Since our charter class graduated more than 25 years ago, alumni
from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management have been making
their presence known around the world.
Our graduates are CEOs, vice presidents, chief financial
officers, chief operating officers and entrepreneurs. Around the
globe, they have taken prominent roles as international business
leaders in a wide range of industries and organizations.
Graduate School of Management alumni are actively involved in
their communities, and they make time for mentoring, advising and
assisting current students and networking with fellow graduates.
Making Capital Connections and Learning from Fellow Alumni
I recently participated on a panel at the Capital Connections event held in Sacramento. While I volunteered for this event to help the students who organized it, I gained much more than the satisfaction of giving back: I made connections with other alumni I had not seen in years and I reflected with other panelists on how the GSM has helped shape our lives. I’d like to share these reflections.
Be True to Your School
In 2000, my final year at the Graduate School of Management, I was lucky to be part of the group of students who founded the GSM Endowment. We had enjoyed our UC Davis MBA experience so much that we wanted to create an opportunity to actively participate in the School’s continued success. I am proud to say that we had 100 percent participation from our graduating class that year, and even prouder to report that every subsequent graduating class has contributed generously to the fund.
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Spring Networking Opportunities
Alumni events are a lot of fun—and effective for building your network, a critical tool for career success. The vast majority of GSM alumni make their homes in Northern California, evenly split between the Sacramento region and the Bay Area. And this spring you can reconnect with former classmates, make new friends and expand your professional circle at a GSM alumni event in your neighborhood.
Honoring an Extraordinary Alumnus
Guest Writer: Sonja Hongisto Bowman ‘91
Chair, Alumni Awards Committee
The Graduate School of Management’s 9th Annual Peer-to-Pier gathering in San Francisco last month drew alumni, students, faculty and members of the northern California business community. We came together to share memories, exchange business cards, hear Professor Kim Elsbach’s latest insight into effective management—and honor a very special member of the GSM alumni community.
Student Fellows Shine
Guest Writer: Andrea Schafer Henderson ‘07
Chair, 2011–12 GSM Alumni Association Student Fellowship Committee
I have contributed financially to the Graduate School of Management each year since my graduation in 2007, always driven by the idea that it is the right thing to do. During these years, I have also served on the GSM Alumni Association’s Student Fellowship Committee. Since 2003 the Alumni Association (GSMAA) has provided fellowships to deserving students in each of the School’s MBA programs—a tangible demonstration of alumni support for students who have a significant impact on the GSM and the broader community.
Passion. Devotion. Success.
As alumni, we all gained from our time at the Graduate School of Management. We expanded our understanding of accounting, economics, marketing and other business issues and endeavors. We developed lifelong friends. Whatever our field, the School provided an opportunity to give our chosen careers a boost—or forge a new one.
Given these rich rewards, are you passionately devoted to the success of the School?
There are many ways, big and small, that you can help:
Doing Our Part: GSM Alumni Increasing Student Applicants and Career Opportunities
As we ring in the New Year, I’d like to encourage you to add your ongoing support of our alma mater to your list of resolutions.
There are so many ways we can help the GSM. Last year, the School generated tremendous momentum and received its highest ranking, moving up to the top 6 percent in the U.S., according to U.S.News & World Report’s latest survey. The Full-time MBA program ranks 28th nationally, and the Working Professional program ranks 32nd. Additionally, 93 percent of last year’s graduating class were placed within three months of graduation, earning UC Davis another accolade from U.S.News as being one of the “10 Business Schools That Lead to Jobs.” We need to join together to continue this tradition of excellence.
Giving Back: Dollars and Sense
Each year, the Graduate School of Management asks alumni to “give back” to the School, whether in dollars, resources or involvement.
To be honest, I haven’t consistently supported the School in the 20 years since earning my MBA. Until recently, I had not sat down and considered why I should give back. This may be true for many alumni, and would like to share why I now place the GSM near the top of my charitable donation list.
Become a Business Partner
The Business Partnership Program provides a vital link between the School and the business community—one that supports ongoing initiatives in fundraising, placement, admissions, and student and alumni services. The GSM Alumni Association’s (GSMAA) board of directors is committed to increasing the number of Business Partners, leveraging alumni who want to bridge their organization with the GSM.
When you become a Business Partner, you expand the GSM’s footprint in Northern California, one of Dean Currall’s key objectives for the School.
Become an Alumni Volunteer
Help build our GSM community!
Active volunteer efforts are one of the best ways to foster a close-knit alumni community. This year, the GSM Alumni Association’s board of directors is seeking to increase the ranks of the School’s volunteers, tapping into alumni who are willing to spend a few hours making a difference in the GSM community—with students, fellow alumni, faculty and staff. Volunteerism will increase engagement, affinity, communication and connectedness among alumni.
Making a Difference
The GSM Alumni Association’s Annual Progress Report
The GSM just finished one of its best years in our short history, and you should feel very, very proud to be an alum of the fastest-rising school in the Top 50. Here are some highlights: