Guests at the Naveen Jindal School of Management’s Thanks(for)Giving Reception were treated to a panoramic view of The Star Complex, home of the Dallas Cowboys headquarters, from the eleventh floor of the Altair Global headquarters building in Frisco, Tex.
More than 70 people attended the Nov. 20 event celebrating the partnerships between the Jindal School and generous individual and corporate donors, including mobility services firm Altair Global. Hosts were members of the Jindal School’s Development and Alumni Relations team.
Altair Global is one of the largest independent relocation management companies in the U.S., offering a variety of services to help employees move for their jobs. That can include helping employees begin their relocation and settle into their new location, providing commuter services, temporary living arrangements, travel services, car shipment, insurance, pet transportation and storage in transit.
The JSOM-Altair partnership is indicative of the robust relationships seeks to establish with its corporate partners. The one with Altair Global was established nine years ago. It includes internship opportunities that may lead to full-time positions for Jindal students, hands-on student projects with the company, job fairs and conferences. The company also provides guest lecturers for students and has an advisory council that guides the school on international business. Additionally, company leadership collaborates on a program called the Global Talent Mobility Initiative, a series of events that includes webinars, seminars, and career fairs dedicated to promoting the field of global mobility to students from The University of Texas at Dallas.
The JSOM-Altair Global partnership began informally, stemming from a comment made by a former student of Hubert Zydorek, an associate professor of instruction in the Jindal School’s Organizations, Strategy and International Management Area. The student had completed a successful internship at Altair Global and was working full-time in the company’s human resources department.
“One day, she mentioned that in her work there, she was doing exactly what I taught in class,” said Zydorek, who also serves as the director of the BS Global Business Program and the MS International Management Studies Program. Motivated by her experience, Zydorek reached out to Altair Global.
“My initial goal was to bring in speakers from the company to address our students,” he said. “But from there, we continued collaborating on other events, and the program really took on a life of its own.”
Zydorek works closely with Laura Gatins, the executive vice president of Altair Global, who also serves on the advisory board of the Center for Global Business at the Jindal School.
Gatins leads Altair Global’s partnership with the center. Through this collaboration, the company has provided internships that have resulted in full-time positions for students, engaged in hands-on student projects, conducted leadership sessions, organized conferences, established recruitment pipelines, and hosted guest lectures. In return, Gatins noted that Altair Global has gained exceptional talent, insights into future leaders, and valuable networking opportunities.
“I first met with Hubert to discuss internship opportunities, and since then, we’ve worked on various events and on scholarships,” Gatins said. “Although I didn’t graduate from UT Dallas, I like to think that I got there as soon as I could.”
Megan Harrison, the director of corporate relations at JSOM, emphasized that Altair Global exemplifies a true corporate partner.
“They serve on advisory councils, provide invaluable internship opportunities, host students from our Future Leaders program from Taiwan, sponsor senior capstone projects, and support our Center for Global Business,” she said.
In his welcome address, Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean, highlighted the significance of partnering with companies to benefit Jindal School students.
“We are a professional school, and collaboration with companies is essential for our students,” he said. “Knowing that there is a community out there supporting us is invaluable.”
Pirkul also discussed the Jindal School’s new building, expected to be move-in ready by June 2026.
“We have 10,500 students this year, making us as large as some universities,” he said. “Our undergraduate and executive education programs will relocate to the new building. We are also building a boardroom, which some of our corporate partners may want to use for their meetings in the future.”
Additionally, he announced the recent decision by the University of Texas System to expand its ‘Promise Plus’ free tuition program for lower-income families to include all families earning $100,000 or less per year. The program will begin in fall 2025 and will cover tuition and fees for undergraduate students. Pirkul expects the initiative to provide free tuition to an additional 3,000 students.
The Jindal School already offers various options to help students pay tuition, including the Naveen Jindal Student Support Fund for Undergraduates. The new initiative by the UT System is expected to boost enrollment.
Altair Global CEO Chad Sterling, who received an MBA from UT Dallas in 2002, said the partnership with JSOM benefits the company by bringing in interns who align with their needs.
“In addition, we gain a fresh perspective from the younger generation, which is valuable for those of us who have been in the workforce for a while,” he said. “I was at the Jindal School of Management a long time ago, but it was an invaluable experience. My time at the school instilled in me a lifelong passion for learning.”
The partnership is important for the Jindal School because of the unique opportunities offered to its students, said Melissa Bettis, assistant dean of development and alumni relations at JSOM.
“Because of the support of our community, our alums, business partners, and friends, we can provide an experience for our students that improves their educational experience and the experience of those around them.”
In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, guests were asked to bring a donation for the UTD Comet Cupboard.
The Cupboard is a student-led initiative dedicated to alleviating food insecurity and promoting academic success. About 273 items, including non-perishable food, personal care products, and household essentials, were donated at the reception.
Those wishing to donate to the program can drop off items in the Comet Cupboard donation bins located inside the Eugene McDermott Library. The UT Dallas Police Department also accepts donations 24/7 at their on-campus location. Additional donation locations are listed on the organization’s website.
Recently, an exciting new development was announced: a mobile pantry set to launch in early 2025. This initiative aims to expand access to the Cupboard’s services by addressing transportation challenges many students face. The new outreach vehicle is made possible through contributions from groups and individuals, including Brewster and Deanna Waddell, who recently provided $150,000 to support both operations and capital needs.
“There is a lot of economic stress at the college level, and many families do not have the means to provide well-rounded financial support to their sons and daughters semester after semester. The Comet Cupboard has been a godsend for many students,” Brewster Waddell said. “My wife and I are committed to providing the financial support to ensure it grows in size and capabilities. A student cannot succeed on an empty stomach.”
The Waddell family also supports the Center for Global Mobility through the Brewster and Deanna Waddell Opportunity Fund for Sustainability in Global Business.
