Points of Pride
U.S. News and World Report 2025 rankings for Carson College programs include No. 24 Best Undergraduate International Business Programs and No. 77 Best Undergraduate Business Programs, up seven spots from last year.
The Carson College’s accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) was successfully extended another six years following a review process that concluded in July. The AACSB also recognized the college in its 2024 State of Accreditation Report for efforts to promote business research. The college’s research insights committee, comprised of faculty and marketing communications staff, was highlighted in the report’s “Impact and Engagement” section under best practices and innovations.
WSU’s Delta Epsilon chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international scholastic and professional organization for future financial information professionals, earned the Gold Chapter Award. Gold status recognizes a progression of achievements including the highest level of professional activities and production of a video for BAP’s annual meeting competition. The award comes with $2,500, a plaque, and a letter to the dean, department chair, and faculty advisor.
The Carson College of Business Expanding Diverse Group Experiences (EDGE) program held its annual National First-Gen Day Celebration in November. This event featured a panel of first-generation alums who shared their journey in higher education and in their careers, followed by a networking reception. Serving 25 new students each year, the EDGE program addresses the specific needs and barriers of students from low socio-economic, first-generation backgrounds as they transition to WSU and pursue an undergraduate business degree. Upon successful completion of their first year, EDGE students are awarded a $3,000 scholarship annually, renewable for up to three years for a total of $9,000. EDGE boasts an overall six-year graduation rate of 94 percent and overall retention rate of 97 percent for students participating from 2018 to 2024.
The School of Hospitality Business Management in the Carson College of Business recently ranked 4th in the US and 16th worldwide for hospitality and tourism management in the 2024 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects from Shanghai Ranking.
WSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship in the Carson College of Business recently ranked in the top 50 undergraduate schools on Princeton Review’s list and is 5th in the West for 2025.
Eight WSU Vancouver Beta Alpha Psi members participated in the BAP Accounting Case Competition at WSU Pullman in October with the following placings:
- 1st place: Arza Firdauzi
- 2nd place: Zoie Rodman
- 3rd place: Jair Calderon
- Honorable Mentions: Kiersten Brightbill, Lily Haddan, Iain Hanley
Carson College of Business students participating in the D.A. Davidson Systematic Investment Plan Competition earned the $2,000 Fred Dickson Memorial Award for the top-performing portfolio. The WSU portfolio generated the highest return of all competitors (+52.8 percent). WSU was also the top-performing school for the prior year, in which they generated a total return of +44.55 percent for their portfolio. Students are judged on investment performance and qualitative factors including how well the program sticks to stated investment processes and the overall level of student engagement. Finance Professor Mario Reyes teaches and advises the team along with input from coadvisor Rusty Schatz, senior vice president and financial advisor at D.A. Davison. WSU joined the Davidson SIP in 1993. Since its inception, the WSU program has earned a cumulative profit-sharing contribution of $102,371.
Tanner Bogardus (’13 Busi. Admin., Soc. Sci.) began a new position as enterprise account executive at Payscale, a compensation management company that focuses on sustainable and fair pay. He’s held various account executive positions at Payscale and IHeartMedia.
Evan Hoerlein (’24 Hosp. Busi. Mgmt.) recently joined Merrill Gardens senior-living community as a front desk receptionist in Kirkland. He is responsible for compiling daily reports for the community’s well-being and emergency response measures, monitoring residents, and managing reservations and appointments.
Madeleine Hotchkin (’20 Finance) started a new position as a senior financial analyst with JLL at Amazon GREF. JLL is a commercial real estate firm that provides services for Amazon GREF. Previously, she was a senior accountant at Pacific Asset Advisors, Inc., working as a lead analyst with teams to create Excel financial models for clients, among other duties.
Gabrielle Isaak (’24 Accounting, Mgmt. Info. Sys.) recently began a new position as a tax staff professional at Moss Adams in Spokane. She is working on earning her CPA.
Nathan Kelso (’95 Busi. Admin.) is the chief technology officer at Silver Creek Capital Management. Previously, Kelso was the chief information security officer of Research Affiliates and director of the platform and integration team at BlackRock Alternative Advisors.
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author Jamie Kern Lima (’00 Busi.) was recognized with the WSU Regents’ Distinguished Alumna Award in September during the Boeing Apple Cup football game. The award is the highest honor that WSU gives to alumni.
Tu Le (’24 Hosp. Busi. Mgmt.) joined Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in August as a finance manager in training at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
Alexa Makhani (’09 Finance) accepted a position as the senior director of prospect development for the WSU Foundation. She is responsible for leading the WSU Foundation departments of prospect research and management. Her work includes developing the proposal section of the customer relationship management system and reviewing operations for potential areas of growth. She has served the foundation in different roles for 10 years.
In June, Danny Navarro (’10 Mgmt. & Op.), Google for Startups brand marketing leader, joined President Biden’s senior advisors Tom Perez and Steven Benjamin, SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman, and several founders and investors to discuss the state of Latino venture at the White House.
TJ Pajimola, (’16 Entrep.) owner of Affordable Home Staging, was featured in Authority Magazine’s new series “Startup Savv. Young Entrepreneurs Share Secrets to Rapid Growth and Success.” The series highlights dynamic individuals who are not only creating new products and services but also building sustainable business models that thrive in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven environment.
Paddock Canned Cocktails, a company cofounded by Blake (Loos) Preston (’14 Wine Busi. Mgmt.) and her husband Cory, won best in class and double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, outscoring Absolut, Bacardi, Smirnoff, and other producers. The Prestons partnered with Nick Lee and Nick Robertson to form Paddock after the couple’s Pullman bar, Etsi Bravo, was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nicholas Sarpy (’07 Finance) is the chief financial officer for the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. Previously, he was the director of finance for Waco, Texas, and deputy finance director for Kansas City, Missouri.
Phil Witt (’16 PhD) earned tenure and was promoted to associate professor of operations and supply chain management at Utah Valley University.
Everett Management Professor Joseph Scott Gladstone delivered the keynote address at the Western Region WIOA/477 Technical Assistance and Training Event in early November. The theme for the event was “Indigenous: Values, Strength, and Knowledge.” The annual event focuses on providing guidance, resources, and training to help tribal programs in the western U.S. implement and manage workforce development initiatives related to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and the 477 Program, which allows Native American tribes to consolidate funding from multiple federal programs into a single, comprehensive plan.
Gladstone is also the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, which will be used to help strengthen the relationship between the Carson College and Native American tribes in Washington.
Management Professor Amrita Lahiri has been recognized with the Outstanding Reviewer Award from the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. SEJ is a top-tier journal for research in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial strategy, innovation, and related topics.
Nancy Swanger, director of the Granger Cobb Institute for Senior living, was a featured panelist discussing the significance of women in leadership at the Vision Centre: Leadership Development for Aging Services 2024 Symposium. The symposium brought together leaders in senior living and academia to discuss ways universities and providers can collaborate to change the landscape of senior living leadership.