Getting to Know Fowler’s 2024 Top Students
On May 11, 2,258 students will earn their bachelor’s degrees from the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. This year marks the largest group of undergraduate degree conferrals in the college’s history.
Additionally, 280 students will earn masters’ degrees in fields ranging from accounting to cybersecurity management. They will walk the platform in the Graduate Studies commencement ceremony on May 12.
Of the 2,538 students graduating from the college this spring, only 12 were named as the top students in their degree program. We wanted to learn a little more about these special graduates and their post-graduation plans.
Hannah McGaughey
Most Influential Faculty Member: Pablo Machado
Q: What is the best movie you’ve seen recently?
A: Elemental. The ending always makes me cry.
Q: Name one thing on your bucket list.
A: I’d like to hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim.
A: I plan to study for the CPA exam and start work this August as an audit associate for Nigro & Nigro.
Austin Barber
(Chosen as 2024’s Top Overall Outstanding Graduate in the Fowler College of Business)Most Influential Faculty Member: Frank Ryan
Q: What was the best part of your SDSU experience?
A: The people. All of my most significant accomplishments and best memories are associated with a diverse group of friends, mentors, advisors and professors I’ve met along my way at SDSU.
Q: What is your dream vacation?
A: Japan. The country’s culture, nature, food and technology have all captivated my interest.
A: I will join The Horizons Group at Morgan Stanley as a registered client service associate.
Connor Van Kampen
Most Influential Faculty Member: Gabi Eissa
Q: Do you have a favorite podcast?
A: The MrBallen podcast that tells scary stories.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
A: Going hiking with my friends, Grana and Max.
A: I hope to find a job in the sports industry, specifically in the NHL.
Lauren Johnson
Most Influential Faculty Member: Zeki Pagda
Q: What was the best part of your SDSU experience?
A: Though I’ve lived in Southern California my whole life, the rural area I lived in was outside major cities and lacked diversity. Attending SDSU let me break out of that bubble and offered me the privilege of engaging with a much wider variety of perspectives than I’d previously encountered.
Q: What is your dream vacation destination?
A: Thailand. During my junior year, I researched Thailand and found that being friendly was deeply engrained in their culture.
Q. What are your career plans after graduation?
A. I’m currently reviewing some technical implementation roles, but that is subject to change.
Roberto Sanchez
Most Influential Faculty Member: Amy Randel
Q: What was the best part of your SDSU experience?
A: The lifelong connections I’ve established. Those connections have shaped my time at the university and will continue to impact me throughout my career.
Q: Do you have a favorite podcast?
A. The Jason and Travis Kelce podcast, “New Heights.”
Q: What are your career plans after graduation?
A: I plan to gain experience in the workforce before continuing my education by pursuing an MBA. Eventually, I’d like to work in a corporate partnership position for a professional sports organization.
Aaron Mah
Most Influential Faculty Member: Kelly Shaul
Q: What is the best movie you’ve seen recently?
A: Spirited Away
Q: What is the most important life skill you can have?
A: Patience is most important skill you can have.
Q: What are your career plans after graduation?
A: I am currently self-employed and am active in derivatives trading and other business ventures.
Evan Weiss
Most Influential Faculty Member: Eesha Sharma
Q: What is the last concert you’ve attended?
A: Danny Elfman’s show last summer at the North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista.
Q: Have you ever met a celebrity? If so, who and how?
A: A few years before his passing, I ran into Stan Lee inside a hotel before he was escorted to a press conference. I’ve also met Lil Yachty while shopping in Los Angeles and wrestler, Ric Flair, at an event in Anaheim.
Q: What are your career plans after graduation?
A: My immediate goal is to find a job that aligns with my values and interests, whether that be a creative field like fashion/design or one that focuses on environmental conservation/sustainability.
Savannah Nicole Atkin
Most Influential Faculty Member: Jim Vogt
Q: What prompted you to pursue a position as a CPA?
A. As I was growing up, I watched my dad work as a CPA and I saw the opportunities he received during his career. Plus, I thrive in a structured environment and enjoy the discipline the field offers.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A. Sushi
Q: What are your career plans after graduation?
A: I will be starting as a full-time audit associate at San Diego’s Deloitte office in the fall of 2024.
Nicholas Hodge
Most Influential Faculty Member: Kamal Haddad
Q: What was the best part of your SDSU experience?
A: Attending the Final Four in Houston to watch the Aztecs compete for the national championship.
Q: Have you ever met a celebrity? If so, who and how?
A: I met Jamie Foxx at the MLB All-Star Celebrity game when it was held in San Diego. My cousin, Damaris Lewis, was also there.
Q: What are your career plans after graduation?
A: I plan to earn my certifications and then work at a local firm to practice financial and tax planning. I also want to continue to grow my charitable organization, Hoop4Hope, by expanding its community outreach.
Chaitanya Patel
Most Influential Faculty Member: Shengjie Xu
Q: Do you have a favorite restaurant on or near campus?
A. Tajima, where they serve excellent Japanese dishes.
Q: Name one thing on your bucket list.
A: Visiting the Seven New Wonders of the World, including the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China.
Q: What are you career plans after graduation?
A: I plan to work in information security, where I can apply my knowledge to protect and enhance security infrastructures.
Minny Bains
Most Influential Faculty Member: Bruce Reinig
Hanen Fazai
Most Influential Faculty Member: Helio Yang
Q: What was the best part of your SDSU experience?
A: One highlight has been contributing to the James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence. It’s an environment that motivates and supports researchers by fostering collaboration and innovation.
Q: Name a significant human problem that could be possibly resolved using AI.
A. AI offers promising solutions to healthcare management by analyzing vast medical data and assisting in early disease diagnosis, treatment personalization, and drug discovery. However, it’s crucial to implement robust techniques to address ethical privacy concerns associated with handling sensitive healthcare data.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A. I graduated in December 2023 with an MBA specialization in information systems, and I am particularly drawn to opportunities in data analytics, project management, marketing and finance career paths within the tech/biotech/life sciences industries.
