looking for more lucrative opportunities that would allow me to pay back a student loan.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
MELANIE FERREIRA MBA ’22 Hometown: Sleepy Hollow, New York MIT Sloan was the only school I applied to. I chose to attend because of the genuine focus on entrepreneurship and social impact. In speaking with MIT Sloan students and alumni, it became clear that this is a school that does not merely support the traditional MBA career paths like investment banking or consulting. Rather, MIT Sloan prioritizes entrepreneurs and startup joiners in meaningful ways, through the academic focus on innovation and the multitude of competitions and hackathons. I also appreciated that, in speaking with students and alumni, I could see evidence that Sloan lives out its mission to develop leaders who improve the world. A huge thank you for giving to student fellowships! As someone who was unsure of whether the investment in an MBA would be worth it, the fellowship helped motivate me to move forward with the MBA process and ultimately take a big leap in my career journey. I am incredibly grateful for my fellowship.
A huge thank you for giving to student fellowships! As someone who was unsure of whether the investment in an MBA would be worth it, the fellowship helped motivate me to move forward with the MBA process and ultimately take a big leap in my career journey. I am incredibly grateful for my fellowship.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
CHRISTOPHER GRAY MBA ’22 Hometown: Carteret, New Jersey MIT Sloan was my dream school! I plan to enter the impact investing space post-MBA and hope to drive capital to renewable energy companies and cleantech solutions to combat the effects of climate change. Thank you so much for your support of the MIT Sloan Annual Fund! There is no MBA program I wanted to attend more, and your generous donations made a WORLD of difference in terms of the financial burden for me. Contributions like yours significantly impact students’ matriculation decisions and play a major role in providing access to students who would not otherwise be able to afford such a life-changing opportunity. If possible, I hope that you continue to provide support for students like me, and I plan to do the same in the future.
Contributions like yours significantly impact students’ matriculation decisions and play a major role in providing access to students who would not otherwise be able to afford such a lifechanging opportunity. If possible, I hope that you continue to provide support for students like me, and I plan to do the same in the future.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
XINYAN “ELAINE” JIANG MFIN ’22 Hometown: Shanghai, China
“ I felt a strong sense of belonging at MIT Sloan since I first took a campus tour! I sincerely appreciate your support to help me and many other Sloanies fulfill our dream by coming here. I wish someday I could do something to help you in return. Thank you very much for your generosity!”
JOE LAVIN MBA ’22 Hometown: Wantagh, New York
“ Thank you for your support! I feel truly privileged to have the opportunity to continue my education at MIT Sloan. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I do not take for granted. Without the financial pressure of full tuition, I’ll be able to select the right career for me without the immediate concern of student loans. If I’m fortunate to find myself in a position to pay it forward later in life, you can be sure that I’ll do so!”
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
SIDA LI MBA ’22 Hometown: San Francisco, California
“ While this year has been strange with COVID, it has been a wonderful experience getting to meet my fellow classmates and to develop ideas together. Additionally, it has been very rewarding to attend classes in person—it’s been incredible how much work and effort the MIT Sloan administration has put in to make in-person classes a reality this year. Thank you for your financial support in my MIT Sloan journey. Your generosity is making a meaningful difference in my ability to attend MIT Sloan.”
NAGELA NUKUNA MBA ’22 Hometown: Newark, Delaware
“ I ’d like to thank you so very much for making it possible for me to attend the Sloan School. Without your contribution to my fellowship, I would not have been able to come to this institution. I’m so thankful to you, as well as the incredible MIT Sloan administration, staff, and broader community, for continuing to devote efforts so that current students have an incredible experience, even amidst the pandemic.”
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
KAYEMBA MVULA MBA ’22 Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana Part of the reason why I decided to pursue an MBA this year was because I felt as though MIT Sloan was the institution best equipped to give me a positive academic experience given the circumstances. So far, I have not been wrong. I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t be able to stay engaged over the course of a semester while spending so much time in front of a screen, but my professors during core rose to the occasion and used their smarts, personality, and wit to make core a much better experience than it otherwise would have been. The quiet heroes, of course, were the teaching assistants who made so much happen behind the scenes. I thought long and hard before deciding to pursue my MBA, and it would have been much more difficult for me to attend Sloan without your generous fellowship funding. As a student of color, coming from a less-traditional background, receiving funding made my decision to attend that much easier. Receiving the funding also made me and my potential contributions feel valued by MIT Sloan.
I thought long and hard before deciding to pursue my MBA, and it would have been much more difficult for me to attend Sloan without your generous fellowship funding. As a student of color, coming from a lesstraditional background, receiving funding made my decision to attend that much easier. Receiving the funding also made me and my potential contributions feel valued by MIT Sloan.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
ADE OYEWOLE MBA ’22 Hometown: Ilorin, Nigeria
“ I am passionate about starting a new venture in Nigeria to solve problems of water quality, logistics, and access to affordable and reliable sources of energy, which will create sustainable jobs for Nigerians and Africans. Because of your generosity, I am pursuing my childhood dreams of not only attending MIT but also working on venture ideas that can impact regions in positive ways. Your donations made this possible, and I will work every day to ensure that I pay this generosity forward.”
JANA PARSONS MBA ’22 Hometown: Hallowell, Maine
“ Coming from the public sector, I’m a nontraditional MBA student. My background in the public sector has actually prepared me well for the MBA program in most respects, except financially. Your fellowship support has allowed me to jump into the MBA program headfirst and focus on the things that excite me with less of a financial burden. This has allowed me to pursue entrepreneurship rather than taking the “safer” path of consulting. I am so grateful for the fellowship and you, the donors who contributed to it.”
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
EMMA RICH MBA ’21 Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia I chose to attend MIT Sloan for a number of reasons, but the most decisive was the culture. I wanted to study at a school where classmates were collaborators and people were excited to excel in innovating together, which I have found at MIT Sloan. This surplus mentality at Sloan has truly exceeded my expectations, which I believe is a key reason Sloanies consistently succeed post-MBA at large enterprises and entrepreneurial ventures alike. I would like to thank you for your support in making MIT Sloan the right choice for me. Given the cost of an MBA, having this financial help has been essential, especially in these times of uncertainty. Because of your contribution, I have had the privilege of attending an amazing school where I have made life-long friends, learned from world-renowned professors, and secured a job at my dream company. Thank you again for your help in making this possible.
Given the cost of an MBA, having this financial help has been essential, especially in these times of uncertainty. Because of your contribution, I have had the privilege of attending an amazing school where I have made life-long friends, learned from world-renowned professors, and secured a job at my dream company.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
LUIS RODRIGUEZ SFMBA ’21 Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
“ I t has been challenging to lose a lot of in-person interaction during COVID-19, but the sense of community in my program has been great. Thanks for your support in fulling a lifelong dream—and for your generosity.”
AMANDA ROHRER MBA ’22 Hometown: Herndon, Virginia
“ You have changed my life. I honestly would not be here without your generosity—my wife and I could not have taken on the financial burden of business school without the help of my fellowship. I will do everything I can to honor your gift. After school, I will be going into impact investing to develop and implement new ways to deploy private capital for the public good.”
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
JEAN SANTOS MBA ’22 Hometown: Somerville, Massachusetts Before MIT Sloan, I worked as an automation engineer at a local academic research nonprofit called the Broad Institute. Through our translational research and ties to the local biopharma industry, it was clear to me that I’d benefit from combining a strong business education with an understanding of the R&D process. As I work through my second semester, I am delighted to tackle Sloan’s health care offerings and build up an understanding of how finance, accounting, and strategy fundamentals are applied in health care and biopharma. I would like to thank you for the opportunity you have provided. Coming from an immigrant household and a scientific background, MIT Sloan represents a vital opportunity to develop new skills and innovate in the biopharma sector. By supporting students like me, you have both opened unexpected new paths and challenged me to pay it forward to the next generation of students.
Coming from an immigrant household and a scientific background, MIT Sloan represents a vital opportunity to develop new skills and innovate in the biopharma sector. By supporting students like me, you have both opened unexpected new paths and challenged me to pay it forward to the next generation of students.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
PRIYANKA SHEKAR SFMBA ’21 Hometown: Auckland, New Zealand I came to MIT Sloan because I wanted to learn and collaborate with experienced leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds and tackle what we at Sloan call “wicked edgy problems.” My expertise is in entertainment technology, and MIT Sloan’s affiliation with such a strong technical university made it the perfect place for me to take the next leap in my management career. The first term of our Sloan Fellows program was entirely virtual last summer. I was logged in from New Zealand, so I had to rely on virtual classrooms and opportunities to connect with other Sloan Fellows, who were located around the world. I moved to Boston for the fall term and enjoyed safely connecting with classmates in-person. Thank you so much for generously supporting my MIT Sloan experience, particularly during this challenging time. Receiving a fellowship made the opportunity of coming to school here more feasible for my spouse and me.
I came to MIT Sloan because I wanted to learn and collaborate with experienced leaders from diverse industries and backgrounds and tackle what we at Sloan call “wicked edgy problems.” Thank you so much for generously supporting my MIT Sloan experience, particularly during this challenging time.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
LUIS VINKE MBA ’22 Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela I chose to attend MIT Sloan because it was the only MBA program with a strong data-driven community focused on making an impact. Every student at Sloan has a passion for driving change and encouraging one another to succeed. As an electrical and computer engineer, I immediately related to this community and MIT’s learning-by-doing approach to problem-solving. As an individual that came from a country facing political turmoil and economic degradation, I’ve witnessed first-hand the opportunities that arise through education. It is for this very reason that I’ve constantly strived to continue my education, in this instance by pursuing an MBA. At times, pursuing further education is costprohibitive, and thanks to donors like yourself, this dream is attainable. Your generosity will stay with me for the rest of my personal life and professional career, and my continued success will, in part, be thanks to you. You are an inspiration to me, and in the future, I will pay it forward. Thank you!
At times, pursuing further education is costprohibitive, and thanks to donors like yourself, this dream is attainable. Your generosity will stay with me for the rest of my personal life and professional career, and my continued success will, in part, be thanks to you. You are an inspiration to me.
MIT Sloan Annual Fund // 2020–2021 Fellowship Report
INVENTING Y(OUR) BETTER WORLD.
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