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At George Mason basketball game, students ran the show

Sarah Holland — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:16:20 +0000

At George Mason basketball game, students ran the show Sarah Holland Fri, 02/21/2025 - 11:16

Most students at Division 1 universities like George Mason can say they’ve been to at least one sport event. A sold-out football game, a baseball no-hitter, or a Cinderella run at the NCAA Final Four: these games bring the campus together and make core memories for future alumni.

Students from left: Melissa Quinteros, Cody Salenga, and Manahil Piracha. Photo provided.

But while many can say they’ve cheered in the stands, only a handful can say they’ve run the show.

In fall 2024, Donald G. Costello College of Business students had that unique opportunity, leading the marketing and management of the Ferrum vs. George Mason basketball game on November 23.

Mentored by marketing professor Niki Vlastara, assistant director of fan engagement Lily Plizga, and senior marketing and communications director of Costello College of Business Duane Bailey, five students took responsibility for various aspects of the game: from marketing ticket sales to managing check-in to developing a creative timeout game.

For Plizga, the experience was an opportunity to show students the breadth of career possibilities in sports management and marketing. “I found this career because I was a student wage worker with Athletics; I wouldn’t have known about all the opportunities here otherwise,” she said. “So for me, this experience helps showcase all the different paths available to them.”

For Vlastara, it was an opportunity to give students hands-on experience to practice theories and concepts from their coursework. “In event marketing, once the event is done, it’s done; you can’t resell. So, it’s important for the students to have that experience of having one chance to get it right and fill the seats,” Vlastara explained.

George Mason is nationally ranked for internships/co-ops and its graduates report high job success related to their career goals, which underscores its prioritization of experiential learning opportunities like this one.

“I think this experiential part of education is what students are looking for. Projects like this help them really understand where the concepts I’m teaching in class apply,” said Vlastara. “It’s very holistic.”

From left: Melissa Quinteros, Cody Salenga, Dean of Costello College of Business Ajay Vinzé, and Manahil Piracha. Photo provided.

Melissa Quinteros, a senior in Costello, said that this hands-on opportunity challenged her to improve the skills she was developing in her classes and extracurriculars. “Having interpersonal skills and collaborating on projects have always stood out as necessary skills in my marketing and business classes,” she said. “For this, I needed to take those skills and learn what worked when trying to promote an event to attendees. I had to figure out how to be brief while emphasizing what parts of the event would be most interesting to the person I’m talking to. That was a challenge, but I learned so much.”

The students, Bailey said, “jumped in with both feet and smiled the whole way.” They brought ideas not just from the classroom, but also from their own experiences: winter 2024 graduate Cody Salenga, for example, pitched the idea of the timeout game based on a game he saw at an NBA game. According to Plizga, the game was really successful.

Athletics also saw increases in their social media engagement when the students had taken over; Plizga’s data showed more comments and higher views.

“We want students to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, that extends beyond graduation,” said Bailey, “We want them to invest in George Mason, and experiences like these plant that seed early.”

The team hopes to continue this collaboration next season. “Athletics and the fans were excited by the collaboration. So we hope to keep it going in the fall, maybe make it a big event each year that becomes tradition,” said Plizga. “And I hope that other departments, schools, and colleges see what we did as a baseline for opportunities in the future.”

In This Story

Mariniki (Niki) Vlastara

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��AV leads Virginia with strong U.S. News online program rankings

Colleen Rich — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 18:53:30 +0000

��AV leads Virginia with strong U.S. News online program rankings Colleen Rich Fri, 01/17/2025 - 13:53

��AV continues to distinguish itself as a top academic institution and a top 50 public university. Today, U.S. News & World Report released their 2025 Best Online Programs rankings, highlighting the university’s exceptional offerings across several disciplines, especially for veterans.

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason advanced its rankings in nearly every online master’s degree program where it was included. The university is one of just five institutions in Virginia ranked in at least nine of the 13 categories where it is included, earning No. 1 rankings in four of those categories, more than any other university in the state for these categories.

“These rankings affirm that George Mason is a leader in Virginia in producing graduates for high-demand industries critical to the growth and prosperity of the commonwealth,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “We achieve these outcomes by partnering with industry leaders to develop academic programs that prepare graduates for a rapidly evolving workforce.”

A Leader for Military-Affiliated Students

With more than 4,700 students identifying as active-duty service members, veterans, or dependents, George Mason remains a vital resource for Virginia’s largest military-connected community. This year, approximately 20% of the university’s incoming freshman, transfer, and graduate cohorts have military connections, reinforcing the university’s reputation as a top destination for military-affiliated students.

George Mason earned the top spot in Virginia and nationally among public universities for its MBA program for veterans, and was first in Virginia and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region for its master’s in nursing for veterans.

In September 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked George Mason as one of the state’s best colleges for veterans. The university was also recognized with “Gold” status as a top Military Friendly University, underscoring its commitment to supporting those who have served.

“We are proud to serve a region that is home to a significant number of military members, veterans, and their families,” said Jennifer Connors, George Mason’s director of Office of Military Services. “At George Mason, we are committed to providing resources to support their unique needs. It is our duty to honor their service to our nation by empowering them to excel academically and professionally.”

Strong Performances Across Disciplines

In addition to its programs for veterans, George Mason’s online master’s programs excelled in several other areas: education, nursing, business, and engineering.

Northern Virginia boasts some of the nation’s top public school systems, and George Mason playing a significant role in that success. Approximately half of the region’s K-12 school administrators and an estimated one third of its teachers hold degrees or certificates from George Mason.

In the face of a national shortage of special education teachers, the university’s master’s in special education program stands out, ranking No. 1 in both Virginia and in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and 5th nationally.

“We are thrilled to see our special education program recognized among the top five in the country,” said Ingrid Guerra-López, dean of the College of Education and Human Development. “This achievement is a reflection of our faculty’s remarkable expertise, dedication, and innovative approaches to preparing graduates to make a lasting impact in classrooms and communities.”

The School of Nursing within George Mason’s College of Public Health saw significant advancements in its rankings. The master’s in nursing program ranked No. 1 in Virginia, climbing up eight spots to 41st nationally (34th among public universities). Additionally, the Master’s in Nursing for Veterans program rose to 14th nationally (up from 18th), and 9th among public universities (up from 11th).

“Through hands-on clinical training and cutting-edge simulation technologies, our students are equipped with unmatched knowledge and cultural competencies,” said College of Public Health dean Melissa J. Perry. “Our graduates are among the most well-prepared nurses in the country.”

The Costello College of Business earned significant accolades, with its MBA for veterans program climbing to 30th (up from 41st) among public universities and 34th nationally (up from 50th). The MBA program also rose to 41st among public universities (up from 54th), 55th nationally (up from 74th), while its non-MBA program ranked 39th among public universities (up from 44th) and 56th nationally (up from 62nd).

George Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing saw two of its newest programs make strong debuts. The master’s in industrial engineering is best in Virginia and 10th nationally. The master’s in engineering for veterans’ program ranked 29th nationally. The master’s in engineering program climbed 22 spots to 45th nationally, and 38th among public universities (up from 51st).

The new master’s in IT for veterans program also made a strong first impression, ranking 21st nationally and 13th among public universities.

A Commitment to Excellence in Online Education

The strong performance of George Mason’s online programs aligns with the university’s mission to support students where they are. The flexible class offerings are a welcome boon to the university’s large number of post-traditional students, many of whom are professionals who continue to work full-time jobs and family responsibilities while pursuing academic goals to enhance their careers.

Check out the full list of George Mason rankings at gmu.edu/rankings.

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Checking in to a “suite” internship with Marriott International

Sarah Holland — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 14:34:55 +0000

Checking in to a “suite” internship with Marriott International Sarah Holland Wed, 01/15/2025 - 09:34

When business major Kyle Samuel went to ��AV’s Fall 2023 Career Fair with a list of companies to speak with, he didn’t realize he would land an internship that would kickstart his career.

With a legacy connection to Marriott hotels through his father, who worked for Marriott at the property level, a chat with the Marriott representative led to securing a competitive spot as a finance HQ intern with Marriott International.

Now, in addition to completing a summer internship with Marriott, Samuel is working part-time for the hotel company and making plans to return in summer 2025 for a second internship.

Kyle Samuel (left) with Marriott founder's grandson, David Marriott. Photo provided.

Why did you choose George Mason?

There are a couple of reasons why. First, it’s close to home and within my culture we try to live with our parents even after we’re 18. So that was important to me. Affordability was a major aspect, too, because staying home saves some tuition. George Mason’s Costello College of Business is also great and well-established, especially compared to other schools in the region.

What inspired your interest in finance?

In junior year of high school, one of my uncles recommended the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. And that opened my eyes to how much personal finance matters in your life. I started reading more, like The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success by William N. Thorndike, Jr., and my interest just took off from there.

How did you find out about the internship at Marriott?

Through the career fair at George Mason. I went into the fair with notes about each company I was interested in, and Marriott was on the list. I spoke with the representative, and we really connected. She told me about the internship—I didn’t know that Marriott offered internships—and she recommended that I apply.

It’s funny, whenever someone asks me about the career fair, I tell them I have a 100% track record, because I went to one fair and got an internship from it!

What did you do during your summer internship with Marriott?

Some of my major projects were conducting reviews of around 50 capital expenditure budgets from Marriott Select brands to ensure compliance and accuracy, checking the integrity and translation of data from Excel sheets to visualizations, and helping a senior manager send out revenue share allocations to select brand owners.

I also participated in a competition with the other interns where we were given a real-life business challenge that Marriott is facing, and we had to design a potential solution. So we brainstormed ideas for improving Marriott Bonvoy sign-ups among the Gen Z demographic.

One of the things I really appreciated about my internship is that I wasn’t just doing internship work that wouldn’t go anywhere once I was done: I was doing projects with impact.

How have your experiences at George Mason prepared you for your internship?

Many classes gave me the foundations I needed to succeed at my internship. BUS 210 Business I and BUS 310 Business Analytics II were really helpful because it allowed me to strengthen my Excel skills, and BUS 103 has helped improve my professional development skills.

University Career Services also played a monumental role. They helped me establish my resume, create my LinkedIn profile, and prepare for the interview with Marriott.

Kyle Samuel (right) with Anthony Capuano, current CEO of Marriott. Photo provided

What would you say is the importance of an internship?

School does prepare you for the workplace, but there’s really no substitute for actually experiencing a workplace. Understanding office culture, learning the hierarchies, networking; you can only really learn those soft skills through being in the workplace. And networking is so valuable. I’ve had a meeting with the CEO of Marriott because I was able to network with the former intern, who connected me to the right people.

Where do you hope to be in ten years?

My long-term goal is to become the CFO of Marriott. I’m minoring in real estate, so working for Marriott combines my interest in finance with my interest in real estate. I love the culture; I feel like they really put people first and work together as a team. And there’s a lot of potential for them to grow in the future.

George Mason is Virginia's best for interships

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Honors College alum spearheads professional development program

Sarah Holland — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:11:36 +0000

Honors College alum spearheads professional development program Sarah Holland Mon, 12/09/2024 - 11:11

When preparing for college, prospective students and parents often ask about career readiness. How is the university preparing its students for the workforce? What’s the rate of job placement? Do the students succeed in their respective careers?

��AV has a strong track record of preparing students for careers. And the Honors College is working to make sure Honors students are ready to shine in a competitive job market.

Jeff Shen provides opening remarks at the roundtable. Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“These are incredibly motivated students. I am beyond impressed with their enthusiasm and intellect. And they’re ready. They have all the tools to succeed in the workforce, they just need the knowledge of how to find the right opportunity,” said Jeff Shen.

Shen, who graduated from what was then known as the Presidential Scholars Program in 1996 with a degree in decision sciences, is president of Red Team Consulting and a member of the Honors College Advisory Board. Last year, he came to Dean Zofia Burr with an idea for how to prepare Honors College students for their careers: a roundtable for students to meet with professionals in government contracting, supported by the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

“I spoke with some students during graduation,” Shen said, “and in asking them about their post-graduation plans and job opportunities, I realized that these really bright and promising students were missing some of the foundations for approaching the job market: how to network, where to look for opportunities, and so on. So I thought, there must be some way we can address that gap.”

The idea for the roundtable coincided with plans to develop the Honors College Professional Development Fellows program. As part of the program, the roundtable was one of a series of workshops that help students in the program craft their resumes, build their LinkedIn profiles, practice interviewing, and otherwise prepare for internship and career opportunities.

The first roundtable event in Spring 2024 featured 12 George Mason alumni, all of whom are major executives at government contracting companies. The first was such a success that Shen and the Honors College decided to host a second event in Fall 2024.

“In government contracting, you can be a writer, a clinical researcher, a health care professional, you can be in sales: It does not matter the background, there’s going to be a position in government contracting for that person,” Shen said. “I wanted students to see the world of possibilities in terms of what they could do with their degrees.”

Students had the opportunity to speak with each executive in small groups, gaining valuable insights and advice on how to prepare for their career.

Jessica Taylor, studying music technology with a minor in computer science, was one of the fellows in the spring. “As a music major who wants to go into software engineering, I have an untraditional background that needs to be particularly explained and presented when I’m introducing myself to potential employers,” she said. “The fellows program taught me that my variety of creative experience is actually one of the things that makes me stand out.”

Photo by Cristian Torres/Office of University Branding

“We received [the mentors’] personal emails, offering the opportunity to follow up on potential career opportunities and further discussions,” said Monica Amaya, a management information systems major with a minor in computational and data sciences. Amaya attended the roundtable in Fall 2024. “The entirety of the Professional Development Fellows program has given us valuable networking opportunities to build meaningful relationships with successful government contracting leaders in the area.”

“I learned a lot about what it takes to build a business,” said cyber security engineering student Cameron Portis. “Hearing some of the stories about how these leaders overcame difficulties and changed their plans really inspired me to keep pushing toward my goals no matter what.”

The program continues to grow. In Spring 2025, the roundtable opportunities will expand to two new fields: Health administration and leadership, organized by Inova Health System’s Loren Rufino, BS Health Services ’12, and arts/performing arts nonprofit leadership, organized by Deb Gandy. Both are members of the Honors College Advisory Board.

And for Shen, opening doors for students is only part of the mission. “This is a great way for alumni and community members to get involved with George Mason,” he said. “I’m hoping this opens the door for them as well."

Discover the Honors College's inspiring learning community

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Zofia Burr

“When one door closes, open another”: This Costello student is making his way in music industry

Sarah Holland — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:57:59 +0000

“When one door closes, open another”: This Costello student is making his way in music industry Sarah Holland Wed, 12/04/2024 - 10:57

Cody Salenga has been making music since he was a teenager. Performing under the name Steph Cody Music, he’s got a growing fanbase on Spotify and co-launched an independent record label this year. So when it came time to look for a summer internship, Salenga knew he wanted something in the music industry.

That’s how Salenga, one of Costello College of Business’ graduating business majors with a concentration in marketing, found himself running social media for Capitol Dystrikt Music in Washington, D.C.

“It combines my two passions in music and marketing,” he said, “and it’s my dream to work in the entertainment industry. The chance that one day I’ll be listening to a song on the radio, or on Apple music, and realize, ‘hey, I’ve been in the studio when they were making that song’ is really cool.”

In addition to managing social media and communications for Capital Dystrikt Music, Salenga works to build relationships between the artists and the studio to increase the studio’s presence. Building name recognition is at the core of his work, and that idea led to one of his major projects: the Graveyard Smash concert, hosted right here in the Johnson Center on Fairfax Campus on the eve of Halloween.

“I really wanted to put on a concert, so I pitched the idea of a concert sponsored by Capitol Dystrikt Music to the Student Centers using the Plaza Palooza (named after the Lollapalooza festival) as a template. And we had a great turnout,” he said. “It really just came together into a beautiful thing that I could find so much pride in.”

Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Capitol Dystrikt Music saw 200% more web traffic this month than previously, which Cody attributes to the event. “Tables in the Johnson Center were filled throughout the festival,” he said. “We probably had roughly 200 attendees.”

Salenga sees strong similarities between building an album and building a marketing campaign. “You work tirelessly on something for a long time, and you want people to see it and be moved by it, whether that’s an album or a product launch,” he said. His work speaks for itself, having grown the studio’s impressions by 113,780% or 5,694 impressions within a 30-day period, and 3.1k accounts reached in that same timeframe too.

Diving into the industry hasn’t been without challenges. “It’s a tough learning curve, figuring out how marketing works in the music industry, what’s going to land well, what will produce results, and so on,” he said. “But the classes like Digital Marketing and other foundational marketing classes I’ve taken at George Mason have given me a really solid marketing foundation.”

He cites the hands-on learning experiences in his marketing electives as being particularly impactful. A simulation tracking social post-performance and SEO, for example, gave him important insights into the mechanisms of marketing that he’s applying to both his professional and personal social presence.

“When it comes to George Mason, the stereotype that I’ve heard employers have of us is that we’re hardworking and gritty, and we don’t take things for granted. That's what we bring to the table in interviews that makes us different,” he said. “So when one door closes, don’t wait for something else to open: make a new opportunity for yourself.”

Salenga, left, performs on stage at Graveyard Smash. Photo provided

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George Mason expands partnership with GDIT to build a skilled and diverse technology workforce

Colleen Rich — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:02:19 +0000

George Mason expands partnership with GDIT to build a skilled and diverse technology workforce Colleen Rich Wed, 10/30/2024 - 13:02

��AV announced this week an expanded partnership with General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics, to enhance career development opportunities for university students and GDIT’s workforce. The focus areas include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and government contracting.

The partnership strengthens George Mason’s role as a key economic driver in Northern Virginia and a critical source of tech talent, while broadening GDIT’s efforts to cultivate a skilled and diversified talent pipeline.

“George Mason has been recognized over the years in numerous college rankings as Virginia’s top public university for diversity, innovation, cybersecurity, homeland security, service to military veterans, and service to students outside the traditional college ages," said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “We are committed to partnering in the region to meet the pace of change in the today’s workforce, providing opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds to pursue a rigorous education and lead successful careers, and attracting and keeping talent in Virginia.”

This collaboration also aligns with GDIT’s technology investment strategy, which emphasizes employee growth and upskilling. It also enhances government contracting capabilities by leveraging George Mason’s Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting, located within the Costello College of Business. The center is the nation’s first dedicated to addressing business, policy, and regulatory issues in government contracting.

“Expanding our partnership with George Mason demonstrates our commitment to investing in the future workforce,” said Amy Gilliland, GDIT’s president. “As the largest and most diverse educational institution in Northern Virginia, George Mason has played a pivotal role in shaping our talent pipeline for more than a decade. We look forward to further strengthening our relationship so GDIT will continue to be a top employer of choice for George Mason students.”

U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, and Washington Monthly all rank George Mason as a top public university for the upward mobility of its graduates.

As part of the expanded partnership, GDIT will collaborate with George Mason on several programs, including:

Partnering with the College of Engineering and Computing, as well as Costello College of Business, to expand recruitment opportunities, career mentorship programs, networking sessions, technology open houses, and capstone projects.
Offering students, faculty, and staff opportunities to participate in various GDIT events and initiatives, such as cyber hackathons, career development seminars, and technology showcases at the GDIT Emerge Innovation Center.
Providing industry expertise for George Mason’s Clearance Readiness Program to prepare students interested in a career in the cleared space.
Hosting leadership insight sessions focused on mental health, career pathways, work-based communication skills, and resiliency.

This partnership is part of GDIT’s workforce initiative, which collaborates with high schools, colleges, and universities across the country. GDIT has formed similar partnerships with institutions in Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, and Missouri to foster the next generation of technology innovators and make a positive impact in these communities.

George Mason, one of the largest universities to receive state funding through the Tech Talent Investment Program, has committed to increasing its computing graduates, in both undergraduate and graduate computing programs, to almost 16,000 students over the next two decades. With flourishing partnerships with leading companies like General Dynamics and initiatives supporting small businesses and entrepreneurship across the state, George Mason is building on the more than 15,000 paid or stipend-supported internships available to students annually.

��AV has committed to increasing graduates in both undergraduate and graduate computing programs to almost 16,000 students as part of the state's Tech Talent Investment Program.

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Former CGI president and CEO to address graduates at Winter Commencement

Colleen Rich — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 14:03:19 +0000

Former CGI president and CEO to address graduates at Winter Commencement Colleen Rich Mon, 10/28/2024 - 10:03

George D. Schindler, former president and chief executive officer of business and information technology company CGI, will be the featured speaker at ��AV’s Winter Commencement on Dec. 19 at EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax Campus.

George D. Schindler. Photo provided

Schindler, now a member of the CGI Board of Directors, led the company from 2016 to 2024. During that time, annual revenue grew to more than $14 billion. Federal Computer Week has twice named Schindler a Top 100 leader.

During Schindler’s time as CEO, George Mason and CGI further developed their robust partnership. More than 250 CGI employees are George Mason alums, including Board of Visitors member Horace Blackman, BA American Studies and English ‘93, the university’s former rector.

CGI reported to University Career Services that they had a 100% retention rate for George Mason interns for Fall 2023. All were to either complete an additional internship or convert to full-time employment after graduation.

George Mason has recognized CGI for its Demonstrated Employer Equity/Inclusion in Practice, and the company is heavily engaged with the Costello College of Business through the Dean's Advisory Council and the Baroni Center for Government Contracting.

Last academic year, CGI led two two-day resume clinics, a workshop for faculty and staff on the impact of ChatGPT on the hiring process, and conducted mentoring and interviews with students.

Get all the details on Winter Commencement

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First-year PhD student makes business and society better through data

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 20:55:38 +0000

First-year PhD student makes business and society better through data Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 10/14/2024 - 16:55

In This Story

Mehmet Altug

Xinyi Li, a first-year PhD student at ��AV's Costello College of Business, joins the program with a co-authored peer-reviewed paper already published in the United States on African American youth suicidality, alongside a similar publication history in China. Her work reflects a commitment to using data analytics to improve societal and business outcomes.

Li’s academic career spans multiple disciplines. She began in China, earning a bachelor of economics with a concentration in finance from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics. One of her notable projects during her undergraduate studies involved the planning and risk assessment of insurance for assisted reproductive technologies. She then pursued a master’s in finance at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, where her thesis examined the relationship between IPO underpricing and the reputation and location of underwriters.

Xinyi Li

In 2023, Li earned a second master's degree in business analytics from George Washington University (GWU), where her passion for data analysis led her to a meaningful social science research project. “Last summer, Dr. Saijun Zhang, the first author of the paper, asked me if I would like to join a project studying the factors influencing suicidal behavior in African American teenagers,” Li explained. The study examined how factors such as parenting styles and exposure to violence affect suicidal tendencies.

Li contributed to the project by applying her data analysis expertise, using methods like logistic regression models and correlation analysis to identify key social factors affecting suicidal behavior.

“We found that neglectful parenting was significantly associated with an increase in suicidal ideation,” Xinyi noted. “It was fascinating to see how the analytical techniques I learned in business analytics could be applied to such a critical social issue.”

Li is now pursuing a PhD in operations management (OM) at Costello, a shift motivated by her growing interest in areas like supply chain management and game theory. “When I took a course in supply chain management during my master’s, I realized how exciting it was to apply data models to solve real business problems. That’s what inspired me to move into operations management,” she shared.

During the first year of her PhD program, Li will be focusing on coursework and exploring various research directions under the guidance of Mehmet Altug, associate professor of information systems and operations management.

Looking forward, Li is eager to contribute to both academia and industry. “In the short term, my goal is to become deeply familiar with the literature in operations management and start identifying key research areas,” Li said. “Long term, I hope to publish in top academic journals and find a position where I can continue applying my skills to solve practical problems.”

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Business student’s summer internship is an opportunity to practice sustainability

Colleen Rich — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:35:00 +0000

Business student’s summer internship is an opportunity to practice sustainability Colleen Rich Mon, 07/29/2024 - 14:35

��AV rising junior Vidhi Pathak spent a year searching for the perfect summer internship, before landing her current position as asset management intern for Summit Ridge Energy (SRE).

“I have concentrations in both finance and management information systems and wanted to make sure that I had an understanding of what both industries look like before graduating,” said the Costello College of Business student, who investigated to more than 200 internships in her search.

Pathak’s main project this summer is to create a comprehensive power business intelligence dashboard for SRE.

SRE operates solar assets for people who live in apartments or rented space, and don’t have the means or opportunity to install solar panels on their homes. Community solar or shared solar allows more people to go solar in an efficient and renewable way by subscribing to the shared solar array for credits that lower their energy bills.

SRE has around 10 teams ranging from land development and geographic information systems to project finance and engineering, Pathak said. “Managing the company’s solar assets sits right at the end of the cycle, moving cash flow around and seeing that both the customer and our joint venture partners are paid out,” she said.

“I'm really excited about this assignment because not only does it directly correspond to what I'm learning at George Mason, but this is something that SRE’s asset management team and the C-suite executives at Summit Ridge are going to be using on a regular basis going forward,” said Pathak, who is an Honors College student.

The internship combines her business skills with her passion for sustainability, which is also one of the university’s main research areas and the focus of its Institute for a Sustainable Earth.

“I'm always trying to approach things from a sustainable point of view,” said Pathak. “I know there's a lot of preconceived notions about business majors only caring about money, and I want to prove that I care about the bigger world around me.”

When Pathak first came to George Mason, she joined Costello’s Impact Fellows Program where she was able to approach essential business courses with a sustainability mindset.

“I’ve experienced a lot of cool extracurriculars through this program. We went to visit a bee farm and took a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, to visit sustainable businesses; everything from nonprofits that work on water waste management in the region to big food banks,” said Pathak.

She also served as a member of the Mason Sustainability Council and as the undersecretary of University Sustainability with George Mason’s Student Government during her sophomore year.

“That role involved a lot of correspondence with fellow students, faculty and staff, and people in the local community, and bringing them together for events like the Patriot Packout or Earth Month initiatives,” said Pathak.

Pathak is also featured in University Sustainability videos teaching students the best practices for recycling, saving water, minimizing our carbon footprint, and more.

“I love the Earth and hope to integrate this passion into whatever job I end up doing post-grad,” said Pathak.

“I'm always trying to approach things from a sustainable point of view”

Learn more about George Mason's Impact Fellows Program

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