Giving to JSOM

Jindal School alumni showing their UT Dallas Grad pins

Your generosity impacts the entire school.

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The future success of the Naveen Jindal School of Management includes you.

Financial support from donors ensures that the school, its faculty and its students continue the tradition of excellence that has marked the first 50 years of The University of Texas at Dallas.

Your generosity impacts the entire school. A gift that may directly help one student allows that student to improve their educational experience, and by extension the experience of those around them. Your gift will transform the lives of future business leaders. Your financial support, at any level, demonstrates a commitment to Jindal School students and their success.

For more information, contact development officers Melissa Bettis or Megan Harrison.

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How to Give to JSOM

Alumni Spotlight

Ian Martinez

Ian Martinez, Class of ’21

DVC informatics Analyst at Houlihan Lokey

I chose my MS degree in Finance at JSOM primarily because of the curriculum and the faculty staff. The courses taught covered all of the areas in finance and it gave the opportunity to specialize in different concentrations, such as financial technology or investment analysis. Additionally, the faculty is very well prepared and up to date in the latest research.

Long Ly

Long Ly, Class of ’21

Investment Analyst at Invitation Homes

The experience was wonderful, learning from the JSOM professors has shaped me personally and professionally. The JSOM students there were also very intellectual and curious. It was a great educational experience.

Farhad Rizvi portrait

Farhad Rizvi, BS’11

Founder, Shamak Associate, Gerson Lehrman Group

Farhad Rizvi had a vision of combining commerce and philanthropy into one business strategy. Along with his older brother, Hammad, he created Shamak Sandals, a company that sells leather sandals handcrafted in the Middle East. But Shamak Sandals reaches beyond shoe sales.

Matthew Thompson portrait

Matthew A. Thompson, BS’12

Automation Marketing Manager, StructuredWeb

Matthew A. Thompson, who majored in marketing, moved to New York City soon after graduation. Once there, he landed a job at ALM, a specialized business news and information company largely focused on the legal community.

Abuda Michelle portrait

J. Michelle (Abuda) Maraj, BS’14, MS’15

Financial Systems Analyst, Lyft

J. Michelle (Abuda) Maraj, now living in San Jose, California, powered through her master’s degree in business analytics just a year after she earned her BS in what is now information technology and systems. In 2014, she was selected to give the commencement address for her Jindal School class, where she pointed out it took her a few semesters to settle on majoring in what is now known as information technology and systems. Thanks to the Jindal School’s Career Management Center, she held an internship each summer during her college years. She also is a past contributor to the JSOM Perspectives blog.

Saadia Sheikh portrait

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.

Pate David portrait

David Pate, BS’88

CFO, Richardson Independent School District

Pate, a resident of Rowlett, has spent almost all of his professional career in the service of education.

Corey Alum portrait

Corey Egan, MBA’10

Co-Founder And Ceo, Ilumi Solutions Inc.

Egan knows what it takes to transform a vision into a successful business. After working for several years in marketing and operations management, Egan along with Swapnil Bora, MBA’11, co-founded iLumi Solutions Inc., and designed an intelligent multicolor LED light bulb that is wirelessly controlled, programmable and customizable with a mobile application. In 2010, they won the UT Dallas Business Idea Competition that the Jindal School-based Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship sponsors every year, and they are committed to transforming and improving how we use lighting.

Allen Mueller portrait

Allen Mueller, MBA’15

Senior Analyst, Fuel Strategy, Vistra Energy

Mueller, a recent Jindal School graduate, has spent a decade in mining engineering and operations, most recently at Luminant Energy in Dallas and Martin Marietta Materials in San Antonio. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in mining engineering at Southern Illinois University.

Craig Weigel portrait

Craig Weigel, MBA’03

Human Resources Director, PepsiCo

Weigel, an HR professional for more than 18 years, has worked for multiple Fortune 100 global companies in various roles, including recruiting, mergers and acquisitions, compensation, and business partnership. He is most proud of his short-term projects in Asia and Europe, which broadened his cultural awareness and global business knowledge.

Joseph James portrait

Joseph James, MBA’10

Entrepreneur

James, who completed his Executive MBA degree in 2010, manages two startup businesses. At 2020 Commercial, he provides commercial real estate sales, leasing and development services. At Mango Farms Digital Marketing, he and his staff provide web and mobile application development and manage digital marketing for clients.

Thomas Hunley portrait

Thomas Hunley, MS’90

Retail Risk Executive, PNC Bank

For some, big risks come with big rewards, and for Thomas Hunley, a decision to make a career change after several years in the information-technology sector, was a risk that led to a satisfying new profession. Hunley’s decision to transition into a finance role brought him to the Jindal School, where he received a master’s degree in management and administrative sciences.

Gigi Bryant portrait

Gigi Bryant, GLEMBA’02

Business Development Consultant, GMSA Management Services

Throughout her life, Gigi Bryant has overcome adversity – spending more than a decade in the foster care system. Since then, she has dedicated herself to serving others. She has started her own business consulting firm, established a foundation to assist youth in the foster care system and devoted her free time to volunteer work.

Aubrey Meyers portrait

Aubrey Meyers, BS’05, MBA’06

SVP and Deputy General Counsel, Caliber Home Loans, Inc

After Meyers received her BSBA and MBA at UT Dallas, she went to University of Illinois College of Law, graduating in 2009 with a law degree. She returned to the North Texas area, working for a couple law firms before moving to Caliber Home Loans.

Kuntesh Chokshi portrait

Kuntesh Chokshi, MS’01, MBA’04

GM, Sales Director New Business, PepsiCo

Chokshi, a 2017 Minority Business Leader honoree by the Dallas Business Journal, credits his business success to both hunger and curiosity

Jeff Hightower portrait

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.

Britanny Weber portrait

Brittany Weber, BS’14, MS’15

Assurance Senior, EY

As a member of the Professional Program in Accounting, Brittany Weber graduated with a BS in accounting in spring 2014 and an MS in accounting in spring 2015. Through the PPA recruitment process, she was able to secure an internship and later a full-time offer from EY.

Darla Ripley portrait

Darla Chapman Ripley, EMBA’97

Associate, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates Real Estate

Darla Chapman Ripley places a lot of importance on maintaining all networks, regardless of industry or location.

Joe Warren portrait

Joe Warren, BS’11

Software Engineer, USAA

Each day, I strive to use best practices, creating beautiful and accessible experiences for our internal and member-facing systems.

Eugene Murray portrait

Eugene Murray, MS’03

President, W&M Environmental Group, Inc.

With more than 30 years of experience in environmental consulting and two degrees in geology, Eugene (Gene) Murray, president of W&M Environmental Group, Inc., intended to take just one statistics class to further enhance his business skills. But after one class, Murray discovered the numerous benefits of a Jindal School education and decided to pursue a master’s degree.

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