Voices

Priya Mekala, BS in Biology and Healthcare Management ’21, MBA in Healthcare Management ‘22

MD Student, UT Southwestern Medical Center

DMHP has provided me with more opportunities than I imagined from connecting with business professionals to building great friendships. I have been able to grow both personally and professionally through this program, and my college experience would not be complete without it.

Brandon Borick, BS in Marketing ’20, MS in Marketing ‘22

Quantitative Research Analyst, Rec Room

Joining DMHP has been the best decision of my undergraduate career. In this program, you learn from top-tier professors who are truly passionate about the subjects they teach while participating in professional development and volunteer opportunities. However, the greatest piece of this program lies in taking classes with and socializing with some of the most motivated students at UTD; to make the most of this program, you should bond and network with these individuals who can turn into friendships and wonderful professional connections.

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.

Payal Sampat, BS in Finance ‘20

J.D. Candidate, University of Virginia School of Law

DMHP has allowed me to meet people that have goals and career interests which differ from mine but are pursued with the same passion that I put in. This diversity in ideas expands my understanding of what jobs are out there, how one would get there, and what I can do with my future. Without DMHP, I would not have built up the professional network I have in the business world or pursued the same caliber of opportunities within it. Being surrounded by people that are excited to learn and grow pushes me to be just as excited.

Devendra Kale

PhD in Management Science, Accounting Assistant Professor,
University of Rhode Island

My time in the PhD program at the Jindal School of Management was about continuous intellectual development and critical thinking skills. Prior to joining the PhD program, I was unaware of the intricacies of academic research. But the well-structured program combined with continued and priceless support from my advisors made this uphill ride a memorable journey. It also helped me discover my passion for academic research and transform into an independent researcher. I strongly recommend Jindal School of Management to future PhD students.

Jenna O’Brien

At UT Dallas:

Sophomore in Finance

What’s the best thing about being at UT Dallas?

The best thing about UTD is that the community is open and diverse. It’s amazing to meet so many people from different backgrounds who I can share ideas with and become friends with. Jindal School has a wide range of resources and are geared to help guide me to be successful. It’s great to have such a supportive system in place for when you need it.

What’s most surprising about college?

It’s surprising how much freedom I have. It’s up to me to go to class, study and turn in assignments. No one is telling me what to do, which was definitely a shocker. Since being here, I have developed more self-motivation and time-management skills.

What is a class that you enjoyed?

I really enjoy my Business Communications class. It’s so important to know how to communicate effectively with others, especially in business. Those around you gain insight into who you are through what you say and do, and this can greatly impact a person’s future.

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.

Qi Annabelle Feng

John and Donna Krenicki Chair,
Professor in Operations Management Krannert School of Management, Purdue University

During my time in the PhD program, I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from many extremely brilliant and well-respected professors. After graduating from the program, I realized that the benefit I obtained from was not just about writing several high-quality papers with them. They made me understand it is important to go deep and be broad, and they showed me a true scholar is a life-long learner who is always modest and curious.

Brandon Reed, BS in Finance and Information Technology and Systems ‘22

Professional – Business Management, AT&T

DMHP has been the highlight of my time at UTD. Not only has it been essential in preparing me academically and professionally, it has surrounded me with an amazing group of people and friends.

GDI Student – UK Company

GDI Student – UK Company, Class of 2021 (Human Resources Management)

Accepting the offer to be a part of the Global Development Initiative in January 2021 was a great decision that helped me grow immensely. The administrators of the program did a great job structuring the program to make good progress, as well as facilitating an effective online collaboration between the companies.

Tai-Yuan Chen

Alumni Professor of Finance, HKUST Business School, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

The PhD program at UTD offered solid and life-altering training to students. Faculty members are well-known experts in their own field and most importantly, they are always available whenever students need advice. I was able to coauthor with them and started to build up my research pipeline in early stage . After graduation, with its rapid expansion, the reputation of Jindal School of Management continues to intangibly benefits my academic career. I sincerely appreciate the education from UTD SOM!

GDI Client Company – Japan

GDI Client Company – Japan, COO & CFO, Fall 2023 (Ed Tech)

Our experience with the GDI Program, driven by a team of dedicated university students’ team and a seasoned business mentor, was remarkably insightful and beneficial. Their fresh perspectives and enthusiastic approach brought important insights to our business, demonstrating impressive professionalism and a keen understanding of our business challenges.

Dayton Greene

At UT Dallas:

Freshman in Finance

What’s most surprising about college?

At the start of college, I assumed that my professors would be rigid and tough to deal with, but they have all been very helpful and have made some of my more difficult courses much more manageable.

What is a class that was particularly hard that, in the end, you mastered?

I like learning about history but the history course I took required a heavy amount of reading and a paper based on a book that was repetitive and ponderous. However, I put in the work, studied and ended up with an A+ on the paper and an A- in the class overall. I did enjoy learning about the different topics presented, but it did take up the bulk of my study time.

How have your personal goals changed since you’ve been at UT Dallas?

My personal goals really haven’t changed much. I simply want to do the best that I can in all of my classes.

Yesenia Lopez, CPA, BS in Accounting ’15, MS in Accounting ‘16

Accounting Projects, Initiatives, and Systems Senior Analyst, Toyota Financial Services

The Davidson Management Honors Program (DMHP) helped prepare to me for a demanding and rewarding career in public accounting. I received the opportunity to volunteer, travel, attend luncheons and networking events, and work with the top faculty and students at UT Dallas. These opportunities helped me develop networking skills that now help me maintain my relationships in my career. I learned to thrive in challenging environments, communicate effectively, and produce high quality work. Most importantly, DMHP helped me value corporate citizenship and team development. I use these skills daily when I interact with clients, my teams, and management. I also use these skills to promote thriving team environments where team members respect individuality while providing quality results. DMHP provided me with life experiences and lessons that cannot be taught in textbooks, and I am privileged to have received the opportunities that I did while being a part of DMHP. I continue my involvement and personal growth by being a member of the DMHP Alumni Affinity Board.

Sharvari Gupta, BS in Accounting and Finance ‘21

Graduate Student (MS Accounting), UT Dallas

DMHP has given me the opportunity to gain skills, perspectives, and knowledge that aren’t taught in a classroom setting. From mock interviews to company site visits, DMHP has better prepared me for my business career. Additionally, through DMHP, I have gotten the chance to travel around the world and broaden my global perspective. Lastly, DMHP has allowed me to meet so many amazing people who I now call friends.

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 be trained by incredible professors who showed us how to achieve rigor and relevance in research.

Shumpei Yasuda, BS in Supply Chain Management and Marketing ’22

Project Planning & Management Analyst, Toyota

DMHP has helped me tremendously in navigating through my freshman year. Both the professors and my peers motivated me to have a positive mindset throughout the school year, prompting me to take opportunities that I otherwise would not have taken. I appreciate DMHP for its excellent staff and all the great friends I’ve made in this program.

GDI Student – Swedish Company

GDI Student – Swedish Company, Class of Spring 2022 (Rural Broadband Development)

I am extremely pleased that I was able to participate in the Global Development Initiative (GDI) internship program. For me, the experience was wonderful and enlightening in many ways. Having to meet mentors and interns who have their distinct individuality, but share a similar cooperative motivation was a first for me. There was never a lack of moments in our collaborations, whether we were serious about accomplishing our goals or laughing about random topics that I would have never expected to appear.

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.

Nwanye Barnes

Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development at Dallas Mavericks

We thoroughly enjoyed working with your students on the senior capstone project. Students were professional, timely, and knowledgeable, and their skillset and intellect made this process easy and valued.