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Costello MBA students drive real-world impact for nonprofit in Innovation and Design Lab

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 19:25:39 +0000

Costello MBA students drive real-world impact for nonprofit in Innovation and Design Lab Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 06/11/2026 - 15:25

Launched in the spring 2026 semester, the Innovation and Design Lab for Business and Government (MBA 797) is a new experiential MBA course offered at the Costello College of Business at 91��.

loannis Bellos (back left), Natalie Foley (front right), Jessica Knocklein (back right), Deborah Casello (back, third from right), Tierney Marden (back, second from right), with Innovation and Design Lab students including, Lyne Joseph (back, fourth from right), David Pagan (front, second from left). Photo provided by loannis Bellos.

"The Innovation and Design Lab students approached KEYS 365's challenges with curiosity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to meaningful impact," says Deborah Casello, president of KEYS 365. "This work matters deeply because it will help KEYS 365 continue to empower more communities with free suicide prevention education." KEYS 365 is based in Fairfax, Virginia.

Created by its co-instructors, Ioannis Bellos, director of the MBA and MS in Management programs at Costello, and Natalie Foley, senior advisor at George Mason’s University Business Consulting team and adjunct professor at Costello, the Innovation and Design Lab is a student-led course that was developed in partnership with NobleReach Foundation, a corporate and community partner of Costello.

“My vision for this course was to create an innovation experience that infuses an entrepreneurial, problem-solving mindset—one that is valuable whether students go on to become entrepreneurs, work in industry, serve in government, or lead in mission-driven organizations,” says Bellos. “Innovation is not just about launching new ventures; it is about learning how to engage with stakeholders, navigate ambiguity, test assumptions, and develop practical solutions under real constraints.” Working with a nonprofit, the students had to devise creative solutions with limited resources while meeting the timeline of their client.

“Effective innovation begins with understanding human needs and designing meaningful experiences that solve practical problems in ways that create lasting impact. The course also taught me that in consulting, the problem a client initially presents is not always the problem that ultimately needs to be solved, and that process of discovery is often what leads to the most innovative and user-centered solutions.”

— Lyne Joseph, Costello College of Business MBA student

Continuing the trend of increasing experiential learning curricula across Costello’s academic courses, Bellos and Foley collaborated on their overlapping areas of expertise and interests in design thinking and nonprofit organizations. After developing the course framework, Bellos and Foley connected with NobleReach Foundation, knowing they shared a commitment to experiential learning, mission-driven innovation, and preparing students to tackle meaningful, real-world challenges.

To complement Foley’s background in innovation consulting with Fortune 500 companies and large nonprofits, they were able to tap into NobleReach’s resources for the social impact component. “Over eight weeks, George Mason students worked directly with KEYS 365, a mental health and suicide prevention organization, to tackle two challenges that constrain small nonprofits everywhere: how to build sustainable fundraising without burning out leadership, and how to recruit and screen volunteers for emotionally demanding work,” says Jessica Knocklein, education manager at NobleReach Foundation. “They talked to stakeholders, tested their thinking, and delivered practical solutions. That process is exactly what the next generation of mission-driven leaders need: the ability to bring an entrepreneurial mindset to the hardest problems communities face.”

The course was experiential from day one, led by students rather than instructors. “We didn’t start with a lecture,” says Foley. “The student teams kicked off each class, presenting their field work from the past week, noting ‘this is what we did, this is what we learned, this is how things changed.’ I was really impressed with the level of ownership.” Students did customer interviews every week, pushing them to develop and iterate innovative solutions in a fast-paced, real-world environment.

“The course was not only a great opportunity to apply what we had learned throughout the MBA program, but it also gave us new tools that I think are crucial for every MBA student to know about,” says David Pagan, a Costello MBA student. “Some of the best businesses in the world solve problems with design thinking, and I’m excited to take the lessons I learned here to tackle whatever challenges I take on next.”

A major takeaway for Lyne Joseph, another Costello MBA student, was learning that in people-centered work and business, it does not have to be one or the other. “Effective innovation begins with understanding human needs and designing meaningful experiences that solve practical problems in ways that create lasting impact,” she says. “The course also taught me that in consulting, the problem a client initially presents is not always the problem that ultimately needs to be solved, and that process of discovery is often what leads to the most innovative and user-centered solutions.”

“The Innovation and Design Lab students approached KEYS 365’s challenges with curiosity, compassion, and a genuine commitment to meaningful impact,” says Deborah Casello, president of KEYS 365. “This work matters deeply because it will help KEYS 365 continue to empower more communities with free suicide prevention education.”

By integrating innovation and design thinking frameworks with hands-on experiential learning, the Innovation and Design Lab provides a space for Costello students to take ownership of their work and navigate complex, real-world challenges with confidence. Furthermore, through strategic business partnerships like these, students learn to address the needs of clients, lead with empathy, and deliver solutions that create meaningful impact.

Ioannis Bellos and Natalie Foley have been selected to speak more about the course at the Stearns Center Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference this September.

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Global residency empowers Costello MBA student’s entrepreneurial dreams

Katelynn C Hipolito — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:03:01 +0000

Global residency empowers Costello MBA student’s entrepreneurial dreams Katelynn C Hipolito Tue, 12/16/2025 - 10:03

Supreet Singh, MS Computer Forensics '14, balances coursework with a demanding career, while gaining a lifelong network of colleagues and friends.

Supreet Singh, current Costello MBA student. Photo provided by Supreet Singh.

After years of taking classes as an extended student at George Mason and advancing in her engineering career, Supreet Singh decided to take a leap and enroll in the Costello MBA program at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason, to pursue a lifelong dream: starting her own business.

One highlight of her MBA experience has been the program’s global residency, which offers students a week abroad exploring real companies and cultures. “Growing up in India, the world awareness was very small,” says Singh. She was fascinated to learn about apartheid and its effects on business and culture, as well as the similarities between the colonialism of South Africa and that of India.

The Costello faculty member leading the trip, Russell Abratt, an instructional professor of marketing, had assigned the class half a dozen South African companies—ranging from an airlines company to a children’s music school—to research and present on prior to their departure. After gaining a perspective on the companies through research, they were able to ask questions during the residency to truly understand how each company operates.

The residency was a remarkable cultural experience that Singh was happy to share with the other students in her cohort. “We were really connected with each other,” she says. “The last day there we went to a restaurant where you get to play drums and dance on the dance floor.”

Looking ahead to graduation in spring 2026, Singh already feels more assured in her role as lead engineer at College Board. “Taking those finance classes, I feel very confident that I have built more awareness, and confident that I can move forward with cybersecurity,” she says. She also values the program’s flexibility, which has enabled her to balance coursework with a demanding career and personal commitments.

While Singh enjoys her engineering work, her ultimate goal is entrepreneurship—perhaps launching a dog food company or a café. “My end goal in life is to be able to start my own business, and I think this program has given me tools to do that on my own,” she says. Beyond skills, Singh has gained a strong network that she stays connected with for professional opportunities and social activities like hiking.

“My end goal in life is to be able to start my own business, and I think this program has given me tools to do that on my own,” she says.

— Supreet Singh, current Costello MBA student

Singh’s Costello MBA is not only a launchpad for her entrepreneurial dreams—it also provides a lifelong network of colleagues and friends.

Supreet Singh with the Costello MBA Program’s global residency students at the Cape of Good Hope. Photo provided by Supreet Singh.

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This MBA student is already putting her degree to work

sholla4 — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:30:18 +0000

This MBA student is already putting her degree to work sholla4 Fri, 12/12/2025 - 10:30

Working full-time while getting a graduate degree is no easy feat. But for Air Force veteran and soon-to-be 91�� alum Kathleen Gillmore, hard work is second nature.

Gillmore is graduating from George Mason in fall 2025 with a master of business administration and a graduate certificate in business analytics from the Costello College of Business. She started her degree at the same time she started as a data analyst at Accenture Federal Services.

What made you choose George Mason?

I first heard about George Mason from my husband, who grew up in Reston and knew the school well. When we moved to Virginia after leaving the Air Force, he recommended George Mason so we could stay close to family and have a solid support system.

Once I researched the university myself, I was really drawn to its strong ties with major tech and business companies in Northern Virginia, as well as its connection to federal agencies. I chose George Mason because it offers a great pathway into both the local industry and government sectors.

How have your professors impacted your time at George Mason?

My business analytics professors have made a huge impact on me. They really fueled my love for working with data, and I enjoyed getting hands-on experience with the different analytics software we used in class. Being able to apply what I was learning with real tools made the material come alive and helped me grow both technically and professionally.

How have your classes helped prepare you for your work as a data analyst?

My classes have directly supported my work at Accenture Federal Services. The business-focused courses helped me understand how organizations operate from a strategic and operational perspective, which improved my ability to interpret the “why” behind the data. The business analytics classes taught me to approach data from multiple angles and to think more critically about patterns, insights, and decision-making. These skills have translated seamlessly into my current role.

How do you hope this degree will advance your career?

This degree has expanded my knowledge in both business and analytics, and I’m already applying what I’ve learned in my current role. Looking ahead, I see the MBA as a versatile credential that will help me continue advancing in roles that involve analytical problem-solving and strategic decision-making. It opens doors across many areas of business and gives me the flexibility to pursue opportunities in different industries as my career grows.

What is one piece of advice you would give to an incoming student?

Use everything George Mason offers: office hours, workshops, software access, and especially the networking events and career fairs. Those resources not only help you stay on track academically, but they also open the door to meaningful professional connections and opportunities.

What's next for you?

Academically, after completing this degree, I will be returning to George Mason next year to pursue a second master’s degree in data analytics engineering. Professionally, I look forward to applying everything I’ve learned in the MBA to continue growing as a data analyst and to open up new career opportunities. I’m excited to build on the momentum from this program and position myself for roles that allow me to contribute more strategically and analytically within my field.

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Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:51:48 +0000

Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:51

Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25, exemplifies exceptional balance—driving innovative strategies at Navy Federal while representing the Philippines internationally in the hammer throw.

Action shot from 2025 Philippine Athletic Championships. Photo by Philippines Athletic Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

As a student-athlete at 91��, he competed in track and field for nearly five years, spanning four Costello College of Business academic programs. In addition to the hammer throw, he also competed in discus and the weight throw, an indoor equivalent to hammer. Not long after he began competing at the university, he began his career as an intern at Navy Federal. Over time, he advanced in athletics, academics, and his career—building a foundation that continues to shape his success today.

Sidney Yap. Photo provided

Now preparing for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December, Yap is focused on timing his peak performance for competition. Recently promoted to enterprise data analytics consultant at Navy Federal, he starts his day early so that he can focus on his training in the evenings. As busy as he is, he prefers it that way, driven by his passion for athletics, education, and professional growth.

Balancing athletics with his career is nothing new for Yap. While at George Mason, he worked closely with professors, coaches, and managers to coordinate schedules and manage workloads. Starting his career at Navy Federal as an intern during his sophomore year, he recognizes strong parallels between athletics and his business career—both requiring discipline, strategy, and data-driven decisions.

As much as his athletics skills and habits help him in his career, his job at Navy Federal in turn opened the door to this remarkable opportunity to compete in Thailand. At a company luncheon, a manager approached him after learning about his track and field background.

“He hit me with the question—What’s next?” Yap recalls.

Sharing Filipino heritage, the manager offered to help him represent the Philippines. That conversation led to connecting with the national team coach, securing dual citizenship, and obtaining a passport. Since then, he has competed in the Philippine Nationals in 2024 and 2025. Representing his family’s heritage on an international stage adds deeper meaning to his athletic pursuits.

Sidney Yap at his MBA graduation in Spring 2025. Photo provided

Yap is appreciative of the business foundations and location of his alma mater, reflected in his decision to remain at Costello for his undergraduate and graduate programs. Originally from the area, it wasn’t until he started researching colleges to apply to in high school that he learned it was a top-notch school full of opportunity.

At Costello, he experienced being taught by high-level faculty who prepared him to succeed in his current role. One of his first courses was on organizational behavior taught by Victoria Grady, associate professor of management and director of the MS in management program.

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

— Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25

Yap’s story reflects the unique synergy between academic excellence and athletic discipline forged at George Mason. His years as a student-athlete prepared him to navigate the demands of rigorous coursework, competitive sports, and a growing professional career—all at once. The foundation he built through Costello’s programs continues to guide him as he balances his role at Navy Federal with training for the Southeast Asian Games. As Yap sets his sights on gold in Thailand, he carries the same mindset into his professional journey—proving that excellence isn’t confined to the field but is a pursuit that spans every arena of life.

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Costello MBA students are turning their ideas into successful companies

Greg Johnson — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:55:26 +0000

Costello MBA students are turning their ideas into successful companies Greg Johnson Mon, 07/07/2025 - 09:55

“I wanted to start my own business,” says Patcharaporn Adchariyavivit, a Costello MBA student, “It seemed like this course was going to help me start it. But I didn’t expect it be this good, you know?”

Skip West

Skip West, founder of MAXSA Innovations and adjunct faculty at the Costello College of Business at 91��, offers the course Turning Ideas into Successful Companies once a year to MBA students. The concept for the course came from West’s own entrepreneurial experiences of turning his ideas into companies. He has co-taught the MBA version of the course with Suresh Shenoy, an engineer, senior business executive, and philanthropist.

When he was in graduate school at Stanford, West took a course that was attended by both engineering and business students, working together to turn their ideas into companies. Several years later, he reconnected with his partner from the class to build upon their ideas from school. Together, they founded DesignTech International, where they pioneered remote car starting and keyless entry, among other automotive safety accessories and wireless home automation products. The successful launch of the business took many years, but it really began in the collaborative environment of a classroom.

Now, Skip West has designed the curriculum for his course at the Costello College of Business so that students can realize their own success.

“It’s all about the students coming up with their passion. It’s not what I care about. It’s what they care about and developing a business that they’re interested in," says Skip West, founder of MAXSA Innovations and adjunct faculty at the Costello College of Business at 91��.

Ramel DuPree. Photo provided

Ramel DuPree entered the course with his idea for a men’s special skincare brand that is primarily targeted to Black men. “Once I was presented with the possibility to actually take a graduate level course, to actually learn more and go into details with it, and also have some guidance, I just jumped at the opportunity.”

Adchariyavivit also entered the course with a concept already in mind. Inspired by observing all the processes in her family’s restaurant business—combined with her previous professional experience as a project manager in an IT startup—she had been working on an AI-powered restaurant consultant application.

“In today’s digital world, where AI makes market research, competitive analysis, and business plan writing almost mundane, the real skill is learning how to learn,” says Shenoy. “That means teaching students to validate, verify, and seek relevant information to bring their ideas to life.” Throughout the course, the students examined every facet, from manufacturing to marketing and everything in between. “In the end, they develop a business plan, and it’s a lot of pitching to the class, feedback from your classmates, feedback from us,” says West. “It’s a discovery class.”

Patcharaporn Adchariyavivit. Photo provided

The class has made a significant difference in the business ideas from both Adchariyavivit and DuPree. “With Skip, the guy’s more practical, and he is a real investor and a real entrepreneur,” says Adchariyavivit. DuPree appreciated how the feedback loop kept him on his toes and focused on eliminating any blind spots. “Once I was able to get that feedback,” he says, “I had to come back. I had to readjust. I had to restructure. It was super beneficial to allowing me to do an outside-looking-in perspective for myself.”

The course was tailor made for students to turn their passionate ideas into successful companies, but it’s beneficial to all business students. “Even if you’re developing your business conceptually, it forces you to look at everything holistically,” says West. “You get to see all the aspects of a business.”

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Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

From public health to the boardroom: Dean Melissa Perry’s MBA journey reflects the future of higher education

Greg Johnson — Mon, 05 May 2025 18:41:18 +0000

From public health to the boardroom: Dean Melissa Perry’s MBA journey reflects the future of higher education Greg Johnson Mon, 05/05/2025 - 14:41

Melissa Perry, ScD, MHS, Dean of 91��’s College of Public Health, will graduate this spring with her Costello MBA—her third graduate degree, earned while serving as a full-time dean, raising two children, and leading one of the largest and fastest-growing public health programs in the region.

Dean Melissa Perry

On its face, it’s a personal milestone—a story of resilience, grit, and lifelong learning. But it’s also something more: a symbol of the evolving nature of higher education leadership and the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration in a complex and rapidly changing world.

At 54, with decades of academic leadership under her belt, Perry didn’t need another degree. But she wanted one. Specifically, she wanted the tools to amplify the mission of public health through a deeper understanding of business strategy, finance, and systems thinking. And she wanted to walk in the shoes of her students—to experience the intensity, vulnerability, and growth that comes with sitting on the other side of the classroom.

“I pursued an MBA not because I was preparing to leave public health,” Perry said, “but because I wanted to lead it better.”

A Student by Night, a Dean by Day

Perry began her MBA in 2019 at George Washington University, taking synchronous online courses while working full time as a department chair. The demands of remote learning were immediate and intense. Asynchronous coursework—where material is delivered without live instruction—proved especially challenging.

“I discovered quickly that I learn best through discussion and connection,” she said. “Asynchronous formats made it harder to stay engaged, and with everything else I was juggling, I knew I needed a structure that mirrored a traditional classroom experience.”

When Perry transferred into George Mason’s MBA program in the Costello College of Business, she opted for in-person courses whenever possible. She found herself immersed in lively evening classes that offered the structure, energy, and peer interaction she craved—after full days spent leading faculty meetings, mentoring students, and managing the complex operations of a growing college.

Her children were just 7 and 12 when she began the program. And while her days stretched from early morning to late night, she credits her husband’s steadfast support with helping her stay focused and grounded. “He was my rock,” she said. “He kept everything running smoothly at home and made sure I had the space and encouragement to keep going.”

The tech demands were also no small feat. Leading a college through pandemic-era digital transformations while simultaneously keeping up with group chats, shared documents, Zoom sessions, and collaborative MBA tools made multitasking a full-time art form. “I was toggling between college-wide dashboards and team Slack messages,” Perry recalled. “There were moments I wondered how many tabs one person could have open at once.”

But through it all, she stayed present—and determined.

Training the Next Generation of Public Health Leaders

While navigating her Costello MBA, Perry brought to the classroom more than just executive experience—she brought the insight of someone who has trained thousands of students over the course of a 35-year career. As a professor, mentor, and principal investigator, she has led a successful public health laboratory that has served as a training ground for cadres of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students.

Her passion for mentorship and education has been central to her career. From the laboratory bench to the lecture hall to the boardroom, Perry has devoted her professional life to building up others, equipping them with the skills and confidence to lead in the public health field.

“Watching students evolve into independent thinkers and leaders has always been the most rewarding part of my work,” she said. “Taking on the role of student again reminded me just how transformative that experience can be.”

Blending Mission and Metrics

A scientist by training—with a Doctor of Science and Master of Health Science from Johns Hopkins—Perry has long been grounded in data, rigor, and public service. But as she stepped into broader leadership roles, she saw firsthand the gaps that emerge when great ideas meet operational realities.

“Public health professionals are exceptional at solving complex problems,” she said. “But we need fluency in the language of business to scale those solutions—whether we’re running health departments, nonprofits, academic institutions, or startups.”

Her MBA program provided the missing pieces: advanced financial modeling, strategic planning, operational systems, marketing frameworks. It wasn’t about abandoning her mission—it was about making it sustainable. It also pushed her to think differently about impact.

“In business school, you learn how to think in terms of value creation,” she said. “In public health, we think in terms of lives improved. When you combine those perspectives, you unlock entirely new ways of approaching social good.”

Forging Cross-College Collaboration at George Mason

Perry brought that mindset with her to 91�� when she was named the inaugural dean of the College of Public Health. Almost immediately, she began building bridges—not just between faculty and students, but across disciplines and colleges.

One of her earliest initiatives was to host the leadership team from George Mason’s Costello College of Business. She invited them into public health classrooms and simulation labs, not just to showcase what the College of Public Health was building, but to spark conversations about shared purpose, complementary strengths, and collaborative potential.

“There’s no real daylight between our missions,” Perry said. “The business of health—workforce, sustainability, innovation—requires both of us at the table.”

That cross-college partnership is emblematic of Perry’s approach to leadership: not siloed, but integrated; not transactional, but transformational. As she often notes, the great challenges of our time—mental health, health equity, workforce development, aging populations—demand new models of education and action that cross traditional academic boundaries.

The Full Circle Moment

In a meaningful twist, Perry’s MBA will be conferred by the dean of the Costello College of Business, Ajay Vinzé—her colleague, collaborator, and friend. It’s more than ceremonial. It’s a symbol of the university’s vision for a more collaborative future and a celebration of the value that comes from interdisciplinary leadership.

It’s also deeply personal. Perry began her MBA not to prove anything to anyone, but because she believed it would stretch her—and it did. Now, as she returns to her students, faculty, and staff with fresh skills and a wider lens, she does so with renewed energy and imagination.

Redefining What a Student—and a Leader—Looks Like

There’s power in this story for students, faculty, alumni, and staff. Perry’s path redefines what it means to be a student—not someone just beginning their journey, but someone who is always learning. And it reframes what it means to be a leader—not someone who has all the answers, but someone willing to ask new questions.

It also reminds us that careers, like learning, are nonlinear. They loop, stretch, and evolve. They make space for change. They’re allowed to be audacious.

Perry’s story is a George Mason story: grounded in access, elevated by ambition, and fueled by the belief that knowledge and community are transformative forces.

Looking Ahead

Now equipped with the perspectives of both scientist and strategist, Perry is turning her attention to what’s next. Her goals include advancing immersive technologies in public health education, strengthening interdisciplinary research, and positioning George Mason’s College of Public Health among the nation’s top programs.

But one thing will remain constant: her belief in people—students, colleagues, and communities—as the drivers of health and change.

“At the end of the day,” she says, “what matters most is that we’re helping others find their path, live with purpose, and grow into the leaders the world needs. That’s what this degree was about for me. And that’s what Mason is all about.”

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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 91�� 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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First-generation alumna and MBA student shares recipes for creating treasured memories in new book

Jennifer Anzaldi — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:14:34 +0000

First-generation alumna and MBA student shares recipes for creating treasured memories in new book Jennifer Anzaldi Thu, 11/07/2024 - 10:14

Born and raised in Paris, France, Ava Uppal, BS Marketing ’19, fondly recalls baking with her mother and turning simple ingredients into heartfelt memories.

Uppal grew up eating her mother’s freshly baked French yogurt cakes for breakfast and enjoyed every bit of it. Now, as a part-time Costello College of Business at 91�� MBA student and a working mother of two children, she’s a small business owner and author of a new cookbook.

Uppal, a self-described dream chaser, is the founder of Baked à la carte, a French bespoke cakes and dessert bar catering company in Washington, D.C. She credits her success in starting and managing a small business to the business education she received at 91��, and the cadre of amazing mentors she encountered in the business college’s alumni community. “Being a student at Mason was the start of my American Dream journey,” says Uppal. “The alumni network has been a tremendous support to me along my journey, from student to post-graduate.”

“The alumni network has been a tremendous support to me along my journey, from student to post-graduate.”

She began Baked à la carte to carry on her mother’s legacy of spreading love with baked goods, using recipes she learned from her mom and which she now shares in her new book, Baking Memories. The cookbook is a nod to her Parisian roots and her mother’s baking legacy.

Baking Memories is filled with a collection of simple and fun recipes that readers can use to start their own family traditions and create treasured memories. The recipes have a French flair and include a variety of tasty treats—from French-style cakes and cookies to madeleines and other baked goods—all inspired by her beloved mother and Ava’s own life as a first-generation immigrant, George Mason alumna, working mom, military spouse, and entrepreneur.

She and her daughter, Zoya, were recently featured in a Small Business Spotlight segment on WJLA ABC 7’s Good Morning Washington show. During the broadcast, she shared her recipe for French Yogurt cakes with co-hosts Eileen Whelan and Britt Waters. As Uppal demonstrated, her recipes are easy to follow and customizable, which makes them appealing to almost everyone in the family.

Uppal continues to share her creative ideas and recipes as an on-air lifestyle expert and has appeared on television stations including affiliates of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.

“There is something special about being in the kitchen and creating,” says Uppal. “The process of baking allows us to explore, express our creativity, and get something delicious at the end.” Uppal also notes that baking appeals to our senses—sight, smell, taste, touch, and even hearing—and can serve as a psychological cue in awakening treasured memories. One of her fondest childhood memories is sitting on the kitchen counter bonding with her sister and late mother, while baking French yogurt cakes.

Uppal expects to complete her Costello MBA in 2025.

In the meantime, she’s focused on building treasured memories with her own family while chasing her dream of growing her business portfolio. Her recipe for personal and professional success includes generous portions of passion, hard work, and balance, which is making quality time for her family and involving her children in her life’s work.

Uppal’s debut cookbook is available for purchase on avauppal.com.

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Costello College of Business Alumni

PhD student’s research on COVID-19 transmission leads to discovery of a major model gap

ckearney — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 20:52:40 +0000

PhD student’s research on COVID-19 transmission leads to discovery of a major model gap ckearney Fri, 08/09/2024 - 16:52

Scientists have long studied the spread of diseases, but the emergence of COVID-19 and its profound impact on society have underscored the critical need to understand where and how diseases spread. As 91�� doctoral student Jericho McLeod reviewed literature on disease transmission as part of his work toward a PhD in computational science and informatics, he and George Mason professor Eduardo López noticed a gap in the models and now seek to correct it.

From left, PhD student and George Mason alum Jericho McLeod with Professor Eduardo López in front of their research poster at the International Pandemic Sciences Conference at Oxford University. Photo provided

In trying to understand why disease transmissions were worse in some areas over others, McLeod and López dove into COVID-19 data looking specifically at extended family ties—meaning family members beyond the nuclear family of parents and children, such as cousins, aunts, uncles, or grandparents.

“According to research on social networks in the United States, individuals during crises like COVID-19, contract their social circles yet become more active with them,” said McLeod. “During lockdown, you saw your friends less, but may have still delivered groceries to your grandmother regularly.”

Studies by McLeod, López, and George Mason PhD student Unchitta Kan previously confirmed that people migrated closer to family more frequently after the pandemic began and that availability of extended family plays a primary factor in influencing face-to-face interaction, laying the groundwork for this research. Now, McLeod and López wanted to know if these extended family ties played a role in the spread of COVID-19.

With the help of Kan and doctoral students Bryan Adams, Valentin Vergara Hidd, and Mailun (Alan) Zhang, they aimed to confirm that these networks mattered enough to warrant future research and updates to disease modeling.

The team gathered obituaries in the Unites States between 2020 to 2022 to examine familial relationships with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on deaths by geography, age, and gender. They found that during COVID-19, there were more instances of multiple family members dying within short periods (e.g., 60 days) compared to 2018 and 2019, where such cases were less common. This rise in deaths aligns with CDC data on excess deaths but is more noticeable between different waves of the pandemic. So, should these relationships be considered in models demonstrating the spread of disease? McLeod says yes.

In July, McLeod presented his research at the International Pandemic Sciences Conference at Oxford University and was awarded best poster presentation in the epidemiology, data and analytics category.

“I am very proud of our work, and it has been collaborative in every way,” said López, who is an associate professor of computational data sciences. “Jericho has a strong ability to work through the data engineering portion of a problem, but also has the intuition necessary to make this research happen. We were optimistic that we would see the effects that we did, and now we have this great opportunity to study something that people have just completely overlooked.”

McLeod earned a degree in accounting from the University of South Alabama before attending George Mason to earn an MBA. In one of his business courses at the Costello College of Business taught by Pallab Sanyal, professor of information systems and operations management, McLeod was introduced to data analytics and machine learning—and found it fascinating. He went on complete a graduate certificate in data analytics at George Mason before deciding to pursue a PhD.

“Attending the [Oxford] conference was so energizing,” McLeod said. “It brought together a collection of top minds, and Dr. López knew the right people to introduce me to, which led to additional conversations, ideation, and thoughts on future directions for this research.”

George Mason’s Graduate Student Travel Fund, offered by the Office of the Provost, supported McLeod’s trip to the Oxford-based conference.

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