Marissa Pickard MBA 25
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Marissa Pickard MBA 25

I chose UC Davis because of its unique position within the food industry and, largely, because of the community culture centered around collaboration, innovation, and support. Not only do you build strong bonds within your cohort, but with other cohorts, staff, faculty, and extended community members. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Women in Leadership club member
  • Food and Wine Leadership club member
  • Sacramento Part-Time MBA Student Ambassador

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Communications, International Academy of Design and Technology

Previous Work

Monique Fruitiér MBA 25
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Monique Fruitiér MBA 25

I chose the University of California Davis, because of the top-notch quality of education that is taught here, and because after interacting with the staff and experiencing their leadership and support, I knew that it was my home.

I love the fact that the UC Davis GSM is a STEM-designated program and is very competitive. Also, since I work for UC Davis, I want to be able to utilize my knowledge and expertise, by pouring back into the community where I live and serve.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Club Memberships: Women in Leadership
  • Black Graduate and Professional Student
Cody Caldwell MBA 25
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Cody Caldwell MBA 25

UC Davis is my alma mater. When I went to UC Davis for my undergrad, I enjoyed the people and staff that I met there as well as the learning environment. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Military Leadership
  • Bay Area Food and Wine Club
  • GSM Veterans

Previous Education

  • UC Davis Chemical Engineering

Previous Work Experience

  • Aircraft Avionics Tehcnician, USAF
  • Remotely Piloted Aircraft Sensor Operator, USAF
  • Intelligence Analyst, CA ANG
  • Production Engineer, Crop Protection, Corteva Agriscience

Fun Facts

  • I've been an extra in a Steven Spielberg film, and met him.
  • I've
Sophia Zhu MPAc 24
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Sophia Zhu MPAc 24

I completed my undergraduate studies at UC Davis. I chose UC Davis because I like the learning atmosphere. I like walking around the campus to enjoy the peaceful nature.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Associated Students of Management

Previous Education

  • Bachelor's of Science, Statistics - Statistical Data Science , UC Davis

Previous Work Experience

  • Teaching Assistant, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
  • IS Assurance Intern - BDO,USA

Fun Facts

  • I love traveling, and Hawaii is my favorite among the cities I have visited.
  • I love baking, and cheesecake is my specialty.
Benjamin Tjandra MPAc 24
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Benjamin Tjandra MPAc 24

I wanted to go to Davis because it's one of the best programs in the West and close to home. I missed the California climate after four years in Chicago and wanted to enjoy the nice weather for a few more months before heading back east. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Associated Students of Management
  • Davis Orthodox Christian Fellowship

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, History, Economics, University of Chicago

Previous Work Experience

  • Intern, Audit, KPMG LLP

Fun Facts

  • I like birding.
  • My dream is to own a bunch of rural land and grow my own food.
  • My favorite
Diana Tran MPAc 24
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Diana Tran MPAc 24

I went to undergrad at UC Davis and I love the college-town aspect and the inviting community. It's a big school with a tight-knit feel!

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Davis Women in Business, Career Development Board Associate
  • Davis Accounting Society, Professional Relations Director
  • Economics and Business Student Association, Member

Previous Education

  • Bachelors, Managerial Economics, Accounting Minor, UC Davis

Previous Work Experience

  • External Audit Intern, PricewaterhouseCoopers

Fun Facts

  • I like to lift weights, build legos, and read in my free time!
Ryan Lucas MPAc 24
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Ryan Lucas MPAc 24

UC Davis has an excellent reputation for producing quality talent. It is located within striking distance of Sacramento and it's a close knit community in a vibrant small town.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • ASM Vice President of MPAc
  • Rotary Club of Davis, Roteract Liason

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Washington

Previous Work Experience

  • Chain Sales Representative, Sales, Gallo Sales Co.
  • Assistant Branch Manager, Daily Rental, Enterprise Rent-a-Car
  • Administrative Assistant, Property management, Hines

Fun Facts

  • I do identify as a foodie
Gabby Tirsell MPAc 24
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Gabby Tirsell MPAc 24

After completing my undergrad at UC Davis, I really enjoyed being a part of the student community and the overall atmosphere of the quintessential college town. I also love visiting the cows and llamas when I get stressed. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Venture Development Manager, UC Davis Student Startup Center

Previous Education

  • Bachelors, Economics with a minor in Technology Management, UC Davis

Previous Work Experience

  • Fundraising Intern, Inntrig Digital Health Ventures
  • Founder and CEO, U-Cycle LLC
  • Budgeting and Operations Intern, The Makers Place

Fun Facts

  • I
Bo Hendrickson MPAc 24
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Bo Hendrickson MPAc 24

I am the 4th Aggie in the family to be admitted to UC Davis and wanted to keep the tradition going.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • President of the UCI Roller Hockey Team

Previous Education

  • Bachelors Degree, Business Administration with a Specialization in Accounting, University of California, Irvine

Previous Work Experience

  • Administrative Support, Accounting Department, Shopbop
  • Senior Revenue Analyst, Accounting Department, eHealth Insurance
  • Financial Analyst, Institutional Client Department, Beacon Pointe Advisor

Fun Facts

  • I play ice hockey in my free time.
  • I am a
Chris Ruan MPAc 24
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Chris Ruan MPAc 24

I chose UC Davis because I thought the campus was nature-friendly with all the trees and grassy fields. I especially like taking walks in the spring and fall in the Arboretum to relax and enjoy the fresh air. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Club Membership: Davis Political Review 

Previous Education

  • UC Davis, Bachelor of Arts, International Relations and Economics

Previous Work Experience

  • Teaching Assistant, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
  • After Hours Assistant, UC Davis Student Housing and Dining

Fun Facts

  • I love cooking. 
  • I studied abroad in Singapore. 
  • My
Nasreen Ahmad MPAc 24
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Nasreen Ahmad MPAc 24

UC Davis has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl because I knew it was a respected university that offered endless opportunities for it's students.

It has a remarkable reputation and encourages community and diversity, and I wanted to be a part of it and contribute to it as well. The campus is filled with some of the greatest minds, and I wanted an opportunity to learn from them on a personal and professional level.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Club Membership: Afghan Student Association

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Science, Public Health, California State
Izzie Guevarra MPAc 24
Profile

Izzie Guevarra MPAc 24

I attended UC Davis during my undergrad and really loved the tight-knit community we had, especially in the accounting minor. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Davis Accounting Society - Co-President
  • Alpha Delta Pi Sorority - Director of Philanthropy
  • Davis Accounting Society - Marketing Director

Previous Education

  • Bachelor's of Science, Managerial Economics, UC Davis

Previous Work Experience

  • Graduate School of Management - Teaching Assistant 
  • Cattlemen's Steakhouse - Bookkeeper

Fun Facts

  • I'm from San Diego.
  • I love baseball.
  • I wanted to be a physical therapist coming
Jocelyn Guzman MBA 24
Profile

Jocelyn Guzman MBA 24

"The collaborative environment that UC Davis fosters was exactly what I was looking for in an MBA program, in addition to the marketing courses offered by the Graduate School of Management, and the incredible network in the area."

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Student ambassador
  • Marketing chair, Aggie Speak

Previous Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in psychology, UC Santa Barbara

Previous Work Experience

  • Graduate program manager, UC Santa Barbara

Fun Facts

  • I love a great crime podcast.
  • I am embarking on a small side business.
  • I have a twin brother who is one minute older
Marisol Ibarra MBA 26
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Marisol Ibarra MBA 26

I chose the UC Davis Sacramento Part-Time MBA program due to the campus being a strategic advantage, positioned at the nexus of politics and economics.

The program offers an unparalleled environment to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. This alignment with my goal of bridging policy and business, combined with the school's strong reputation, convinced me that the UC Davis Graduate School of Management is the perfect partner for my MBA journey.

Student Leadership and Experience Host of Here Comes the Sun podcast  Previous Education B.A. in Political Science, Cal Poly
Samhitha Upadhya MBA 24
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Samhitha Upadhya MBA 24

UC Davis is a good management school and also its presence in Bay Area helps me with commute. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • GSMSA-BA
  • Net Impact
  • Davis Consulting Club

Previous Education

  • Master of Science
  • Bachelor of Engineering

Previous Work Experience

  • Bank of America

Fun Facts

  • I love traveling with my family.
  • I love to grow my own food.
  • I love reading books.
Mansi Saxena MBA 25
Profile

Mansi Saxena MBA 25

While UC Davis location proximity helps Bay Area residents, its hybrid delivery and culture provide flexibility in multiple ways.

The small cohort size feels intimate and discussion with professors is very enlightening. I feel UC Davis is a clear winner when it comes to holistic learning and industry immersion programs where everyone can find their footing. I hope to share the university culture with prospective students by being a Student Ambassador.

Professional Experience

  • Business Manager, Customer Experience, Cisco

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Director of Professional and
Milin Singh Khunkhun MBA 24
Profile

Milin Singh Khunkhun MBA 24

I chose UC Davis for the many opportunities in Food & Agriculture. Also, I love living in the City of Davis since undergrad. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Assistant Director, UC Davis GSM Ambassadors

Previous Education

  • Bachelors, Managerial Economics, UC Davis

Previous Work Experience

  • Customer Success Specialist, Truffle Shuffle 
  • Social Media & Communications Intern, UC Davis Undergraduate Education 

Fun Facts

  • I love cooking and baking. Plan to make it my profession.
  • Born & raised in the Bay Area. Go Warriors! 
  • I’m a proud Disney adult .
Ayush Srivastava MBA 24
Profile

Ayush Srivastava MBA 24

I chose UC Davis because of the access to world-class premium faculty, a small cohort, a great location, and a strong alum network.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Product Management & Marketing Club
  • Data Analytics Club

Previous Education

  • B.Tech. in Information Technology (Honors), Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University

Previous Work Experience

  • Software Design Engineer 3, Paypal
  • Product & Strategy Consultant, Impact Consulting 
  • Technical Consultant (5G and Telecom), Reliance Jio

Fun Facts

  • I love binge-watching gritty thriller TV shows! 
  • I read all 7 of the Harry
Christine Nguyen MBA 23
Profile

Christine Nguyen MBA 23

The UC Davis program has prepared me to become the best leader I can be by teaching me how to address real-world challenges while increasing my exposure to diverse perspectives on global, social, and business issues by collaborating with those from different backgrounds and experiences.

I found out about the UC Davis program through the Bay Area Ambassador Program and I now want to give back to other students through my own personal experiences. 

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Bay Area Part-Time MBA Program, Bay Area Ambassador Program

Previous Education

  • MBA Candidate, UC Davis
Maile Kahn MBA 24
Profile

Maile Kahn MBA 24

Choosing to do my MBA at UC Davis seemed like an obvious choice to me, for the ties to the food and ag industry. I am also a Davis alumni with an undergraduate degree in Food Science and Technology. UCD opened so many career doors for me the first time around that it was the only program I applied for my masters.

Student Leadership and Experience

  • Food Science and Technology Club
  • Brewing and Distilling Club
  • DEVO

Previous Education

  • Food Science and Technology B.S., UC Davis
  • Culinary Arts A.S, Cuesta College
  • Baking Science A.S, Cuesta College

Previous Work Experience

  • Marketing