Jennifer Anzaldi

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:31:18 +0000

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:31

After eight years in the U.S. Army, Allen Taber, MBA ’22, was looking for a way to grow in his career. The Donald G. Costello College of Business at ��AV provided him the tools he was seeking. Taber came to George Mason for an MBA, and left with a new dream of pursuing a doctorate.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22

“George Mason was an awesome experience, especially for someone who wasn’t in school for over a decade,” says Taber. A parent of a young child, Costello offered him the location and flexibility he was seeking. “Professors worked with us. Almost every single professor you had was out there to help students out.”

Prior to coming to Costello, Taber served as a computer detection specialist in the U.S. Army. “I brought the skills I learned in the military to the workplace, which allowed me to become a program manager within the information technology industry,” says Taber. While working as a project manager he quickly realized that if he wanted to grow in his company, he needed an advanced degree.

For Taber, learning the theory behind what he was doing in his position helped to make him a better manager. Taber says his Management Consulting course with Jim Wolfe, associate professor of management and entrepreneur in residence at Costello, was particularly impactful. “We bounced ideas off of each other in the class that I could implement in my current position,” says Taber.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, in Chile on his MBA Global Residency.

In addition to Wolfe’s class, Taber says his most memorable experience during his time at George Mason was the Global Residency Program to Chile. “We had the opportunity to learn different business operations, and more importantly how a different country operates, both similarities and differences. It was amazing to study in a place you normally would never go,” says Taber. “It was the first time I left the country in 20 years.”

Taber says that not only was the business education experience impactful, but exploring the city and learning about the culture left a lasting imprint as well.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, spent eight years in the U.S. Army.

After completing his MBA, Taber continued on for his doctorate in business administration at Walden University. “Professor Wolfe was a catalyst to push me into my doctoral studies,” says Taber. “You talk about it, you think about, but having someone who’s been doing it for so many years say ‘Go for it’ is pretty awesome.”

Taber says the MBA program prepared him well for his doctorate. Taber is currently the senior technical project manager for Monture, LLC, and working on completing his doctoral study.

Taber’s advice to students considering the program: “It is never too late to go back to school. While I had great accomplishments in the workplace, having an advanced degree will open up future opportunities that would not be possible without it.”

Photos provided by Allen Taber.

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Patriot Pitch Competition showcases idea and early-stage business ventures that have the potential to change the world

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 18:03:50 +0000

Patriot Pitch Competition showcases idea and early-stage business ventures that have the potential to change the world Marianne Klinker Thu, 04/20/2023 - 14:03

Move over Shark Tank, Mason’s Patriots have arrived.

Fifteen teams competed for $40K in prizes at the ��AV School of Business Patriot Pitch Competition during the in-person April 13 event on Mason’s Fairfax Campus. With the Patriot mascot handing out checks to the top winners of the day, nine teams of Mason entrepreneurs walked away a step closer to realizing their dreams of launching or growing their own startup businesses.

Patrick Soleymani

“We take great pride in being ranked as Virginia’s most innovative university,” said Patrick Soleymani, associate dean for outreach and strategic engagement at the School of Business. “The Patriot Pitch Competition is just one example of the Business School’s investment in the next wave of regional entrepreneurs and our commitment to growing this ecosystem nationwide.”

Now in its 22nd year, the Patriot Pitch Competition (formerly the Dean’s Business Plan Competition) was open to Mason students and recent alumni from all majors/fields of study and brought nearly 50 applicant teams from across the university. The event, led by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, held two rounds of competition for entrants. In the first round, a committee from the School of Business, consisting of faculty and local entrepreneurs, reviewed the applications. Four teams from each track were then selected and invited to the final round, where they pitched their ideas live and before an audience of nearly 200 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members throughout the event.

School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé

In welcoming students to the event, School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé emphasized Mason’s rich ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship that includes the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX), Mason Enterprise Center, National Science Foundation’s I-Corps™ Hub site, and Accelerate Investor Conference 2023, which is scheduled for November. Also speaking at the event were Paula Sorrell, associate vice president for innovation and economic development; Gisele Stolz, senior director of entrepreneurship programs within the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact; and Eddie Hill, business incubator director for the Mason Enterprise Center.

Nicole Washington

In her keynote address, Nicole Washington, founder and CEO of Boralogix, Inc., honed in on the importance of the three C’s of innovation: currency, clarity, and community. She implored the student entrepreneurs to look beyond the capital from angel investors and venture capitalists, to planning on how to invest their own capital and having some “skin in the game”. Her recommendation for presenters was to know your customer, know your pitch, and to remember to create diverse teams. She closed her inspirational talk on the importance of a strong community of supportive family and friends and of always giving back. She reminded students that we are facing unprecedented global challenges that can disrupt or even eliminate our way of life, and we should be looking at new ideas and business ventures that can truly change the world.

When the competition began, the student teams answered with a wide range of new ideas and early-stage business ventures that delivered on her challenge…in a big way.

Patriot Pitch Judges

Judges for the event evaluated the presentations, selecting a first and second place team in each of the following four tracks: Public Engagement, STEM, Social Impact, and General Entrepreneurship. In addition, audience members used the PollEverywhere app to vote for their favorite pitch in the Mason’s Choice Award prize for each track.

For the Public Engagement track, taking both the first place prize and the Mason’s Choice Award was By Easy AI, a no-code tool that brings the full potential of Machine Learning and AI to low-tech enterprises, allowing them to mine data for actionable insights and to optimize their business analytics. Coming in second place was Muse Management, an event management company focused on increasing art visibility in the community through fun events that include immersive experiences.

For the STEM track, once again, the first place prize and Mason’s Choice Award aligned, and were both awarded to Designer Contrast Agent Platform, an economic, size-tunable, and biofriendly contrast agent platform that targets deep tumor tissue to create high contrast, high resolution images of cancerous tumors. The platform can be synthesized in a few steps and can be scaled-up for industrial manufacture. Second place went to NaviSleeve, an unobtrusive, wearable controller for Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR).

For the Social Impact track, the first place prize and Mason’s Choice Award went to Legal Language Simplified (LLS), which provides accurate, human-certified translations for non-English-fluent, at-risk minorities in the U.S. through a proprietary deep learning technology. LLS ensures that hard-working immigrants trying to live the American dream fully understand their rights and responsibilities. Second place went to Chelonii, an activewear and lifestyle brand focused on products that are made from organic and recycled materials, with 10% of their proceeds going toward removing ocean pollution.

For the General Entrepreneurship track, first place went to UKIE Candles, maker of hand-poured pillar candles made of 100% organic-sustainable soy wax. "Ukie" is a colloquial term for Ukrainians living in America and 25% of all sales revenues are donated to Ukrainian families impacted by the ongoing war. Second place went to Senior FitLife, which offers in-home personal fitness training services for seniors. Mason’s Choice Award went to PyroSound.studio, producing temperature-regulated pyroboards with dancing flames that move to the sound of the music.

2023 Patriot Pitch Competition Participants

Powering the success of our student and alumni pitch teams were 13 mentors, who are CEOs, consultants, entrepreneurs, startup coaches, faculty members, and Mason alumni. Our mentors were a critical source of value to our pitch teams, providing real-world experience starting and managing startups. Our judging panels comprised 16 local business leaders whose professional experience includes consulting, derivatives exchange, energy consulting, food technology, nonprofits, and venture capital.

Additionally, Kuzeyhan Ozdemir, I-Corps™ program manager, George Siragusa, Mentor in Residence at the MIX, and Lisa Shapiro, assistant director of entrepreneurship programs in the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, organized two intensive ICAP/I-Corps™ training sessions, in-person and via Zoom, along with weekly pitch practices in the MIX to help the finalists prepare for the big day.

Three high school students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology joined in the fun as volunteers to help support the operations of the event. It was a great experience for them to watch the pitches, to learn from real entrepreneurs and judges, and to see the resources available for entrepreneurs at Mason.

Many generous sponsors also helped to make the day’s event successful, including 22nd Century Technologies, Inc., the Leading Innovation Sponsor for the event, as well as the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting as the Public Engagement Track Sponsor, College of Engineering and Computing and the College of Science as co-STEM Track Sponsors, the School of Business  Women in Business Initiative Advisory Board as the Social Impact Track Sponsor, and the School of Business Management Advisory Council as the General Entrepreneurship Track Sponsors.

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School of Business hosts “Shark Tank” event for students and recent alumni

Marianne Klinker — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 20:36:11 +0000

School of Business hosts “Shark Tank” event for students and recent alumni Marianne Klinker Thu, 03/23/2023 - 16:36

With $40,000 in seed funding up for grabs, ��AV undergraduate students and recent alumni are preparing to pitch their business ideas to a panel of local business professionals and Mason alumni on Thursday, April 13 at the School of Business Patriot Pitch Competition.

Similar to the show “Shark Tank” on ABC, entrepreneurs must sell their idea to the judges, proving their business plan and concept has the potential to be a successful venture.

“Patriot Pitch Competition is more than just an event that provides Mason entrepreneurs with seed money,” says Rebecca Howick, director of operations for the School of Business Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE). “It’s an opportunity for emerging innovators to build their confidence and network, it brings together the Mason entrepreneurial ecosystem, and it’s a fun way for the School of Business and CIE to celebrate Mason’s passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

A student presenting their pitch at the 2019 competition

Sixteen finalists, reviewed and selected by School of Business faculty members and regional entrepreneurs, will compete.

“This year we’re excited to have student and alumni teams from academic units across campus,” said Howick. “I appreciate our mentors, judges, faculty, Mason’s leadership teams, and community stakeholders that support this vital experiential learning opportunity.”

Pitch Competition Mentors include representatives from the Mason Enterprise Center, the Small Business Development Center, several entrepreneurship faculty members, previous Patriot Pitch Competition alumni, Mason alumni, and local entrepreneurs.

The Leading Innovation Sponsor for the event is 22nd Century Technologies, Inc., one of the fastest--growing IT service integrator and workforce solution companies in the United States.

The keynote speaker for the day will be Nicole Washington, founder and CEO of Boralogix, Inc., a technology consulting firm. Washington is a senior executive with 20 years of experience in policy development and strategic planning, systems design and implementation, and programming for government and other industries. Washington is also a member of one of the largest Angel Investing Funds in the country where she has been an avid and effective due diligence team member.

Additional sponsors for the event include the College of Engineering and Computing, and the College of Science as Co-STEM Track Sponsors, the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting as the Public Engagement Track Sponsor, and the School of Business Management Advisory Council and the Women in Business Initiative Advisory Board as Co-General Entrepreneurship Track Sponsors.

Check out the Finalists

Students and local community members are invited to attend the competition and learn more about these Mason entrepreneurs. For those interested in attending as a spectator, there is also an opportunity to be part of the action by voting for the Audience Choice Award.

The event will take place in Dewberry Hall on the Fairfax Campus from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to connect with local entrepreneurs and your fellow innovators on campus!

You must register for a ticket to attend as an audience member. Registration is complimentary and must be completed here by April 10.

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Hive Minds: Multidisciplinary collaboration creates virtual reality STEM experience for elementary students

Colleen Rich — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 19:34:03 +0000

Hive Minds: Multidisciplinary collaboration creates virtual reality STEM experience for elementary students Colleen Rich Mon, 12/12/2022 - 14:34

In This Story

Craig Yu

Learn more about the Honey Bee Initiative

Eighth-graders at Robinson Secondary School try out the honey bee virtual field trip. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Faculty, staff, and students from three units across ��AV have worked together to create a new virtual reality (VR) experience for elementary students. Through an immersive nine-minute video, students can take a “field trip” to the Mason apiary, learning from an expert beekeeper, taking a deep dive into a hive, and even flying like foraging honey bees.

Daniel Price, founder of the Sweet Virginia Foundation, talks to a student at the special screening of the honey bee video. Photo by DeRon Rockingham/Creative Services

Funded by the Sweet Virginia Foundation, a Northern Virginia-based environmental education nonprofit, this new learning tool is a collaborative venture with the School of Business, which houses the Honey Bee Initiative (HBI), the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC). The “field trip” is designed to enhance existing pollinator curricula taught in Virginia fourth-grade classrooms, and foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and STEM careers in today’s youth.

The idea for the virtual field trip began nearly a decade ago with Daniel Price, founder of the Sweet Virginia Foundation, and Mason professor Lisa Gring-Pemble, HBI co-founder. Enter Mason researcher Carley Fisher-Maltese, an assistant professor in the CEHD, who helped make that dream a reality.

The 360-degree video features Sarah Red-Laird, founder and director of The Bee Girl Organization, which is widely known for teaching kids, beekeepers, and farmers how to “love their bees,” and students from Willow Springs Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia. The video was created by CreatorUp!, a California-based video production company.

Computer science major Quang Vo helps people with their VR goggles at the screening. Photo by DeRon Rockingham/Creative Services

“This virtual field trip engages elementary school children in learning about the plight of honey bees, and their relationship to food security,” said Gring-Pemble, who is also the co-executive director of the Business for a Better World Center. “We have a moral imperative to educate our students about sustainability issues like honey bees, which are dying at an alarming rate. Bees pollinate much of the food we eat so our very survival is dependent on bees.”

Fisher-Maltese, who is leading the research initiative, said the idea behind the VR experience was to create a field trip for students who don't have access to resources like apiaries and beekeepers. “We were excited about the virtual reality technology because we felt like the experience could be really immersive and make the students feel like they were there.”

A special screening of the video was held on the Fairfax Campus in late October before it debuted in five public and private local elementary and secondary schools.

Fisher-Maltese and Gring-Pemble were funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for bee research. Many came together to build the script for the virtual reality (VR) experience. CEC’s Craig Yu, and his students, computer science major Quang Vo and computer game design major Jake Wojtecki, also assisted in the project.

The Mason team that created that immersive VR field trip for students. Photo by DeRon Rockingham/Creative Services

Fisher-Maltese calls this video experience the scaled-down version of what they hope to create: an interactive, multi-user experience where the student could virtually “be a bee.” Right now, the team is piloting the video with fourth- and fifth-graders in Alexandria City and Fairfax County public schools, and using instruments like a VR sickness questionnaire to get feedback on whether students experienced motion sickness from the VR and a content measure to see if they learned anything from the video. They also conducted focus group interviews with the students and one-on-one interviews with the teachers.

The team also had the opportunity to share the video with high school students in Technology Teacher Amy Krellwitz’s advanced engineering class at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax who were looking at the experience through an engineering lens.

“They had really good feedback,” Fisher-Maltese said of the high school students. “It was a lot of things we were already thinking of—make it more interactive, make it more like a video game, but it was good to have that confirmation.”

Fisher-Maltese added, “I think the research will show that this type of immersive experience demonstrates the convergence of emotion, wonder, and meaningful learning.”

“It truly was a wonderful experience to see young people, from elementary students through high school students, getting excited about honey bees and the vital role they play in human security,” said Gring-Pemble. “The passion these young people have for caring for the natural world is what will ultimately change human behaviors in favor of protecting our planet.”

At the special screening, the team thanked Price, who has supported HBI since its inception in 2013. “Dan had a dream of bringing the awe and wonder of bees to elementary school students,” said Gring-Pemble. “Our partnership has resulted in [this] coming to fruition.”

“We are incredibly grateful and proud of our collaboration with Mason,” said Price. “Our goal is a happier, healthier planet. We think we can ‘push the needle’ in that direction by sparking a sense of wonder in children.”

In addition to Price and School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé, Gring-Pemble also thanked many members of the team who made the project possible, including CEHD Dean Ingrid Guerra-López and CEHD early childhood education graduate students Regan Wilson and Xiaolu Zhang, CEC Dean Ken Ball, Vice President of Facilities Frank Strike and his team, and the team that shot aerial footage of Mason (Mason Forensic Science professor Steve Burmeister, Deputy Chief Michael Lighthiser of Mason Police and Public Safety, and Captain John Jeneic Jr. of City of Fairfax Fire Department).

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Accounting professors mentor Mason Korea business students to success

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 18:13:43 +0000

Accounting professors mentor Mason Korea business students to success Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 12/05/2022 - 13:13

In This Story

Long Chen

Young Hoon Kim

For ��AV Korea (Mason Korea) students, the transition from Songdo, Korea, to Fairfax, Virginia, can be challenging, but the opportunities are immense. Many students pursuing their degree at Mason Korea are looking to a future career in the United States. This makes their time in Fairfax critical.

The School of Business accounting program is one of the most popular degrees offered at Mason Korea, and faculty in Fairfax work hard to offer students support for their future career success.

Accounting major Ambrose (Do Hyun) Lee already had a position lined up at Deloitte when he graduated in December 2022. Photo provided

“Our accounting faculty have diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. We always strive to help and support our students pursuing their own career paths whenever possible–whether they are from ��AV Fairfax (Mason Fairfax) or Mason Korea,” says Long Chen, area chair of accounting.

Established in 2014 as part of the Incheon Global Campus, Mason Korea offers U.S. degrees in undergraduate disciplines. The degree programs offered provide students the unique opportunity to spend three years at Mason Korea in Songdo and one year in the U.S. at Mason Fairfax, before receiving the same degree as students who spend four years in Virginia.

Accounting major and new Mason alum Ambrose (Do Hyun) Lee, who graduated from Mason Korea in December, already has a position lined up at Deloitte in McLean, Virginia. Lee says taking advantage of the many resources on the Fairfax Campus helped him increase his career opportunities.

“In my first year at Mason, the school ran a virtual event with accounting alumni from various companies in the DMV region. During a time when the pandemic hampered human interactions, the event reassured me that I made the right decision to come to the School of Business,” says Lee, who recently attended a similar event in-person on the Fairfax Campus.

“The School of Business Career Center works hard to support all students, and help Mason Korea students individually,” says Kerry Willigan, assistant dean of Career Services at the School of Business. “We know finding a job in the U.S. is a complicated process often because of the complex visa issues. Our team offers 1:1 resume critiques. Because of the time difference, we have our team review the resume and do a short video with the critique which is emailed back to the student.” The Career Center continues to offer their Professional Quest events via zoom to accommodate Mason Korea students. In fall 2021, the school also launched a new BUS 492 Internship-for-Credit class that students can complete on either the Mason Korea or Fairfax Campus.

While at Fairfax, Lee was also involved with University Life in planning activities for Mason Korea students in Fairfax to help ease their transition. “We hosted events that would further their experiences in the U.S.,” says Lee. “We invited professionals from various industries to talk about their experiences regarding U.S. employment, working in an American setting, and living in the U.S.”

In addition to the Career Services and University Life events, Chen recommends accounting students join student organizations led by experienced faculty advisors. “These student organizations and social groups provide helpful information on many career-related issues such as accounting career options, career pathway, professional certification, and graduate education,” says Chen. “Throughout the year, students can meet with recruiters, alumni, and faculty members at different events to learn the most updated information on the accounting profession, what makes a strong candidate, and how to better prepare for the accounting profession in this changing world.” Organizations for accounting students include Beta Alpha Psi, the Accounting Society at Mason, National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA), and the Accounting Honors Program.

Lee recommends that Mason Korea students get out of their comfort zones. “Being proactive and planning well in advance even before coming to the U.S. is crucial. The resources and the people are all there from the School of Business, and the employers, for the students to utilize,” says Lee, who reached out to assistant professor of accounting, Young Kim, for many questions he had regarding working in the U.S.

Kim, who worked in a Big 4 public accounting firm in both Korea and the U.S., says students should consider starting their careers in public accounting firms. “I found many students taking my auditing courses tend to underestimate themselves and not dream big in the job market,” says Kim. “When I was in their shoes, I also had many questions and uncertainties but didn’t know how I could get some help. I believe it is my job to give back by sharing my experiences and opinions with my students. I feel genuinely rewarded when my students appreciate my help and advice.”

Kim also says that it is important for students to understand the cultural differences between the U.S. and Korea. “A one-year experience at the Fairfax Campus is a wonderful opportunity for Mason Korea students to learn about culture by interacting with classmates and professors here, and participating in various networking events,” says Kim. “Also, the more, and earlier they start doing research on careers in the U.S., the better decision they can make.”

Finally, Lee says Mason Korea students need to differentiate themselves from American students. “Due to time constraints, Mason Korea students must prepare their differentiating factors and strategies on how to best appeal those factors to employers prior to coming to Fairfax,” says Lee. “Otherwise, there is not much motivation for employers to employ Mason Korea students who require greater financial investment from the employers due to the visa sponsorship.”

“The experiences I had helped me in making a decision regarding my future, and in networking with professionals whom I still keep in contact with,” says Lee. “I would encourage other students to take advantage of these opportunities as well, to bring them one step closer to achieving their dreams here in the United States.”

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MBA Outstanding Student of the Year offers advice to those coming next

Jennifer Anzaldi — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:42:57 +0000

MBA Outstanding Student of the Year offers advice to those coming next Jennifer Anzaldi Thu, 10/13/2022 - 09:42

Learn more about Mason's MBA program

More from Mason's MBA Program

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams
November 11, 2024
First-generation alumna and MBA student shares recipes for creating treasured memories in new book
November 7, 2024
PhD student’s research on COVID-19 transmission leads to discovery of a major model gap
August 9, 2024
Costello MBA global residency experience: consulting project with Circle Care Clinic in Dubai, UAE
August 2, 2024
Sustainability MBA elective matches student teams with partner companies
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Graduating this past May, Doug Chapman MBA’22 was honored as the 2022 MBA Outstanding Student of the Year; a recognition by faculty of his demonstrated overall excellence in academic performance.

Chapman was recently featured in a video spotlight where he shared memories of his experiences at Mason and offered advice to both current and future Mason graduate students.

“I am very thankful to have [had] the full support of my employer and my family, which I really think was vital in order to make my overall experience successful, because you can’t do it without a good support system,” says Chapman.

He later added that although working full-time and being in the MBA program was a challenge, it enabled him to incorporate what he learned in the classroom in real time. “I was able to use my company as a live example of how to do a strategy for the project [in class], and that actually helped because we were able to use some of that [in our company] for our annual strategic planning,” says Chapman. “I’m able to give back to my company and give them something of value while I’m actually learning.”

Chapman says he chose the Mason MBA for three main reasons: its reputation, being military friendly, and offering in person learning.

The MBA program is ranked #67 in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Part-Time MBA Programs. It is also ranked one of the Best Part-Time MBA Programs for Veterans.

“Working full-time, doing the MBA program full-time, really when it comes down to administrative things, you really need someone to help you quickly navigate through them,” says Chapman. “I was very thankful that both before I accepted the program as well as ongoing during the program, that those support structures were there to really help make me successful so I could focus on learning.”

“One thing I would tell anyone else is number one that the Mason faculty here is invested in your success. I really felt that throughout my entire program that each of my instructors made themselves available to me and try and get to know you as a person, and I really appreciated that.”

Chapman currently is the vice president of operations at CoreSys Consulting Services, LLC.

Conveniently located in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Mason’s in-person MBA program delivers the flexibility and accessibility working professionals need to fast track their careers, pivot industries, or grow their own businesses. Students gain diverse business skills, broader insights, and confidence while developing their professional network by connecting with classmates and Mason’s international business school alumni network of more than 35,000 members. Students have the opportunity to broaden their global business perspective with firsthand international experience through the Global Residency Program. Accelerated or part-time options are available. Learn more about the Mason MBA.

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Newly launched MS in business analytics offers students STEM-designated program

Jennifer Anzaldi — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:17:53 +0000

Newly launched MS in business analytics offers students STEM-designated program Jennifer Anzaldi Thu, 09/29/2022 - 09:17

��AV’s School of Business now offers students a STEM-designated program through the newly launched Master of Science in Business Analytics. A STEM-designated program is an academic program that is classified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as having a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math topics. For international students on an F-1 visa, graduating from a STEM-designated program allows them to extend their time in Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 36 months in the U.S.

“The STEM designation for the MS in business analytics highlights our curriculum’s emphasis on having our students acquire the analytics training and experience with current technology to better address company’s problems with data-informed decision making,” says Jessica Hoppner, co-director for the MS in business analytics program.

According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2019–29 employment projections show that occupations in the STEM field are expected to grow 8.0 percent by 2029, compared with 3.7 percent for all other occupations. This rapidly growing field is in need of qualified professionals.

STEM-designated programs were designed to be mutually beneficial for international students and the United States workforce. There has been a continual decline in qualified STEM professionals in the United States. STEM-designated programs attract and retain professionals in fields that will benefit the U.S. economy. For international students, OPT is one of the best ways to earn a work visa.

Designed to provide a deeper knowledge of analytics and data-driven decision-making, the MS in business analytics program can be completed in just one year. This 30-credit program will offer convenient in-person evening courses on the Fairfax Campus to accommodate working professionals. Open to everyone looking to expand their skillset, no previous work experience is necessary to apply. The program includes a capstone course designed to provide hands-on sessions, teamwork, and active interactions with clients to understand and provide real-world solutions to business problems utilizing business analytics. Learn more about the Master of Science in Business Analytics

��AV School of Business is currently accepting applications for its recently launched Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

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Fireside chat with Dean Ajay Vinzé

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:01:47 +0000

Fireside chat with Dean Ajay Vinzé Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 09/19/2022 - 10:01

In This Story

Ajay Vinzé

Dean Ajay Vinzé

��AV recently welcomed Dean Ajay Vinzé to the School of Business. Dean Vinzé comes to Mason from the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri. A lover of animals, Vinzé is dedicated to making a difference in higher education. He is known for research that leverages public and private sector collaboration, and he has successfully built academic programs in close alliance with the business communities in Missouri, Arizona, and Texas. Vinzé is a Fulbright Senior Specialist and a global citizen, having lived, worked or traveled through more than 70 countries over the past three decades. His publications have appeared in leading scholarly journals including Information Systems Research, MIS Quarterly, Decision Sciences, Decision Support Systems, Health Affairs, and various IEEE and ACM Transactions.

We spent a few minutes chatting with Dean Vinzé to learn a little bit more about who he is, how he came to Mason, and his goals for his time here.

Why is Mason the right place for you?
Mason is the right place for me for a variety of reasons. What you want to do is be at a place where you can make a difference. And when you say that, you mean a place that is ready to make a difference. The location of the place is important, the type of people who are part of that organization are important, the mindset of that organization is important, and then the ability to translate what you are doing into that mindset and location is important. It certainly wasn’t my intent to run away from Missouri or Arizona or wherever, but you move towards an opportunity. You move towards some place that is meaningful to you professionally, and personally in a broad spectrum. Mason hits all those items for me in a meaningful way.

You’ve spent more than 30 years in higher education. Tell us a little about your thoughts on the future of the industry.
Higher education as part of the broader economy, is going through a major change. It’s going through a self-evaluation of who we are, what we are, what value we bring to society, and so on. Universities have to think through what their unique value proposition is. And business schools have to do that as well. In business, the typical metric is the bottom line? In higher education, it’s the bottom line and a tangible social impact as we are preparing the workforce of the future. What Covid did was make these issues that were percolating for a while, very real.

Why do you think Mason is on the verge of great growth?
Mason is a young, diverse, vibrant R1 university with unique advantages … for starters, it is situated in Fairfax County, from a business perspective a very forward-looking and education-supported environment, right in the backyard of the most consequential capital city in the world. If that doesn’t amount to a great combination, I don’t know what does. Add to this the innovative mindset of the institution, our president, the provost, my fellow deans – collectively we are looking at how we can address this uniquely changing situation. Having leadership team who is thinking in these terms is important … now add to this our researchers and scholars and you have a potent combination of circumstances, location and talent to make a difference – as our president has put it “It is Mason’s Time.”

Mason turns 50 this year. Did that weigh into your decision to join the School of Business?
Other institutions have this wonderful history, 150 years, 180 years. Having a short history allows you to go through this naturally. At 50 years old, we are just starting to hit our stride, in terms of who we are, what we are, and what we aspire to become. What a perfect time to be at a school that is flexible, forward looking and aspiring to take its place among leading institutions of higher learning … so it was a combination of things, that attracted me to Mason.

What is your impression of the School of Business at Mason?
I have been so impressed by the faculty and staff at the School of Business. We have an amazing team that have been working hard, and doing so much for so long. Where we are now, we have a huge opportunity to not just be impactful as a regional school, but to be a national business school of major consequence and major significance. I’m excited to build upon all that was created by those before me.

What do you feel good about in terms of your professional contributions?
When I consider my professional accomplishments over the years, I often think about it on three fronts: students, administration, and research.

On the student side, I am very proud of the Heartland Scholars Academy for rural first generation students that we initiated during my time at Missouri. It was created to make sure we level the playing field for education. They just graduated their first group of Heartland Scholars, and now it’s an endowed program that’s very highly respected. And it has ended up fostering a whole series of other support at Missouri including what is called the Allen Access Program, which is to increase access for all programming in the school, for all students regardless of their background. To me, I consider this a major accomplishment.

On the administration side, overall I am proud to say I have been innovative in a changing landscape, being able to move from institution to institution and feel like you made a contribution to each of these institutions. Specifically, I’m very proud of the fact that at Mizzou we spawned the first Master of Science in Business that is in a truly stackable format where the business school collaborated with every other school on campus. We spawned a truly flexible degree program. I expect to do a version of this at George Mason. That was version 1.0. I think we need version 2.0 and 3.0 here.

lf you look at my research, it’s eclectic. It ranges from being technical and computer science-ish to the other end of the spectrum and behavioral in its orientation. I have researched artificial intelligence (AI) applications for business problem solving, collaborative computing, emergency preparedness and response, and disruptive influences of ICT investments, to name a few. My proudest research accomplishment was when I was recognized at Arizona State University for 10 year impact that my research had on businesses in the state of Arizona. That was a proud moment for me because it was a recognition that the work I did, not just a paper, but research over a 10 year period, had an impact. Another proud accomplishment was in 2008 with the H1N1 outbreak. The software system that we wrote helped guide the county and the state with vaccine distribution. We had a real impact on real lives.

Finally, a fun accomplishment I had was being able to participate on the public health task force of two Super Bowls. It was amazing to see the kind of preparation that goes on to host an event like that. And while I was in Arizona we did it twice.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?

Dean Ajay Vinzé's dog Dizney

When I’m not working, I like helping in a meaningful way … particularly being able to do something worthwhile with animals (principally dogs). That’s where my downtime happens. I like to volunteer in a shelter or other rescue operations, such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), or Power Paws. I think you can make a real difference in an animal’s life. It makes me happy.

I also enjoy traveling and good food. I have had to opportunity to spend large amounts of time in different countries throughout my life, and so many have had an impact on me. Aside from the United States, which has been my home for 40 years, India, the Philippines, Peru, the Balkans, and New Zealand have left lasting impressions on me. India is a country that defines me—this is where I am from, my family, heritage, culture, and undergraduate education. I love the food, cultural, religion, language, diversity, the phenomenal history, a unique business culture and of course the recent dominance in IT. I spent my formative years in the Philippines. This is where I went to high school and got my first job—a job that had me pivot from finance to IT and defined my future professional focus. I have wonderful memories, some of the friendliest people, the beaches are beautiful—over 7000 islands, so much to explore. I was also in the Philippines during times of tumultuous political change and experienced the “People’s Power” movement firsthand. Peru is the country I have visited the most (other than India) 30+ times over 15 years. I have strong friendships, good relationships in the business, government, and educational sectors, and spent two short stints as part of my Fulbright Specialist program. There is wonderful geography, fabulous archeological treasures and very importantly, awesome cuisine. There is very interesting history in the Balkans. I initially visited Bosnia as part of the Fulbright Senior Specialist program, then continued to visit them annually for the next 7 years to follow up on projects and research that we initiated. Finally, New Zealand is home to mountains, volcanos, and beaches—unparalleled natural beauty! I was there twice for research-related trips, and visited multiple times with business students. Amazing to be in the first country to see the sunrise on any day.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m just thrilled and delighted to be here. I’m excited about the possibilities. My first month at Mason has been fantastic. As I walked in the door here, with all the conversations I had in the two months leading up to my relocation, I didn’t feel like an outsider. I met with a number of people before I started, so I walk down the hall and feel like I’m revisiting with people I know, as friends and colleagues. Over here it feels like we’ve known each other, we’ve been talking, and now we need to do things together. I’m just happy and excited to get going.

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Costello College of Business News

School of Business launches master’s in business analytics

Jennifer Anzaldi — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:00:38 +0000

School of Business launches master’s in business analytics Jennifer Anzaldi Thu, 09/15/2022 - 08:00

In keeping with its commitment to preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow, ��AV School of Business recently launched a new Master of Science in Business Analytics program. Designed to provide a deeper knowledge of analytics and data-driven decision-making, the program can be completed in just one year.

Co-directors of the program, Jessica Hoppner and Pallab Sanyal, say that the time is right for the School of Business to establish a master’s in business analytics.

“Data and analytics are reshaping how businesses approach their decision-making,” says Hoppner. “The analytical challenges facing businesses and organizations are multifaceted and require individuals with advanced-level knowledge and skills to extract meaningful insights from data to address complex problems. Graduates of the program will be able to help businesses, organizations, and government agencies achieve their initiatives to improve data-driven decision making through the application of business analytics.”

The School of Business has offered business analytics courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels for many years, and currently offers a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and an undergraduate Business Analytics Minor . “Within SBUS, we have excellent analytics faculty across all disciplines to teach these programs – both full-time faculty members and analytics practitioners that research and work in the analytics space,” says Hoppner.

Where programs such as an MBA focus on the overall management of businesses, organizations, and projects, Sanyal says the MS in business analytics will be more technical, focusing on harnessing the power of data to make business decisions. “Obtaining a specialized master’s degree in business analytics will allow students, who already possess a basic understanding of business, to deepen their knowledge of analytics and data-driven decision-making in order to advance their careers,” says Sanyal.

This 30-credit Master of Science in Business Analytics program will offer convenient in-person evening courses on the Fairfax Campus to accommodate working professionals. Open to everyone looking to deepen their knowledge of data-driven decision-making, no previous work experience is necessary to apply. The program includes a capstone course designed to provide hands-on sessions, teamwork, and active interactions with clients to understand and provide real-world solutions to business problems utilizing business analytics.

“Students in the program will develop the advanced quantitative analytical, programming, and database skills necessary to work with real-world data,” says Hoppner. “But more than that, our graduates will gain ethical foundation underpinning the use of data, the confidence to address complex problems with a critical eye, the ability to communicate solutions to clients and executives at all levels.”

Learn more about the Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

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Assoc prof awarded Mason’s Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:54:31 +0000

Assoc prof awarded Mason’s Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 09/12/2022 - 08:54

In This Story

Cameron Harris

Cameron Harris, BA Integrative Studies ’06, associate professor of business foundations in the School of Business, was recently awarded the ��AV Presidential Award for Faculty Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion. Sponsored by the Office of the President, the Presidential Awards for Faculty Excellence were created to recognize, promote, and honor outstanding members of the ��AV community for excellence in teaching, research, social impact, and diversity & inclusion. The Faculty Excellence Award in Diversity & Inclusion recognizes activities that directly advance diversity and inclusion within and outside of the Mason community.

“It is quite an honor to be recognized for the Presidential Award, but also to serve in the various places around the university and in spaces related to DEI,” says Harris.

In addition to receiving the Presidential Award, Harris was also one of only two faculty members at Mason appointed to the ��AV, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning Anti-Racist and Inclusive Excellence Task Force (ARIE) as a Faculty Fellow. ARIE Fellows are tasked with implementing more successful inclusive and equitable teaching strategies through resources to support faculty with course design, assessment, and student engagement, as well as designing and leading workshops to support Mason faculty in anti-racist and inclusive teaching.

“I have been working in faculty development spaces for a few years and have done some work with the Stearns Center in the past,” says Harris. “This position will allow me to dedicate energy and effort to the development of anti-racist pedagogical and curricular change for faculty across the university.”

Since joining the Mason faculty in 2015, Harris has built a long list of accomplishments to support diversity in the Mason community. Harris recently co-led a year-long effort to incorporate issues relating to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into the school’s faculty hiring process. He is the faculty advisor to the Black Student Alliance, and was recognized as Student Organization Advisor of the Year by University Life’s Student Involvement Office. Harris participated in the Diversity and Inclusion Summit and the Anti-Racism Teaching Excellence committee. Harris is a member of the social justice and advocacy working group of the Mason Chooses Kindness initiative and has also served for three years on the leadership team of the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) project.

Harris has served as a co-faculty advisor to the School of Business Living Learning Community since 2016, and has facilitated multiple opportunities for students to network. In 2019, Harris was elected as vice president of Mason’s Black Alumni Chapter (BAC), where he served the Mason community through program development and engagement, and recognized alumni through the first ever BAC Mason 40 under 40 initiative. Harris was nominated for the Pillar Award for Outstanding Faculty/Staff at the 2019 Black Excellence Gala. He has served as co-chair on the Diversity Committee for the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD), and as chair of the Stanley Award for Diversity and Inclusion Research in Educational Research Committee. This award is dedicated to the development and recognition of faculty who have demonstrated an unequivocal commitment to advancing research on diversity and inclusion issues in teaching and learning.

“Cameron is an asset to our institution and a valued and respected member of the faculty in the School of Business,” says Jacquelyn Brown, area chair of business foundations at ��AV School of Business. “He has consistently proven an integral part of our team and shown a willingness to engage and support the needs of our students, area, and school. I have seen his dedication to our students and his genuine enthusiasm for teaching, curriculum design, innovation, and service firsthand, as well as his natural and at times pointed inclusive approach toward each one.”

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