GSM Student Association Bay Area (GSMSA BA)
Welcome to GSMSA Bay Area: Where Diversity, Celebration, Engagement, and Impact Converge
At GSMSA Bay Area, we believe in fostering a vibrant and inclusive community that celebrates diversity, embraces different cultures, promotes engagement through various activities, and makes a positive impact through community volunteering. We strive to create an exceptional MBA experience that enriches your journey toward becoming an outstanding business leader.
Meet Our Leadership Board (2025-2026)
Jason Bartus MBA 26
President
Jason Bartus is a 2026 Bay Area Part-Time MBA candidate at the University of California, Davis, and currently works as a senior account manager for Thermo Fisher Scientific. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Chico. An enthusiastic sales professional who values teamwork and authentic connections, Bartus’ collaborative leadership style aims to maximize involvement from each of his peers.
Bartus is passionate about mentoring others, professional development and learning more about business and science. In his personal life, he enjoys exercise, watching movies, and spending time with his family and two dogs.
Samiksha Nehra MBA 26
Vice President, External Affairs
Samiksha Nehra is a 2026 Bay Area MBA candidate at the University of California, Davis, and currently works as a senior accountant at SunWest Foods Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from San Francisco State University. With a strong foundation in financial analysis and cross-functional collaboration, she brings a thoughtful and dependable approach to both her academic and professional journey.
Nehra values relationship building, continuous learning and creating positive experiences for those around her. Outside of work and school, she enjoys exploring new cuisines, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and sports.
Soleman Karim MBA 26
Vice President, External Affairs
Soleman Karim brings several years of experience in health insurance and pharmacy benefits management, most recently working in underwriting and financial risk at Express Scripts by Cigna. His work gave him insight into how thoughtful collaboration and clear communication can make complex systems run more effectively—something he now applies to student leadership.
As vice president of internal affairs, Karim is focused on building a strong, inclusive community and ensuring the day-to-day experience of the cohort is smooth and engaging. He enjoys creating systems that work behind the scenes while helping people feel connected and supported.
Outside of class, you’ll find Karim playing strategy board games like Scythe, planning trips down to the last detail or figuring out new ways to make Excel do things it probably wasn’t meant to do.
Harcharan Kaur MBA 26
Director of Marketing and Communications
Harcharan Kaur is a lifecycle marketing manager who leads end-to-end strategy and execution across email, SMS, retention and subscription programs to keep customers engaged, informed and coming back. She’s built her career in fast-paced startups by being the one to roll up her sleeves, solve problems and get things done—a mindset she brings to every project.
Whether she’s developing creative assets, promoting events or keeping teams connected, Kaur ensures communication is always clear, timely and impactful. She’s excited to bring that same energy to the role of director of marketing and communications for her MBA cohort, helping the group stay informed and engaged throughout the program.
Kaur lives in San Mateo with her husband, their spirited young daughter and their lovable Bernese mountain dog. They love traveling, discovering new food spots and exploring Bay Area trails as a family.
Wafa Alkhatib MBA 26
Director of Academic Affairs
Wafa Alkhatib is a Bay Area MBA candidate at the University of California, Davis. She earned her first master’s degree in banking management with honors from the Hashemite University in Jordan. During her academic journey, Wafa worked as a professor’s research assistant, gaining valuable experience in graduate education and the academic field.
Wafa’s passion for solving academic problems stems from her extensive experience at the Cultural Office, Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Jordan. Over five years, she assisted undergraduate and graduate students, facilitating solutions for a variety of academic challenges.
In addition to her academic and professional accomplishments, Wafa is a proud mother of three little princesses and cherishes her family. In her free time, she enjoys writing, designing, and walking along the coast. She also teaches Arabic as a second language, driven by her belief that learning is change.
Yin Tseng MBA 25
Advisor
Yin Tseng earned her B.A. in liberal arts from San Francisco State University and is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of California, Davis, Graduate School of Management. A skilled problem solver, she brings extensive experience in accounting, people operations and administrative operations. She works as a consultant specializing in helping startups and small organizations grow and scale. Her career spans industries including tech, medtech, biopharma, venture capital and wealth management.
Tseng is passionate about environmental sustainability, ethical business practices and collaboration to drive meaningful impact. Her dedication to community engagement is reflected in her commitment to dog rescues, while her love for sci-fi fantasy and technology showcases her curious and nerdy side. In her free time, she enjoys discovering new eats, spending quality downtime with family and friends and traveling to explore diverse cultures and culinary experiences.
Tseng served as co-president of the Bay Area Graduate Student Association, student ambassador and Net Impact director of sustainability in 2024–2025. She was an honoree of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management Alumni Association Student Fellowship Awards for the Bay Area MBA Class of 2025, the Smiley Leadership Award for the Bay Area MBA Class of 2025 and the Outstanding Leadership & Impact Award of 2025.
Alex Schultz MBA 25
Advisor
Alex Schultz is a Bay Area MBA candidate in the fall 2023 cohort. Originally from Maryland, he earned his B.S. in business with a concentration in marketing and information systems from the University of Colorado in 2022. Schultz works on the product development team at Redwood Credit Union, focused on expanding access to financial services and promoting financial wellness for all. He currently lives in El Cerrito.
Schultz’s work aligns with his passion for diversity, inclusion, belonging and expanding opportunity for all. He is dedicated to fostering connections between groups at the Graduate School of Management and across the University of California, Davis, and to making sure the MBA student experience is the best it can be. In his free time, you can find Schultz skiing in Tahoe, exploring a new place, spinning a new (or old) record, curling up with a good book, tinkering with new technology or finding the next great coffee shop.
Mission, Purpose & Objectives
We believe in the power of teamwork, integrity, and excellence and strive to embody these values in everything we do.
Mission
Our club's mission is to provide exceptional value to our members while fostering a positive and collaborative environment for our team.
Vision
Our vision is to become the go-to destination for MBA students, offering valuable resources and experiences that enable them to achieve their professional and personal goals.
Objectives
We are committed to delivering high-quality events, workshops, and networking opportunities to achieve our objectives.