2012 ELECTIONS!!
Hello fellow USF MBA students. Here you'll find information on the new potential candidates for your Graduate Business Association board!!! Good luck everyone!
President
Sean Ghazvini
“Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.” Liane Cordes
As the GBA President, I intend to facilitate and champion an environment in the GBA that will spur proactivity and cohesiveness. The prosperity of the student body of USF’s various MBA programs will be the primary and only focus of the Association. With its diverse student body, location, and dedication to excellence and community service, USF’s MBA program has endless potential, and it will be my aim as GBA President to ensure that the efforts of the GBA towards reaching that potential never wavers.
The potential of all of our MBA programs can only be met if the GBA, the student body, and the administration work in unity. The position of the GBA President necessitates an individual that will foster togetherness and has a steadfast appetite for improvement, and these are the exact traits I will bring to the position. From my years of experience working with various human rights groups, captaining tennis and football teams, and working as an office manager, I am fully aware of the great feats that can be reached when an entity is working together harmoniously.
If elected, the GBA and I will work on behalf of the student body of all of USF’s MBA programs, and we will strive to make it the most prosperous year an MBA student body has ever experienced at this university.
VP of Academic Affairs
Eliza Gerland
My intent as Vice President of Academic Affairs is to foster communication between students and faculty to enhance the learning experience at USF's School of Management. I will work with the faculty to maintain the school’s academic integrity, and utilize the student voice in order to achieve our academic goals.
My priority as Vice President of Academic Affairs is to make sure students feel they are getting the most out of the program, and know their voices will be heard. I want to be an ear and a voice for praises and concerns within the MBA programs and use this opportunity to advocate any necessary changes or improvements.
My desire is to be a facilitator between students and faculty for academic strengthening, where it is needed. At the same time, I will respect the structure of our already great program. Our school’s reputation is important to me, as it affects us now and far after we graduate. Let me help us get the most out of our time here.
VP of Finance
Tawana Lewis
If elected to the office of Vice-President Finance, I intend to be an active member of the GBA, managing the financial aspects and concerns of the organization with accuracy, professionalism, and attention to detail.
Though my undergraduate major was Finance, my first real world experience in the field was in GE Capital’s Financial Management Program. A two year rotational program designed to build financial leaders. Every six months I cycled through a new business; the formula, get up to speed on the business and processes complete the job requirements and improve on some aspect of the role. This demonstrates my ability to work well in diverse business environments (offices in the northeast, midwest, northwest, headquarters and remote sites) and with different types of employees (management, peers, senior leaders, global counterparts). Additional experience in project management at both Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank has afforded me the ability to understand the big picture within organizations; how business leaders prioritize initiatives, change organizations and plan for the future. I see a direct translation of all of my past work experience to the responsibilities of the VP-Finance office. The way that the position supports the needs and concerns of this MBA program, which encompasses students from different professional and personal backgrounds and with varying future goals, is directly in line with the diversity of my professional career, thus far. If elected, I would bring to the GBA a supportive, objective, peer leader in the organization to be the best representation of MBA students.
VP of Marketing
Adam Dunlavey
I’m declaring my candidacy for VP of Marketing for USF’s GBA. I want to be your VP of Marketing because the position requires an individual adept at Marketing the GBA’s events, goals, and vision to all USF MBA students, and to the community as a whole.
I will do more than the required planning and emailing students about the "Thirsty Thursday,” “Hump Day Hospitality,” and graduation events. My goal is to expand the role of VP of Marketing by involving more students in more events and organizations at USF. If different cohorts, 1st and 2nd year, full and part-time students, are not integrated with one-another – I’m not doing my job.
While “Thirsty Thursday” events are a great way for students to socialize, I will involve more students that don’t drink, or have difficulty meeting on Thursday nights, into more activities at different times including: sports, days at the park, cultural events, excursions, and networking opportunities. As members of an international community of students, we have an excellent learning opportunity to gain knowledge from one another’s unique backgrounds and cultures. I will actively listen to all of our students, international and domestic, to ensure that they are all getting the most out of their experience socially, academically, and professionally.
As your VP of Marketing in the GBA I will strive to ensure every student knows each other, is active and integrated into the USF community, and knows that they have a stake in their business school.
Sabrina Bozek
When you think of “marketing”, what do you think of? Events. Promotions. Building relationships. I think of it also as projecting a brand. While USF has a firm reputation in our near community, I think it’s important to continue reaching outside of the Bay Area and represent our brand of ambitious, bright MBA minds on a national perspective. Social media outreach is one area with immense potential for growth for broadcasting our ability to impact the world. Through Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook, we can create more opportunities that highlight the amazing accomplishments of our student body. I have met so many brilliant minds here that are executing thought-provoking projects and internships and we need to leverage this through these familiar outlets, further connecting with the professional community both in and outside of San Francisco. I believe this will also help build ties to jobs all around us, which is, of course, the ultimate goal during our short time here.
As VP of Marketing, I intend to enhance the programs and practices that our current reputable GBA officers have already developed. While Thirsty Thursday and Hospitality Hump Day offer great opportunities for collective involvement, I have prepared a number of strategic ideas to take these events even further. I am focused on adding value to our experience socially and beyond for both first year and second year students.
If elected, I, Sabrina Bozek, pledge to put your current and future needs into action through the resources of the GBA.
Thank you.
VP of Alumni and Career Development
Mark Dondanville
The aspiration of all the students at the University of San Francisco is to become a successful businessperson, and to making a meaningful and lasting contribution to the betterment of other people’s lives. We are only going to be as successful as we allow ourselves to become. One of the crucial aspects of creating this contribution is through the establishment of ties not only within our community, but also more directly with those who have passed through these halls before us and paved the way in which the MBA program is being guided.
Through running for the position of Vice President of Alumni Relations, I hope to help establish contacts not only for the betterment of myself, but also for the other members of the Universities programs. By acting as a liaison to the alumni community I will help to facilitate the establishment of relationships and networks within the USF community.
Rosanna Rosso
I am running for the office of Vice President of Alumni Relations and Career Development in an effort to continue to build and maintain the strength of presence of USF in the Bay Area. All of us as current students, alumni and future alumni stand to benefit from engaging and lasting relationships within our own USF community that will extend well beyond USF. Our ability to gain greater access to an expanding number of companies for internships and careers as alumni is contingent upon our strength as a community. This next year I will work to engage USF Alumni with current students through networking events that include dinners and happy hours and activities for example, Bay Area sporting events, and outdoor activities to take advantage of our amazing environment.
In terms of career development, for us as current students, I will work closely with our existing talent, Lynette and Danielle to bring the most advantageous recruiters and speakers that are relevant to our work experience and interests. To facilitate that I will solicit input and feedback from all of my fellow students so that we are sure to shape recruiting and career development events that are most preferable to us. Finally, once we have graduated I want to make sure that we have contributed to the strengthening of career development in a way that we will want to continue to come back to our USF community to give back and use as a resource for our growing and evolving careers.
Joanna Komvopoulos
My name is Joanna Komvopoulos and I am running for the Vice President of Alumni Relations GBA position for 2012-2013. I am interested in working closely with Mrs. Lynette Ferguson and career services to promote stronger alumni relations, develop new alumni networking events, and continue building a strong and active alumni environment.
Most importantly, I seek to get to the bottom of the problem currently plaguing our USF alumni and help get them more involved throughout the Management program. Furthermore, I want to create an alumni relations team. I think it is important that all programs be represented within the Alumni Relations position. As such, I hope to create a team of students throughout the program that can rally for the entire student body and represent the various programs through every step of the process. I believe in collaboration and cultivation of a more interconnected USF Management community, which means revamping alumni relations in ways that will represent everyone’s best interests.
I believe that through asking the right questions to the student body and the alumni community we can come to a better understanding of the needs that must be met, and thus go about in creating a more inclusive and productive environment. I want to create more opportunities for students to get involved in networking events, professional development days, speaker series, seminars, and various professional skills workshops. My goal is not to add another strong line to my resume; I want to leave a positive mark on the USF community and the School of Management.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to get to know me better through my LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/joanna-komvopoulos/39/880/a81. I look forward to a lively campaign and the prospect of taking on the responsibilities and representing all of you in this vital GBA position.
VP of Clubs & Associations
Regan Sweeney
When I joined the MBA program, I made a commitment that I would immerse myself in the process and take every opportunity to further my education and make a positive contribution. Taking an active role in the GBA is an excellent opportunity to realize this commitment by increase my leadership capabilities while making a meaningful contribution to the program and all of my peers. Upon close inspection of all of the positions, I feel that my interest in promoting a vibrant club environment combined with my ability to harmonize and coordinate best align with providing leadership as the Vice President of Clubs and Associations. If elected, I will strive to champion and represent all groups, provide support to organizational leadership, and contribute to the overall success of the GBA. I believe that my commitment and skill set make me an excellent candidate to represent the clubs and organizations of the Graduate School of Management. Therefore, I would ask your support by voting for me, Regan Sweeney, as next the Vice President of Clubs and Organizations. Thank you for your time and consideration.
VP of Part-Time Students
Jeff Guertin
Part time students have a unique set of needs. As working professionals and students in a demanding MBA program, there is a demand for academic excellence and relevance of the curriculum, while they need a representative to keep them abreast of social and professional events at USF. My background as a secondary school teacher and a college student has given me knowledge of academic programs and experience in communicating with a large and diverse student body. It is crucial to keep the part time student body involved in professional and social events, for the sake of enriching the current USF experience and the futures beyond.
There is great demand for an involved and knowledgeable representative for the part time student body. The position requires an active social conscience and an appreciation of academic programs. As a part time relations VP I seek to improve the student experience at USF.
Jennifer Walker
Bill Clinton explained that he started the Clinton Global Initiative to "help turn good intentions into real action and results." As President Clinton encourages, I aspire to make productive change within the University of San Francisco. Specifically, I envision pursuing the position of Vice President of Part-Time Relations within the GBA.
Embedded throughout my professional and personal endeavors community involvement has been a core value. My involvement with volunteer organizations such as the YMCA, Youth and Arts, and the Race for the Cure allows me to contribute to my community. At UC Davis I held many roles in my sorority. By attaining this position, I will be excising my commitment to community development.
Along with community involvement, I often take on leadership roles. My job at Young’s Market has equipped me with leadership and project management experience, time management, and building interpersonal relationship with my types of people. These skills enable me to build relationships with GBA members and will aid in accomplishing our goals. These skills make me a strong candidate for the Vice President of Part-Time Relations.
With my background and experience, taking on leadership responsibilities of the Vice-President of Part-Time Relations would be a good fit. I will plan more dinners, happy hours and professional development opportunities that are specifically geared toward part-time students. I will continue to voice ideas, questions and concerns for all part-time students. I look forward to being the next Vice President of Part-Time Relations.
VP of International Affairs and Recruitment
Alfred Dang
With the presence of an ever-evolving global economy, I adamantly feel USF’s diverse student body and influx of international students are the school’s strongest assets. These were the two reasons why I decided to enroll in USF’s MBA program. Now, they are the same two reasons, in which, why I have decided to pursue the role of Vice President of International Affairs and Recruitment. Currently, I am a USF MBA Ambassador, and have had previous experience with recruitment serving as President of Lambda Pi Eta – Honors Society of the National Communication Association at The University of Arizona. Also, I am currently enrolled in the Masters of Asia Pacific Studies program at USF, which is another conduit to the recruitment of talented perspective international students.
My goals are the following: 1) Recruit the most talented perspective students, albeit a diverse group of perspective students, in order for students to have the opportunity to exchange information, i.e., international job experiences, customs, traditions, etc. 2) Be the “voice” for the international students, while assisting them to ensure a smooth integration into USF’s MBA program and San Francisco at large. I genuinely feel my “easy-going” demeanor in conjunction with my ability to develop a meaningful rapport with any individual will be a vital asset for this position. If elected, I, Alfred W. Dang, will diligently continue to build upon USF’s strong international presence and prestige. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
Daniela Leon
In simple words: Fits like a glove.
Based on the requirements of the position for VP of International Affairs and Recruitment, I believe that I have relevant experience in my professional background to make a contribution. To support the International community, I can draw from personal experience and relate to my colleagues by having lived in different countries and by going through the change process myself. Also, having worked in Human Resources, I have ample experience in Change Management Coaching and I have helped others successfully adapt to new cultures. In addition to this, and to support the Recruitment and the Ambassadors Program, I expect to draw from my professional experience as recruiting manager in a corporation that intended to attract the best of the best. I believe all these past experiences can enable me to achieve excellent results for USF and for the Business Program in general.
Shi (Ryan) Wenxuan
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
This week is GBA election week and I ask your consideration for my position as vice president of International Affairs and Recruitment. This year’s election contains many strong candidates and I wish all of them good luck. I come from Beijing, China. As an international student, I have two goals to bring to this position.
First, I am interested at promoting USF’s reputation around the globe. In the past, I worked in a consulting company that I assisted 20 Chinese undergraduate students to find their most suitable universities in the U.S. From this experience, I learned how international students compared and chose different universities in the U.S. Among thousands of American universities, I consider that USF is a highly competitive school in the bay area. Using the right channels and active publications, I believe that USF will continue to bring in excellent and dedicated domestic and international students.
Second, I will actively promote current international students’ involvement. Generally speaking, international students seldom involve in social and school activities. Being an international student myself, I understand that there are two barriers for most of us: language and cultural differences. I believe if we continue to persuade more and more international student to attend events, gradually, other international students will join and participate.
Meanwhile, I also consider myself a student to all of you. I value learning and I cherish every opportunity. Therefore, I humbly take this opportunity to ask for your support.
With sincere appreciation and thanks
Qianxin Kong
My name is Qianxin Kong from cohort one of Full Time MBA and I am running for the VP of International Affairs and Recruitment. As an international student from China, I have really understood what it means to international students to start a new life and study as MBA students in a grand new environment. It must be both exciting and hard for them. To make this transition as easy and comfortable as possible, I will provide information and activities for international students to get involved in the program, connected with students of other MBA programs, and familiar with the city of San Francisco and the Bay Area.
In addition, networking is very important for MBA students and it is not enough to only interact with current students. We have to create more opportunities for international students to build connection with alumni or businessmen in the real world so that they can integrate into the American society more easily. I will offer many opportunities for international students to connect with all kinds of organizations and companies, especially those multinational companies connected with Chinese and other Asian countries, which will help forward their future career.
Last but not least, I will provide necessary information and activities to enhance international students’ experiences with the MBA program in USF. Please consider me for the position of the VP of International Affairs and Recruitment and if you have any specific question, just feel free to contact me by email.
Thank you.
VP of Information Technology
Todd Sipes
As Vice President of Information Technology, I will strive to make sure that all MBA students here at USF are well connected and up-to-date in regards to information technology. Serving our educational community as a facilitator between GBA officers, faculty, and fellow students will be my main priority. I will accomplish this facilitation through utilization of the GBA website which has the potential to serve as a hub for all current information regarding the MBA program. With this position as Vice President of Information Technology, I offer a strong background with computers, web design, and information distribution.
I have designed web pages for 15 years and my employers have ranged from multi-million dollar real estate properties to local non-profit organizations. I also have years of experience as a freelance technology consultant here in the San Francisco Bay Area. In terms of information distribution, aside from my day-to-day professional experience with management communication, I also collected and distributed data for then Senator Barack Obama’s campaign for Presidency in 2008. These previous experiences and skills will enable me to be the best VP of Information Technology that the MBA has had to date and it will be a privilege to serve my extremely talented community of peers.