December 2024 Newsletter from the USF Muma College of Business

Muma College of Business debuts holiday video

Happy holidays to our students, faculty, alumni, donors, and friends! Enjoy the festive season by watching (and sharing!) this year's Gen Z-inspired Muma College of Business holiday video.

The college celebrated its 10-year naming anniversary as the Muma College of Business with a flurry of green and gold confetti and the unveiling of a new art installation honoring Pam and Les Muma. Video.

USF awarded nearly 4,000 degrees during the 2024 fall commencement exercises. The graduates included nine business students earning a perfect 4.0 GPA and were recognized as King O'Neal Scholars.

Watch the video→

Cyber Florida at USF launched phaseZERO: Innovation Incubator, a seed fund initiative supporting Florida-based researchers and entrepreneurs working to boost cybersecurity innovations in Florida.

A $13.9 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will create a network of business accelerators and commercialization programs to grow the blue economy.

USF's online MBA program was among the biggest climbers in Poet&Quant's 2025 ranking of online MBA programs. USF improved six spots, landing at No. 17 in the nation.

Student spotlight: Abdul Muqeet Khawaja came to USF St. Petersburg not knowing a soul. He is leaving with two bachelor's degrees, a 4.0 GPA, a network of close friends and a job.

It's a family affair for USF EMBA alumna Sandi Wallace, her husband, and son. The Wallaces all work for Disney and are part of EPCOT's Candlelight Processional, a beloved holiday tradition.

Pete Petersen, a USF alumnus and entrepreneur, headlined the November Conversation with a Founder series event held on the Sarasota-Manatee campus and hosted by the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship.

The FinTech|X Accelerator program held a pitch night showcasing the cohort's 10 high-growth startups and their innovative fintech solutions. The program completed its third year and will continue in 2025.

USF's graduate program in entrepreneurial studies is among the top 10 in the nation, according to 2025 rankings by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur.

USF undergraduate business students can still apply for the Tampa Bay Chamber's Collegiate Leadership program. The new deadline is Dec. 20.

Student spotlight: Naiya Sawtelle, a Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management program student, played the volleyball season in honor of a fallen teammate.

Lessons in etiquette dining

USF business students in the Bulls Business Community took a Crash Course in Etiquette with Tia Young, a personal and professional image and etiquette coach. The event taught students lessons in business etiquette dining.

Essay winners announced

Congrats to the 2024 Business Ethics Essay winners: first prize, Quynh Nguyen; second prize, Cherish Alston; and third prize, Zainab Fatima. The runner-up winners were Huyen Nguyen and Mai Ngoc Han Nguyen.

SprainGo to launch globally

Caleb Williams, founder of SprainGo, developed a revolutionary ingredient sourced from Trinidad and Tobago that is transforming skincare and accelerating the treatment for acute sprains. With the help of consultants at the Florida SBDC at USF, Williams is preparing to introduce its products into the global market by 2025. Video.

Faculty Spotlights

Manish Agrawal, a professor in the School of Information Systems and Management, was quoted in a Business Observer story about a USF cybersecurity incubator program.

Greg Smersh, the Exide Professor of finance and real estate at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, received the 2024 Manuscript Prize from the American Real Estate Society.

Maria Caban-Garcia, an associate professor at the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy in St. Petersburg, received the Status of Latinos and the Latin Community Advisory Council Hispanic Heritage Faculty Award.

Denny Yin, an associate professor in the School of Information Systems and Management, was named Outstanding Associate Editor for 2023 by MIS Quarterly.

Carol Osborne, a senior instructor and director of the Zimmerman Advertising Program, was featured in an interview with Atlanta’s WABE 90.1 radio station about holiday shopping trends.

Marvin Karlins, a professor in the School of Information Systems and Management, was quoted in a WMNF story about the history of Black Friday.

View more faculty notes

Alumni Updates

Joshua Goldberg (‘13, BS, Finance, Accounting) has a new role as a senior applied scientist at Amazon.

Jacri Stubbs (‘12, BA, Marketing) started as a Miramar High School personal finance and money management teacher.

Sara Sanchez Borda (‘13, BA, International Business/Finance, ‘24, MBA) is the City of Temple Terrace's executive municipal systems and process administrator.

Tyler Rehm (‘14, BS, Management Information Systems and Business Economics) has a new role as a Java software engineer at Avalon Healthcare Solutions. He is a former USF Muma College of Business 25 Under 25 Award honoree.

Jonathan Gill (‘17, BS, Management of Information Systems, ‘18, MS, Business Analytics and Information Systems) started a new job as a senior infor developer at HyBridge Solutions, Inc.

Ashley Osterhoudt (‘23, BS, Business Management) started a new position as a marketing administrator at OneBlood.

Brittney Canning (‘21, BS, Global Business) was promoted to serve as an associate within Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs.

View more alumni notes

In Other News

USF's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management was accepted as an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The designation was announced at the UN Tourism's 122nd Executive Council November meeting in Colombia.

The membership places the school among a prestigious group of global tourism leaders, enabling USF to contribute directly to shaping the future of international tourism. USF joins other university members including George Washington University and Colorado State.

Upcoming Calendar

• Dec. 23-Jan 3. Winter break. USF closed.

• Jan. 13. Spring classes begin.

• Jan. 20. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. USF offices closed.

• Jan. 24. 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Scholarship Luncheon, Marshall Student Center Ballroom, Tampa campus.

• Feb. 13. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. State of the Region, Marshall Student Center Ballroom, Tampa campus. Tickets.

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