For 1083 students in the College of Business at Florida International University (FIU), December 12, 2012, was a landmark day. Years of dedicated study, often while juggling work and family responsibilities, translated into college degrees—689 of them from the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business and 394 from the Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Graduate School of Business, including three doctorates.
Among the group were four Worlds Ahead Graduates, a designation that singles out individuals with strong leadership qualities, a desire to change lives and a record of academic achievement.
Four FIU Business students received prestigious recognition as Worlds Ahead Graduates.
Melissa Dunn (HCMBA ’12), who graduated with a 3.8 GPA, overcame many personal obstacles without ever shirking from what she saw as the moral obligation to help others. She has begun her job as part of the Global Patient Services team at Cleveland Clinic Florida, and one day hopes to operate a chain of outpatient surgical centers in the Caribbean offering high-end services to U.S. travelers and providing quality care to the local community.
Cristel Gomez (BACC ’12, BBA ’12) completed degrees in accounting and management information systems, and has landed a job at the world headquarters of Deloitte & Touche LLP in New York City, where she has interned. She has been involved in the American Cancer Society and Autism Speaks and held leadership positions in many honor and service societies.
Now holding his bachelor’s degree in finance, Yegor Nadvornyy (BBA ’12) has secured a job as a financial analyst at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in Seattle. He served as president of ALPFA-FIU, launched a new chapter of Toastmasters at the college and co-organized the organization’s “Ahead of the Game” career fair. He interned at Merrill Lynch and started his own accounts payable company, Hedgehog Business Concepts, LLC.
Michael Perez (BBA ’12) helped lead the college’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter to top recognition at the 2011 national conference and was honored as “Student Marketer of the Year” at the 2012 conference. He was chosen “Business Organization President of the Year” by FIU’s Student Leadership Group and was recognized as the “Top Male FIU Student Ambassador” in 2011 and 2012.
College of Business staff members complete degrees.
Nine members of the college’s staff represent the range of academic opportunity offered at FIU, from bachelor’s degrees on up to doctorates.
Jean-Louis Balaguer (MSF ’12, IMBA ’12), was a graduate assistant in the State Farm Financial Literacy Lab and a graduate teaching assistant in Financial Software, taught by Robert Daigler. He completed both a Master of Science in Finance (MSF) and an International MBA (IMBA).
Eric Cartaya (PhD ’12, MBA ’00) earned his doctorate in management and international business; he is an adjunct in the Department of Management and International Business.
Anna Etienne (MS ’12, BBA ’06) received her Master of Science in Higher Education Administration; her undergraduate major was marketing. She is program manager for the college’s Healthcare MBA (HCMBA) program.
Roberto Garcia (BBA ’12) received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in finance. He is program assistant for the college’s Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MSMIS) and Master of Science in Health Informatics and Management Systems (MSHI&MS) programs.
Brittany Gonzalez (HCMBA ’12, BBA ’10), who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in management major, has now earned a Healthcare MBA (HCMBA). She is financial manager in the college’s Finance and Administration office.
Mariel Gutierrez (BS ’12) received a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences. She is a student assistant in the Healthcare MBA (HCMBA) and plans to attend medical school.
Veronica Perez (MBA ’12, BBA ’08) completed the Evening MBA program. She also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in marketing. She is marketing manager in Marketing and Communications.
Pablo Vega (MBA ’12, BBA ’07) completed the Evening MBA. He had a double major—finance and management information systems (MIS)—when he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration. He is e-marketing coordinator in Marketing and Communications.
World’s Ahead Graduate Yegor Nadvornyy (BBA ’12) received his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. He was an intern in the State Farm Financial Literacy Lab and is now financial reports coordinator for United Health Care.
