Hear about the Jindal School of Management from the voices of the people who know best.
The best way to understand how the business school experience at the Jindal School can impact your life is to hear directly from the people who have experienced it themselves. JSOM alumni and current students, as well as faculty, staff members, and community partners have a lot to say about what you can expect from becoming part of the Jindal School community, working hard with your classmates and finally walking off the stage, diploma in hand, ready to advance in your career.
Testimonials
Jindal School students, alumni and partners talk about their invaluable academic experiences at the UT Dallas Jindal School of Management, providing advice, perspective, and vision. Hear about how:
- the Career Management Center has helped connect students and employers;
- the Study Abroad program is expanded students’ perspective on their role in the world;
- JSOM PhD students are producing important research and earning faculty positions at the world’s top universities; and
- exceptional high school students are making the most of their JSOM experience through the Jindal Young Scholars Program, the Davidson Management Honors Program, and the UTDserv Community Service program.
GDI Student – Israeli Company
GDI Student – Israeli Company, Class of Spring 2023 (All Terrain Vehicles)
I had the pleasure of being a project leader alongside my team members, coach, and mentor. We gained meaningful international business experience in a domestic learning environment. Various skills such as time management, business meeting conduction, and industrial research were utilized. It is one thing to take classes and learn about global business, it is another thing to be engaged in consultation with an international company.
Neha Kaisani, BS in Supply Chain Management and Marketing ‘21
Technical Account Manager, Qualtrics
Internships:
- Toyota, Summer 2021
UTD Involvement:
- Orientation Leader
- Freshmen Mentor
- Dean’s Council
- Business Professionals of America
How did DMHP enhance your UT Dallas experience?
DMHP has enhanced my UT Dallas experience by allowing me to engage with our school while still receiving a more rigorous, challenging, and rewarding education. The program has granted me a group of students that constantly push me to be my best and also allows me to give back to a community that has done so much for me.
GDI Student – Swedish Company
GDI Student – Swedish Company, Class of Spring 2021 (Building Sensors, Internet of Things)
Worked as the Project Lead of the GDI program, we have learned to provide insightful research concerning market analysis, entry strategies, and industry channels for an international IoT solutions company. I learned valuable skills relating to managerial operations, team coordination, project coordination, and creating a productive environment for my team and company. I utilized all facades of my college education concerning disciplines of marketing, HR management, managerial accounting, business models and strategies, finance, organizational behavior, and international business.
Amir Meshki, BS in Finance ‘20
Wholesale Credit Analyst, Bank of America
Internships
- International Rescue Committee, Summer 2017
- U.S. House of Representatives, Fall 2018
- LP Analyst & U.S. house of Representatives, Spring 2018
- General Motors Financial, Summer 2019
- Stonehenge Growth Capital, Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Study Abroad:
- Washington D.C., United States, Fall 2018
- DMHP Peru International Trip, May 2019
- DMHP Croatia International Trip, May 2018
UTD Involvement:
- DECA
- 180 Degrees Consulting
- Financial Leadership association
- John Quincy Adams Society
How has DMHP enhanced your UT Dallas experience?
Transferring into DMHP undoubtedly changed the course of my college experience far more than I could have ever imagined. The program has given me countless opportunities to excel and grow both personally and professionally. The students and staff in DMHP are amazing and welcoming and it truly feels like I am part of a family.
GDI Student – Republic of Korea Company
GDI Student – Republic of Korea Company, Class of Fall 2020 (Medical Devices)
One of the most formative experiences I had in college was working as a part of the Global Development Initiative. GDI is a program where students conduct market research on foreign small and medium enterprises looking to expand their businesses in Texas. I first came across the program in my freshman year and was immediately intrigued by the chance to interact with clients from around the world.
Julio Tovar
At UT Dallas:
Sophomore in Accounting
If you work off campus, are there things you’ve learned at UTD that you apply at work?
I am part of the environmental services at UT Southwestern. Thanks to some of my Jindal School classes, I have been able to understand how management works on a much larger scale and see how inventory is managed.
What’s the best thing about UT Dallas and Jindal School so far?
I think the best thing has been learning and being able to understand how systems work. When I was kid, I would always wonder how and where businesses would get large amounts of food or supplies and how they would keep track of it all when there were at least 100 items on every order. Understanding the infrastructure of companies has been the thing I have been intrigued with most. Jindal School classes have been answering those questions.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UT Dallas?
My idea/goal when I got here was that I would be here for four years and get my degree. But now I see that these four years are for me to better myself.
Taha Ahmed, BS in Business Administration and Finance ‘21
Financial Analyst, AT&T
Internships:
- MobileUX Technologies, Summer 2018
- AmeriCloud Solutions, Summer 2019
UTD Involvement:
- Muslim Student Association
- Toastmasters
- Business Professionals of America
How did DMHP enhance your UT Dallas experience?
DMHP has elevated my college experience to a level I would never have expected it to. Everything in it has a purpose, from educational/social/volunteering events, to the coursework and staff, to the outside experiences. I am so grateful to be part of the environment that DMHP creates to create better professionals for the future.
Oscar Urrutia
At UT Dallas:
Junior in Healthcare Management
What’s the most surprising thing about being in college?
The most surprising aspect of college is the amount of new information you learn in one hour when you go to class. There’s so much to process and that forces you to ask questions in order to understand the topic. This is critical to your development, since asking questions will enhance your understanding of objectives and the task at hand.
What is a class you enjoy and why?
I am enjoying Medical Terminology. The information I have learned has been fascinating. If I decide to pursue a career in a hospital setting, knowing medical terms will allow me to better interact with doctors and staff, while also making good decisions that support the hospital.
What is a class that was particularly hard that, in the end, you mastered?
The hardest class I have taken so far was Financial Accounting. If you have never taken anything related to accounting, the course gets really difficult really quickly. In all honesty, it took me a while to find a way to comprehend this class, but I developed new study habits and began solving practice problems to get better at recognizing different accounting scenarios. I finished the class with a good grade and with the relief knowing I was done with it.
Andin Lac
I chose UTD because it is such a communal campus. Everyone is so accepting and open-minded which makes me feel safe and welcome everywhere on campus.
Rushab Kachhara, MSF FALL 2020
Lab resources helped me gain deeper understanding of the financial world while simultaneously helping me become aware of wide range of things you can do while leveraging them. Databases such as Capital IQ, FactSet gave me a head start while at my time at CITI. Relationships formed with colleagues, peers and students were some of the best parts of my time at University which I will always cherish!
Olabanji Osifowokan
At UT Dallas:
Freshman in Information and Technology Systems
What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?
The best things about UTD and Jindal School are the opportunities and resources provided to the students to enable them to thrive academically, socially and professionally.
What’s most surprising about college?
I don’t have to wake up so early for my classes. And I have the ability to create a schedule that accommodates my personal needs and this has been so beneficial.
How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UTD?
Prior to enrolling at UT Dallas, my personal goals were tied to my high school career. I aimed at being the best high school student I could ever be, but now I am aiming toward building myself professionally while also being the best college student I could ever be.
Hasan Cavusoglu
Associate Professor of Management Information Systems
Sauder School of Business, The University of British Columbia
Beyond their remarkable intellect, the faculty members at the Jindal School of Management impressed me with their passion for excellence in research, dedication to superb doctoral education and endless patience toward PhD students during my time in the program. They are truly a source of inspiration. I consider myself privileged to have been trained by incredible professors who showed us how to achieve rigor and relevance in research.
GDI Student – Swedish Company
GDI Student – Swedish Company, Class of Spring 2022 (Rural Broadband Development)
Thank you, Mr. Howorth! And I also want to say thank you for all the help and opportunity you provided me during the Global Development Initiative in 2022. That experience has been priceless during my job interviews as it gave me first-hand involvement working on data procurement and consultation. It was always a talking point and helped me get my current job at Murphy Oil Corporation, so I truly appreciate what you and Professor Zydorek did for us during that course! Thank You!
Brendan Kouns
BS in Healthcare Management, Internship in Cape Town, South Africa
Learning is finding one’s passion and having the motivation to pursue it no matter the obstacles.
Candace Day
Volunteer Coordinator, National Breast Cancer Foundation
Volunteering reaches places far beyond where you ever imagined. For the healthcare workers, women in treatment, and under-served communities we serve, it all starts with YOU.”? Some of our greatest volunteers are students. They consistently show up and ask ‘What else can I do?’ Our hope is to continue to partner with UTD to reach more women, not only locally but also across the nation, to deliver comforting and life-saving services when they need it most—now.
Adrienne Large
Bachelor’s in Marketing – Senior
I experienced how the CMC loves to help students who have caught the vision for excellence by providing networking opportunities and introductions to recruiters. I credit the external, paid internship I landed later to showing up, engaging, and soaking up their invaluable coaching!
Ben (Zhiyao) Zhao, MSF SPRING 2021
Hi! This is Ben (Zhiyao) Zhao, I am currently working as a full time Credit Risk Senior Analyst at Citigroup. During my time at UTD, I worked as a graduate teaching assistant for Finance Trading Lab during calendar year 2020. This was one of my beautiful times at college. I not only learned necessary skills I am using day to day now, but also participated in many interesting events and made friends. Finance lab provides opportunities for students to learn and touch financial tools that many financial institutions are using. I learned how to use FactSet and Capital IQ, learned how to obtain financial resources such as projection, debt structure, and credit ratings. I also got the chance to have many leaderships experiences as organize Finance lab’s events and schedule. I was networking at Finance Lab getting to know many professionals, studying at Finance Lab to learn knowledge, and helping students to understand financial materials. This was a memorable experience I will always take in mind.
Joseph Molinar, BS in Biology and Healthcare Management ’21
MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling Student, Southern Methodist University
Healthcare Management Major
Internships:
- Creative Risk Funding, Inc., Summer 2020
UTD Involvement:
- Delta Sigma Pi
- Cultural Scholars
- HOSA
How did DMHP enhance your UT Dallas experience?
Joining DMHP was the best decision I could have made, and I am grateful to have been able to join. DMHP has provided me the opportunities to better myself and my community through the events it hosts. DMHP has also introduced me to a diverse group of students with whom I have forged countless friendships.
Subodha Kumar
Distinguished Fellow of the Information Systems Society, INFORMS
Paul R. Anderson Distinguished Chair Professor,
Marketing and Supply Chain Management,
Fox School of Business, Temple University
The PhD program at the Jindal School of Management prepared me for a successful career in academia. During my doctoral studies, I was fortunate to interact with brilliant professors from different disciplines. They helped me understand how to conduct high-impact research, and mentored me on how to effectively teach. I feel very privileged to have earned my PhD at the Jindal School of Management.
Joshua Jernigan, BS in Accounting
BS in Accounting
I’m working hard to attain the career I have passion for – CPA. Your contribution not only helped me, but also my family and many others. My family isn’t financially capable of putting me through college. The only way I had a chance to pursue higher education was through scholarships.
Alumni Spotlights
Jindal School has more than 46,000 alumni worldwide who work in industries as diverse as renewable energy, Big 4 accounting firms, healthcare and nonprofits. Alumni have gone on to medical school, law school and to other universities as professors and researchers. They have started companies and impacted their industries in countless ways.
The graduates featured below have agreed to share the story of their Jindal School experiences. If you are an alumnus and would like to share your story, please contact Jeanne Spreier. If you’d like to find alumni you went to school with, join www.jindalconnect.com.
Geetha Hathikal, MBA’13
Business Analysis Manager, Ericsson
Hathikal, who has been with Ericsson for more than four years, works as a business consultant in the networks strategy planning group of the organization.
Gerald Youngblood, MBA’10
Director, North America Marketing Advanced Micro Devices
Gerald Youngblood, a graduate of the Professional MBA Online program, credits the Jindal School with preparing him to progress beyond the traditional business environment and into the wireless workplace. He now manages marketing and strategy development at Advanced Micro Devices, a multinational technology company that designs and integrates technology for intelligent devices, such as personal computers, tablets, game consoles and cloud servers.
Saadia Sheikh, BS’09
Vice President, Commercial Divisionwingert Real Estate Company
Saadia Sheikh is passionate about real estate. Just a few years after graduating from the Jindal School, her passion for the industry translated into a thriving career. She serves as vice president at a large real estate brokerage firm in Dallas. While a student, Sheikh sought advice from her professors regarding her professional development and her interest in real estate. Today she continues to seek their feedback, as her Jindal School education remains relevant in her real estate career and the business world.
Andy Mangham, BS’07 MBA’12 MS’13
IT Audit Manager – Global Sox Assurance; CBRE
In his role at the real estate services giant CBRE, Mangham manages IT audits for global operations, works on special projects for executives.
Brad Perkinson, BS’08, MS’09
Founder,CEO and Brewer, Firewheel Brewing Co., LLC
This Naveen Jindal School of Management grad took the opportunity of getting laid off to pursue a dream of starting what is now known as FireWheel Brewery in Rowlett.
Walter L. Sutton, Jr. , PhD’89
Adjunct Faculty, Consultant
Dr. Sutton, who earned his PhD in Business Policy and Strategy when Jindal School was just 14 years old, now serves on the school’s adjunct faculty, teaching Business Law. He’s had a far-ranging career that includes staff legal positions with oil and gas companies as well as Walmart; with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (in Dallas) and a presidential appointment to the Federal Highway Administration (in Washington, D.C.); and as chief of staff at UT Dallas.
Jeff Hightower, MBA’01
SVP, Group Manager, Corporate Banking, Green Bank, NA
At Green Bank, Hightower originates and develops relationships with commercial clients. He also oversees a team of relationship managers.
Dustin Gadberry, BS’07
Chief Executive Officer, Gadberry Construction Company, Inc.
Gadberry is in his second decade in the construction business, having launched his company in 2000. He grew the business while completing his degree at The University of Texas at Dallas.
Susan Kassen, MBA’00
Associate, Ebby Halliday Realtors
After several years spent working in sales and marketing, Susan Kassen decided to combine her passion for real estate and love of the local community, and pursue a career in real estate. During this transition, she relied on lessons learned while earning an MBA from the Jindal School.
Mark Fuqua, BS’79
Exec Vice President And Manager, Energy Banking Comerica Bank
Fuqua completed his BS/Business Administration degree with a finance concentration at UT Dallas when undergrads had been on the UTD campus a mere four years.
Ernest Lowery, BS’08, MS’09
Assurance Director, PwC
Ernest has worked in the assurance practice at PwC for over 10 years. He has worked with public and private clients in a number of industries, including energy, industrial products, media and entertainment and technology. He most recently worked in a digital role, where his primary focus was helping to develop new tools to be used across the assurance practice. What he enjoys most is working with clients and his teams to complete a common goal.
Lauren Hayes, BS’07, MS’08
Director, Baker Tilly
Lauren Hayes attended UT Dallas for her bachelor’s in accounting degree and for what was then known as the master’s in accounting and information management degree, graduating in December 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Holly Heironimus, MS’17
Program Coordinator, Medical City Dallas Blood & Marrow Transplant Program
Heironimus completed her MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management degree and now works as coordinator for Medical City Dallas.
Shaun Robinson, MBA’01
Vice President- Product Management, AMX
Robinson, a Dallas resident, has been at AMX since 2002, and in his current position for three years, where he leads the AMX Product Management team.
Taylor Lipsett , MBA’16
AVP, Private Wealth Management And Portfolio Manager, US Trust at Bank Of America
In his role at Bank of America, Lipsett manages investment portfolios for the bank’s private wealth clients. He says his MBA “expanded my breadth of knowledge across various business areas [and] taught me how to balance a full workload, work with others to accomplish a common goal, and how to network and build relationships with other professionals.” For Lipsett, his extracurricular passion has been all things sled hockey.
Kate Reagan, BS’15
Assistant Vice President, Business Development, Texas Capital Bank
In Reagan’s role at Texas Capital Bank, she leans on both degrees she earned at Jindal School – a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a bachelor’s degree in marketing. “I connect with business leaders in the Dallas community to hear their stories and see if Texas Capital Bank can help them achieve their company’s goals,” she says. “In school, I had no idea how accounting and marketing would fit together and if I could even find a role that would allow me to utilize both my degrees.
Sarah Hagan, EMBA’11
CFO, Omnitracs
Hagan, a Dallas resident, joined Omnitracs, LLC, in April 2016, after a successful 11 years at Sabre Corp., where she held senior leadership positions in accounting and finance.
David Wedemeier, BS’02, MBA’05
Founder, Sales And Business Development Director, Martin House Brewing Company
David Wedemeier took a risk and left a management position at Nokia to start his own business. He put his own advice into practice, stepping outside his comfort zone and into a business-development role in a brand new venture. Wedemeier, along with two close friends, co-founded Martin House Brewing Company in Fort Worth. As a new-business owner and entrepreneur, he relies upon the skills and knowledge he accrued while pursuing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Jindal School.
Brandy Arbuthnot, BS’99 MS’02
Tax Partner, BDO, USA LLP
In her current position at BDO, Arbuthnot assists accounting clients with their tax compliance and consulting needs including tax returns, tax provision preparation and review, assistance with tax implications of mergers and acquisitions, and other tax planning matters. She joined BDO, an international assurance, tax and financial advisory services firm, after earning her undergraduate accounting degree. Her master’s degree is also in accounting. “My degrees prepared me for a career in public accounting and the necessary qualifications for the CPA exam. Furthermore, my experience at UT Dallas prepared me to have success the professional world,” she said. BDO certainly covers the world, with offices in 167 countries.
Jonathan Seyoum, MBA’03
Partner and Chief Operating Officer, The Original Pancake House
Jonathan Seyoum never imagined a part-time job would one day lead to part ownership of one of DFW’s most well-known breakfast eateries.
