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Hometown: Quincy, Illinois
Previous Employer: U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division
Undergraduate University & Major: United States Military Academy, Economics
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: MBA Marketing Association, Military Veterans Association, Illini Veterans, University Lutheran Church
MBA Concentration(s): Marketing and Management
What's your favorite part of the MBA experience?
Hometown: New York City
Previous Employer: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Virginia, Sociology
Joint-Degree Program: Law (J.D.)
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Women in Business, Kola Foundation
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
What do you think is the best kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Hometown: Glenview, Illinois
Previous Employer: Grainger Industrial Supply
Undergraduate University & Major: Carthage College, Business Administration and Marketing with a minor in Spanish
Joint-Degree Program: Labor and Employment Relations (LER)
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Mock Interviewer for the Campus Career Center, MBA Service Association, Kola Foundation, Illinois Business Consulting (Fall 2011), MBA Class of 2014 Orientation Coordinator
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
What do you think is the best kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Hometown: Highland Mills, New York
Previous Employer: Coast Guard
Undergraduate University & Major: Coast Guard Academy, Civil Engineering
Joint-Degree Program: MS in Civil Engineering
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Crossfit CU
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
What's your favorite part of the MBA experience?
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Previous Employer: Toyota
Undergraduate University & Major: Yang'En University, China, International Economics
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Net Impact, Carle Hospital Volunteer, Minority Business Students Association
MBA Concentration(s): Marketing & Strategic Management
Where's your favorite place to eat in Champaign-Urbana?
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia
Previous Employer: Maryland's Uplifting Athletes
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Maryland, Finance and International Business
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Graduate Finance Association, Service Association, Marketing Association, Illinois's Uplifting Athletes
MBA Concentration(s): Strategic Management & Finance
What's your favorite part of the MBA experience?
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Previous Employer: Passenger Trains Co.
Undergraduate University & Major: Iran University of Science and Technology, Industrial Engineering (Transportation Engineering)
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: MBA Diversity Association, Women in Business, Service Association, OTMA, Net Impact, Kola Foundation, Persian Cultural Association
MBA Concentration(s): General Management/IT & Operations
If you could take any class in the world, what would you take?
Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil
Previous Employer: I worked in my family companies, and I'm also one of the owners, so I consider myself an entrepreneur.
Undergraduate University & Major: Ponta Grossa State University, Law; Ponta Grossa Educational College, Business Administration
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Graduate Finance Association and Fighting Illini Triathlon
MBA Concentration(s): Corporate Finance and Strategic Management
What do you think is the best-kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Hometown: Abancay, Peru
Previous Employer: Orica
Undergraduate University & Major: Mining and Minerals Engineering
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Graduate Finance Association, Graduate Marketing Association
MBA Concentration(s): Finance and Strategic Management
What do you think is the best-kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Hometown: Lucknow, India
Previous Employer: L&T Limited
Undergraduate University & Major: B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, MMMEC Gorakhpur
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Diversity Association, Women in Business, Operations and Technology Management, Asha Foundation
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
If you could take any class in the world, what would you take?
Hometown: Taiwan, R.O.C.
Previous Employer: KPMG Taiwan
Undergraduate University & Major: National Taiwan University, Accounting and Chinese Literature
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Taiwanese Students Association, Women in Business
MBA Concentration(s): Finance
What do you think is the best-kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Previous Employer: Aqua-Guard Management, Inc. & Holland America Cruise Line
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Illinois, Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: MBA Association, Rock Climbing, SCUBA, October Lover's Club (It's real, I promise)
MBA Concentration(s): Innovation Management
If you could take any class in the world, what would you take?
MBA Student Ambassadors
Connect with a current student to learn first-hand about life in the Illinois MBA. The MBA Student Ambassadors are here to help answer your questions about the MBA program, University of Illinois, and Champaign-Urbana. Don't hesitate to reach out to one or several of the Student Ambassadors to introduce yourself and ask questions about the Illinois MBA.
Jared R. Lunt
Military Student
Hometown: Quincy, Illinois
Previous Employer: U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division
Undergraduate University & Major: United States Military Academy, Economics
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: MBA Marketing Association, Military Veterans Association, Illini Veterans, University Lutheran Church
MBA Concentration(s): Marketing and Management
What's your favorite part of the MBA experience?
The small class sizes are definitely a plus. There are enough people in class to engage in a diverse debate, but not so large that you feel lost in the crowd. There is also a great variety of guest speakers and class options that allow you to get exposure to many different aspects of business.
Vanessa Fuller
Joint Degree Student (JD/MBA)
Hometown: New York City
Previous Employer: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Virginia, Sociology
Joint-Degree Program: Law (J.D.)
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Women in Business, Kola Foundation
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
What do you think is the best kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Brunch at Radio Maria
Sarah Zigman
Joint Degree Student (Master's of Human Resources/MBA)
Hometown: Glenview, Illinois
Previous Employer: Grainger Industrial Supply
Undergraduate University & Major: Carthage College, Business Administration and Marketing with a minor in Spanish
Joint-Degree Program: Labor and Employment Relations (LER)
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Mock Interviewer for the Campus Career Center, MBA Service Association, Kola Foundation, Illinois Business Consulting (Fall 2011), MBA Class of 2014 Orientation Coordinator
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
What do you think is the best kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
Strawberry Fields in Urbana. I love this place because it is the closest store in the area that resembles a Whole Foods Market. They have a wide variety of organic produce as well as a bakery and coffee shop.
Beth Grupp
Joint Degree Student (MS Civil and Environmental Engineering/MBA)
Hometown: Highland Mills, New York
Previous Employer: Coast Guard
Undergraduate University & Major: Coast Guard Academy, Civil Engineering
Joint-Degree Program: MS in Civil Engineering
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Crossfit CU
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
What's your favorite part of the MBA experience?
Seeing the world through the eyes of a business person, which is often vastly different from an engineer or military officer's perspective.
Frankie Yunfei Gao
Married Student
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Previous Employer: Toyota
Undergraduate University & Major: Yang'En University, China, International Economics
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Net Impact, Carle Hospital Volunteer, Minority Business Students Association
MBA Concentration(s): Marketing & Strategic Management
Where's your favorite place to eat in Champaign-Urbana?
Ribeye (fighting ILLINI) and B.Won Korean Cusine
Obi Egekeze
Not-for-Profit Experience
Hometown: Augusta, Georgia
Previous Employer: Maryland's Uplifting Athletes
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Maryland, Finance and International Business
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Graduate Finance Association, Service Association, Marketing Association, Illinois's Uplifting Athletes
MBA Concentration(s): Strategic Management & Finance
What's your favorite part of the MBA experience?
The opportunity to build long-lasting professional relationships with my classmates and professors
Padideh Moghaddam
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Previous Employer: Passenger Trains Co.
Undergraduate University & Major: Iran University of Science and Technology, Industrial Engineering (Transportation Engineering)
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: MBA Diversity Association, Women in Business, Service Association, OTMA, Net Impact, Kola Foundation, Persian Cultural Association
MBA Concentration(s): General Management/IT & Operations
If you could take any class in the world, what would you take?
Business Etiquette in all countries
Jackson Gondaski
Hometown: Curitiba, Brazil
Previous Employer: I worked in my family companies, and I'm also one of the owners, so I consider myself an entrepreneur.
Undergraduate University & Major: Ponta Grossa State University, Law; Ponta Grossa Educational College, Business Administration
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Graduate Finance Association and Fighting Illini Triathlon
MBA Concentration(s): Corporate Finance and Strategic Management
What do you think is the best-kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
This one is for the steak lovers, like me. The Meat Sales Room at the Meat Science Lab is definitely the best-kept secret. The place has fresh, tasty and cheap meat, and you can find some cuts you will not see in markets in town.
Esvith Palomino
Hometown: Abancay, Peru
Previous Employer: Orica
Undergraduate University & Major: Mining and Minerals Engineering
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Graduate Finance Association, Graduate Marketing Association
MBA Concentration(s): Finance and Strategic Management
What do you think is the best-kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
The real MUG CLUB at Illini Inn
Pallavi Dwivedi
Hometown: Lucknow, India
Previous Employer: L&T Limited
Undergraduate University & Major: B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering, MMMEC Gorakhpur
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Diversity Association, Women in Business, Operations and Technology Management, Asha Foundation
MBA Concentration(s): General Management
If you could take any class in the world, what would you take?
Modern dance
Shao-Jong Yang
Hometown: Taiwan, R.O.C.
Previous Employer: KPMG Taiwan
Undergraduate University & Major: National Taiwan University, Accounting and Chinese Literature
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: Taiwanese Students Association, Women in Business
MBA Concentration(s): Finance
What do you think is the best-kept secret of Champaign-Urbana?
The beauty of the nature that surrounds the campus.
Matt Foreman
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Previous Employer: Aqua-Guard Management, Inc. & Holland America Cruise Line
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Illinois, Recreation, Sport, & Tourism
Illinois Clubs You Are Involved With: MBA Association, Rock Climbing, SCUBA, October Lover's Club (It's real, I promise)
MBA Concentration(s): Innovation Management
If you could take any class in the world, what would you take?
Golf. I am less than stellar, and the University offers the course.
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Rankings & Awards See more
Top 25 U.S. School
Illinois MBA ranked in the top 25 U.S. Business Schools by Financial Times. Read more »
Student Ambassadors See all X Close
Jared R. Lunt
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Jared R. Lunt was in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division. He completed his undergraduate degree at the U.S. Military Academy in Economics. Jared is concentrating in Marketing and Management. Read more »
Email: lunt2@illinois.edu
Email: lunt2@illinois.edu
Vancessa Fuller
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Vancessa Fuller worked with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia in Economics. Vanessa is concentrating in General Management as well as working toward a law degree. Read more »
Email: fuller10@illinois.edu
Email: fuller10@illinois.edu
Sarah Zigman
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Sarah Zigman worked with Grainger Industrial Supply. She completed her undergraduate degree at Carthage College with a concentration in Business Administration, Marketing and a minor in Spanish. Sarah is concentrating in General Management as well as working toward a Master of Human Resources. Read more »
Email: zigman2@illinois.edu
Email: zigman2@illinois.edu
Beth Grupp
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Beth Grupp was in the Coast Guard. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Coast Guard Academy in Civil Engineering. Beth is concentrating in General Management as well as working toward a Masters of Civil Engineering. Read more »
Email: grupp2@illinois.edu
Email: grupp2@illinois.edu
Frankie Yunfei Gao
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Frankie Yunfei Gao worked with Toyota. He completed his undergraduate degree at Yang'En University in China in international economics. Frankie is concentrating in Marketing and Strategic Manangement. Read more »
Email: ygao16@illinois.edu
Email: ygao16@illinois.edu
Obi Egekeze
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Obi Egekeze worked with Maryland's Uplifting Athletes. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland in finance and international business. Obi is concentrating in Finance and Strategic Manangement. Read more »
Email: egekeze2@illinois.edu
Email: egekeze2@illinois.edu
Padideh Moghaddam
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Padideh Moghaddam worked with Passenger Trains Co. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Iran University of Science and Technology in Industrial Engineering (transportation engineering). Padideh is concentrating in General Management and IT & Operations. Read more »
Email: moghadd2@illinois.edu
Email: moghadd2@illinois.edu
Jackson Gondaski
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Jackson Gondaski worked in his family's companies. As one of the owners, Jackson considers himself an entrepreneur. He completed his undergraduate degree at Ponta Grossa State University in Law and at Ponta Grossa Educational College in Business Administration. Jackson is concentrating in Corporate Finance and Strategic Management. Read more »
Email: gondask2@illinois.edu
Email: gondask2@illinois.edu
Esvith Palomino
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Esvith Palomino worked with Orica. He completed his undergraduate degree in Mining and Minerals Engineering. Esvith is concentrating in Finance and Strategic Management. Read more »
Email: palomin2@illinois.edu
Email: palomin2@illinois.edu
Pallavi Dwivedi
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Pallavi Dwivedi worked with L&T Limited. She completed her undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering. Pallavi is concentrating in General Management. Read more »
Email: pdwived2@illinois.edu
Email: pdwived2@illinois.edu
Shao-Jong Yang
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Shao-Jong Yang worked with KPMG Taiwan. She completed her undergraduate degree at the National Taiwan University in Accounting and Chinese Literature. Shao-Jong is concentrating in Finance. Read more »
Email: syang57@illinois.edu
Email: syang57@illinois.edu
Matt Foreman
Class of 2013
Prior to joining the MBA program, Matt Foreman worked with Aqua-Guard Management, Inc. and Holland America Cruise Line. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois in Recreation, Sport, & Tourism. Matt is concentrating in Innovation Management. Read more »
Email: maforema@illinois.edu
Email: maforema@illinois.edu
