Inaugural SOBA Newsletter
Fall 2021
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Dear Alumni and Friends,
It is with great delight that I share the first School of Business Administration (SOBA) newsletter with you. In December 2020, when the UofSC Aiken Provost announced the opening of the Interim Dean position, little did we know that this would be the beginning of an amazing labor of love. Indeed, nine months later, the business faculty, staff, and I proudly share this newsletter with you, highlighting some of our accomplishments and initiatives.
Stepping into the SOBA leadership role was thrilling, to say the least. I never paused and never had second thoughts about my decision to accept this task. As a longtime resident of the City of Aiken and a professor of economics and international business at the university, I was already living life by the values of our institution. After spending nine months as the Interim Dean of SOBA, I can assure you that the entire business faculty and staff do the same. Dedication and commitment to our school’s mission; professional lives lived by the noble values of educating and improving the lives of others -- this is how the SOBA Pacer team runs.
I am extremely pleased to share that our passion for providing first-rate business education and training did not fade even during the pandemic. Business faculty responded to the challenges of the pandemic by quickly transferring teaching modes, where necessary, and by eagerly returning to classrooms when conditions allowed. Plans for continuous improvement of our programs were uninterrupted, and engagements with the business and professional communities were retained. In February 2021, SOBA proudly hosted the Lt. Governor of South Carolina, Mrs. Pamela Evette, as the featured speaker during the third annual Aiken Business Leadership Symposium. Over a dozen distinguished symposium speakers supported SOBA’s efforts to continue this unique program for our students, community, and alumni.
During the past nine months, business faculty and staff celebrated the retirement of longtime friends and colleagues and welcomed three new faculty members to our team. This year alone, 167 students graduated from our business programs and joined the growing SOBA Pacer Alumni family. Scholarships and outstanding student awards were presented, and Beta Gamma Sigma inductions were held. Whether the faculty worked on a new initiative to establish the school’s first research center, or the members of the Pacer Accounting Club participated in the “Farm Day” at Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs in Aiken, SOBA was pressing forward. Our students’ Pacer resilience was evident in the classroom and through the SOBA Student Organization’s works that highlighted volunteerism of the Enactus and the Student Advisory Board. Here at SOBA, we did not miss a beat on our mission of excellence. SOBA students, faculty, and staff kept proudly marching forward.
I would like to remind us of SOBA’s motto – Educating through Engagement. In the SOBA, these are not just words or a slogan but rather a promise to add value to student lives. We do so by providing first-rate business education and offering the traditional face-to-face undergraduate business program, online undergraduate completion Palmetto College business program, and an online MBA program. SOBA also supports the business degree seekers at the UofSC Sumter.
As a result of the diligent work of our faculty and staff, more and more students are choosing the UofSC Aiken School of Business Administration as their educational pathway. Of course, they are; why wouldn’t they? Over the past 20+ years, SOBA proudly holds the AACSB accreditation, the hallmark of excellence in business education. The AACSB accreditation puts SOBA in an elite group of business schools that go through rigorous processes of upholding the values and commitment to advances in business education. In SOBA, we maintain focus on our students, their education, academic progress, and prosperity.
The best part of our story is that YOU – our alumni and friends are continuing to recognize our hard work and that you support our mission and values. It is not that easy to be a great business school, but it is very doable when you have partners and allies who cheer you on your way to success. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, I want to thank you for your loyalty and commitment to SOBA. Please continue your care for our business students, programs, and initiatives. Together with you, we are one team – the SOBA Pacers – the team of business excellence. Please help us provide Education through Engagement to the next generations of our business, civic, and political leaders. Help us add value to the lives of the future leaders of our state, nation, and world. Help us stay a Pacer strong business school.
Regardless of the interim role of my current position, together with the SOBA faculty and the UofSC Aiken leadership, I am working on new initiatives and programs for our community and the university. You will have to wait for the next newsletter to learn more about those. In the meantime, please join us for the upcoming celebrations of the UofSC Aiken’s 60th birthday. Together with SOBA, our university has grown and advanced tremendously over the past six decades. Make sure to tell everyone how proud you are to be a part of this outstanding Pacer team.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Sanela Porca
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SOBA Fall 2021 Enrollment |
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During the Fall 2021 semester, the School of Business Administration (SOBA) enrolled 968 students in our graduate and undergraduate courses. We are extremely proud of our enrollment numbers this semester. Many SOBA faculty are teaching extra courses in order to support the increase in demand for our programs. Most of our enrollment growth comes from our two online programs (Palmetto College and MBA program). |
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In January 2018, SOBA admitted its inaugural group of 57 students. Three years later, our MBA program has grown to over 1,000 students. Most students are located within 90-120 miles of the campus and along the East coast; however, we have students enrolled from as far away as California and Texas. On average, students complete their entire program of study within one year. For Fall 2021, we will graduate our largest class, with about 100 students. |
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With the Fall 2021 semester underway, SOBA would like to provide some brief updates on the continued growth of our online Business programs with Palmetto College at UofSC Aiken. Asynchronous online courses provide students with the opportunity to complete their degrees on their time, which we as an institution both recognize and value. As our online program continues to grow, now with 260+ Business students and over an 84% retention rate, we continue to explore new, innovative, and exciting ways to engage our online students. We have also seen an increased interest in our online business programs from last Fall, with acceptances rising by 17% and retention of new admits increasing by 9.1%. As we continue to increase our online enrollment and graduate more online students across the state (and country), we thank you for your continued support of the SOBA Palmetto College Program. |
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The School of Business Administration is pleased to announce the promotion of three of our faculty members. When you see Instructor John Engel, Dr. Ravi Narayanaswamy, and Dr. Frank Xie, please congratulate them on their achievements.
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Mr. John Engel has been promoted to Senior Instructor of Management at the School of Business Administration. He has been with SOBA for seven years and has over 20 years of university level experience. Instructor Engel is a three time recipient of the William H Marsh Teaching Excellence award. He is currently directing the SOBA Professional Pathway Development Program.
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Dr. Ravi Narayanaswamy has been promoted to Full Professor of Management at the School of Business Administration. Dr. Narayanaswamy is the Endowed Chair of Walter F. O’ Connell Palmetto Professorship in Business and Technology. He holds professional certifications in cybersecurity, data analytics, and online teaching effectiveness. Dr. Narayanaswamy's research interests are in e-commerce, social media, and data analytics. |
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Dr. Frank Tian Xie has been promoted to Full Professor of Marketing at the School of Business Administration. Dr. Xie is currently serving a third, three-year term as the holder of the John M. Olin Palmetto Endowed Chair Professorship. Before joining the UofSC Aiken SOBA, Dr. Xie was a professor of marketing at Drexel University. |
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Dr. Paul Goodchild
Dr. Paul R. Goodchild joins us as an Assistant Professor of Accounting. Dr. Goodchild earned his Ph.D. in Accounting and his Master's in Accounting and Taxation from the University of Connecticut. He is a CPA. His teaching experience includes various financial and managerial accounting courses at the Universities of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Central Missouri, Western New England, and Quinnipiac. His professional experience includes positions in auditing at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and financial reporting at United Technologies Corporation. He maintains an active CPA license in Massachusetts. He is a member of the Missouri Society of CPAs legislative committee and diversity advisory group and is a Planning Committee member for the Annual Accounting Educators Conference at UMKC.
Dr. Goodchild is the Faculty Campus Liaison for the Institute of Managerial Accountants (IMA) and the Faculty Advocate for the National Association of Black Accountants. He co-founded and was a Faculty Advisor to the UCM School of Accountancy Young Accounting Alumni Advisory Board. Dr. Goodchild's research interests include managerial and investor decision-making, media format and accounting disclosure, financial reporting, ethics, and improving diversity in accounting. He was a 2018 co-author of the IMA's Carl Menconi Best Ethics Case Writing Competition.
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Mr. Brent Hoover is an interim instructor for UofSC Aiken School of Business Administration, a business consultant for the Aiken Area SC Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and a semi-retired filmmaker and composer. Mr. Hoover founded and currently serves as the Sam Walton Fellow for the nationally nominated Enactus UofSC Aiken team. His curriculum is focused on entrepreneurship and small business management, along with economics, leadership, Excel training, and strategic management electives. He serves on the SOBA Advisory Council. Instructor Hoover is a 2011 graduate of UofSC Aiken (Beta Gamma Sigma) and a 2013 MBA graduate of UNC Greensboro Bryan School of Business. His extracurricular resume includes guest lecturing at the College of Charleston, volunteering as former Event Lead for Relay of Life Aiken County, and serving as a panelist at the 2016 Southern City Film Festival alongside international film critic Jeffrey Lyons.
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Dr. Terry Whittington
Dr. Whittington serves as an Assistant Professor for Management and comes to us from the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Dr. Whittington earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of South Alabama. Dr. Whittington has worked as a Program Manager for leading I.T./Telecom companies such as AT&T, Scientific Atlanta/CISCO, Ericson, and General Dynamics SATCOM, as well as having provided on-site contract support for NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, and the U.S. Army Research and Development Activity at Ft. Benning, GA. Dr. Whittington is a retired U.S. Army Officer, having served in different locations in the United States and in the Republic of Panama. Dr. Whittington’s research involves strategic planning for U.S. Army space assets and collective leadership under extreme operational conditions.
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SOBA Student Achievements |
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Scholar Showcase Program
Brittany Temples presented her research at the last UofSC Aiken Scholar Showcase Program in April 2021. Brittany was mentored throughout the Spring 2021 semester regarding her project by Instructor Brent Hoover. Brittany's research revolved around a post-COVID business loan proposal for a small-town gym. She had initially prepared a pre-COVID plan for this nature; this new research showed the necessary adjustments and still allowed for feasibility of obtaining a small business loan in this scenario.
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Fall 2021 Scholarships
For the Fall 2021 semester, a total of 39 SOBA students received scholarships for a total amount of $17,450. Brandon Lee Rivera, a senior in the accounting concentration, pictured on the right, was a recipient of the SCAPA scholarship.
As part of an effort to help bring talented candidates into the CPA profession, each year, SCACPA awards dozens of scholarships totaling tens of thousands of dollars to students attending South Carolina colleges or universities. Scholarships generally range from $500 to $2,500 and are awarded to juniors or seniors majoring in accounting or those pursuing a master’s degree. Brandon L. Rivera is a SOBA accounting student who was a recipient of the scholarship. Congratulations to Brandon and all scholarship recipients.
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"This scholarship has helped me in numerous ways, one being the relief of some financial burden. The biggest though is just the pride I feel inside for being recognized for all the hard work I have put into my academic journey."
Brandon L. Rivera
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Spring 2021 SOBA Outstanding Student Awards |
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The School of Business Administration would like to congratulate our students who received the Outstanding Student Awards for the 2020-2021 academic year. This award is given to students who have excelled academically, and a recipient from each discipline is selected by our faculty members. We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of all our students and would like to give special recognition to the students listed below. |
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School of Business Student Organizations |
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The School of Business Advisory Board has been very busy. We are in the process of:
- Updating the information on the website
- Looking at ways to help the community, which includes the Johnston Center for the Arts
- We held a SAB sign up table to get new members
- We are in the process of helping with the 2022 Business Symposium
- Members have created a new mission statement and core values
Mission
The School of Business Administration Student Advisory Board (SAB) cultivates a cohesive experience for both faculty and students, empowering student engagement in the planning and implementation of programs and initiatives within the school of business, on campus, and in the community.
Values
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Communication
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Business knowledge
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Ethics and social responsibility
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Networking
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Diverse and Inclusive
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The Pacer Accounting Club (PAC) is an organization for UofSC Aiken students with concentrations in accounting and finance. Our objectives are:
- Promote the study and practice of accounting and finance
- Provide members with opportunities for professional development
- Present valuable information to help students launch their careers
- Give back to our community through service projects
Our Fall 2021 activities:
Sept. 2, 2021 - Corey Feraldi, Director of Career Services, hosted a resume workshop for our students. This was offered in person, and there was also an option to join virtually via Zoom. Mr. Feraldi shared templates and advice on crafting a resume. He also shared interview and job search tips.
Sept. 16, 2021 – Local and regional accounting firms gathered together to meet and greet with our accounting students. Since most accounting firms recruit during the fall semester, this is an opportunity for students to network with firms and secure interviews for internships and full-time positions. Firms in attendance this year included Cherry Bekaert, Elliott Davis, Josue Garcia, CPA, and SME CPA.
Sept. 25, 2021 – PAC participated in “Farm Day” at Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs in Aiken. Great Oak provides equine-assisted activities that promote the physical, emotional, and psychological health of individuals with special needs. We got our hands dirty and performed maintenance tasks at the farm in anticipation of a large event Great Oak has coming up.
Sept. 30, 2021 – Jared Jones, Director of MAcc at USC, will share information about the Masters in Accountancy program, including how this program prepares students for the CPA exam.
Sept-Oct: PAC is performing an audit for Sigma Theta Tau, the honors nursing sorority.
Oct. 21, 2021 – McGregor & Co. will send a few representatives to discuss with our students what a career in public accounting looks like and also to share current career opportunities that students may apply for at their growing firm.
November meeting (exact logistics TBD) – We’ll be hosting a young alumni panel where recent accounting graduates discuss what career path they’ve chosen. They will be open to answering questions from our current students.
November – We will identify and begin training students who would like to volunteer with Aiken VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. VITA will kick off in February.
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PAC during the Meet the Firms event |
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PAC participates in Farm Day |
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Enactus SOBA at UofSC Aiken is proud to assist Cyndi's Sweet Shoppe with the first project of the 2021 academic year. The students will provide testable solutions regarding key areas such as inventory management, employee retention, packaging, and profit analysis. Coordination on the project will also include SOBA's Pacer Accounting Club. The project is led by Enactus student President Julie Reibsome. Other key members include Vice President Kari Mercer, Cat Bodick, Blessing Oladipo, Chrysta Stevenson, Emily Lammers, Kayla Liley, and Dominique Parker.
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Beta Gamma Sigma is an academic honor society for top business school students. Since Beta Gamma Sigma started in 2003, 241 SOBA students have been invited to join, and 121 students were inducted. We recently had a total of 17 inductees in the Spring 2021. We would like to recognize our recent inductees below and congratulate them on their accomplishments. |
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The School of Business Administration has been AACSB accredited since 2000. AACSB accreditation signals to the world that a business school has met the most rigorous standards in business education. Since our initial accreditation, the SOBA faculty has engaged in many continuous improvement and review activities, and we are proud to be among the 5% of schools worldwide to achieve this distinction. For further information about AACSB accreditation, please visit www.aacsb.edu. |
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If you haven't heard yet... |
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A 2003 School of Business Administration graduate, Dr. Fahnie Stewart Shaw, has accepted a new position as the Chief Operating Officer at Urban League in Charlotte, North Carolina. The School of Business Administration faculty and staff would like to take the opportunity to congratulate her on her achievement. |
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Ms. Deonna Brown has been promoted to Assistant Director of Residential Services/Education Advocate at Helping Hands, Inc. Before accepting a role at this non-profit organization over three years ago. She served as the Director Of Foodservice at Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School in West Columbia, SC. During her time here, working with the youth occasionally, doing culinary classes and educational field trips, she realized this was her passion, which led her to Helping Hands, Inc.
Deonna is a published author, licensed minister, and entrepreneur.
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A 2011 SOBA graduate, Joshua Cline, has received the Meybohm top sales agent award. Joshua brings his passion for helping people to real estate, and he enjoys pursuing financial gains for his clients. Joshua makes a difference with his clients through his expert guidance and assistance. SOBA would like to congratulate Joshua on receiving this award. |
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Samantha Baker '16
Originally from Maryland and recently moved back to Aiken. Samantha works for R&A Insurance, Inc. and started her own side business called Sam's Saddles, where she consigns saddles for equestrians all across the country.
Sam says, "I will always look back on my time at UofSC Aiken very fondly! I befriended people from all over the world, many of those within the equestrian community. The School of Business truly linked my entrepreneurial spirit with the skills and knowledge that I needed to be successful in life." Congratulations on your business, Sam! Welcome back to Aiken!
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Sophie Miller, a professional event rider located in Aiken, just won USEA Preliminary Champion at the American Eventing Championships held in Lexington, KY. Sophie was a member of the UofSC Aiken eventing team.
Sophie says, "It is just so awesome to be here amongst all of the top horses and riders in this sport," she enthused. "It was really wonderful to be able to jump in the stadium and just be part of such an electric environment."
The victory was extra special because this was Sophie's first time a part of the AEC. SOBA would like to congratulate Sophie on this accomplishment.
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Brooke Thomas ’20
Brooke Thomas, the owner of the Ginger Bee Boutique, won the Aiken Choice award for Best Women’s Boutique and Shoe Store. This was Thomas’ first year being open.
Brooke says, “I’m so thankful. I never thought in a million years this would happen my first year opening.” “I’m so ecstatic, and I’m so thankful for my loyal customers here in Aiken and the CSRA.”
The School of Business Administration is very proud of Brooke’s achievement and would like to congratulate her on receiving this award.
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Three SOBA Alumni were named Aiken Standard's Young Professionals to Follow |
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Chad and Chrissa Matthews Open New Luxury Apartments
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New luxury apartments near downtown Aiken offer long-,...
Chad and Chrissa Matthews held a grand opening Thursday for their luxury apartments called Fairfield and Park. The project has been in the works since the end of 2018. The couple transformed the old Teamsters Union building at 227 Park Ave. S.E....
Read more
www.postandcourier.com
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Dr. Patsy Lewellyn retired from UofSC Aiken after 21 years of service in the School of Business Administration |
Dr. Patsy Lewellyn was central to SOBA’s advances to today’s premier standing. She was the enthusiast behind the School’s construction and design, the key player earning us early AACSB accreditation, the first to move us toward Corporate Social Responsibility academic initiatives, a leader moving our international presence forward, and warmly appreciated by students for her caring and inspired learning environment.
Her work in Corporate Social Responsibility is internationally known, as contributing founder of the preeminent International Association for Business & Society and its prestigious journal, serving as chair of various committees and president. Patsy Lewellyn brought strategic perspectives to the IESEG School of Management, France, programs on sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. She is highly regarded by the students and faculty. Patsy Lewellyn helped guide and mentor Junior faculty in a positive direction that eventually led to the success of many. Patsy’s classroom demeanor and effectiveness were apparent in her student’s subsequent success in the Accounting profession.
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2021-2022 Executive-In-Residence |
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Mr. Daniel Zaloudek is a business investor, consultant, and political advisor from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned a Masters's degree in Business Administration from Louisiana State University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University(OSU). Dan founded and manages IMEDIA, Inc., an international multimedia photography content company, and has provided mediation services for small and large firms in the Tulsa area. Dan also owns a farming and ranching business near Enid, Oklahoma.
Dan has been a keynote speaker and guest lecturer on business and political principles and is a co-author of Bridging the Gaps, a field guide to networking. He is a member of the Executive Committee for the Oklahoma Alliance and was a member of the team that created and designed the Knowledge Management Center that is now in use by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Dan is a recipient of the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award and has been selected for the 2007 class of Leadership Oklahoma. Dan is also active in OSU as Chairman of the Engineering School Associates Executive Committee, a member of the Business School Associates Executive Committee, and was the Chairmen of the OSU College of Medicine Board of Advisors. Dan is on the board of the OSU Alumni Association and has served on the OSU Tulsa Arts Advisory Board.
The School of Business Administration is delighted to have Dan Zaloudek as our most recent Executive in Residence. His encouraging involvement with our faculty, staff, and student organizations has been inspirational. Please help us welcome Dan as our 2021-2022 Executive in Residence.
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Friday, October 29, 2021
The School of Business Administration will host its first SOBA Alumni Women in Business panel from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM. Please email Mrs. Gina Buckley (ginab@usca.edu) to register for this event.
Friday, December 10, 2021
The School of Business Administration Alumni Holiday Party will be in the Alley in Downtown Aiken from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Please join us to celebrate the School of Business alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Alumni and their families are invited to join us and celebrate their Alma Mater.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
The School of Business Administration will host the Fourth Annual Aiken Business Leadership Symposium (ABLS). The theme of this year's symposium will be Cybersecurity and US. Among others, we were honored to host Lt. Governor of South Carolina, Mrs. Pamela Evette, and Lt. General Robert L. Caslen, Jr. as our distinguished and keynote speakers, respectively. If you would like to take a peek at our last year's symposium, please visit https://www.usca.edu/soba/soba-opportunities/business-leadership-symposium.
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Don't forget to keep us posted on your life updates! We're always looking to feature alumni accomplishments in future newsletters and on our Facebook page. Please share your news or updated information by sending us an email to the following address: sobaalumi@usca.edu. |
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Alumni and friends of the School of Business Administration can make a difference in our community and the world. Your support of SOBA programs could change somebody's life. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 167 individuals proudly received their business degrees from UofSC Aiken. Please consider making a donation that can help support our academic department in providing engaging opportunities for our students. If you would like to support SOBA, please click on the Donate Now button and select the School of Business Administration at the bottom of the page. Please designate the School of Business Administration and indicate how you would like us to use the funds. |
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UofSC Aiken School of Business Administration
803-641-3340
sobaalumni@usca.edu
https://www.usca.edu/soba
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