Costello College of Business News

Costello Scholarship Luncheon showcases growth in named scholarship funding

Katelynn C Hipolito — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:39:51 +0000

Costello Scholarship Luncheon showcases growth in named scholarship funding Katelynn C Hipolito Wed, 12/17/2025 - 15:39

The Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ recently announced a significant increase in scholarship money awarded to students—$1.3 million for the 2024-25 academic year—$500,000 of which went to named scholarships. Over the past five years, both the total amount of scholarship funding and the number of students who have received Costello scholarships have more than doubled.

Costello scholarship recipients. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

As outlined by Ajay Vinzé, interim provost and executive vice president of �鶹��Ƶ, priority number one at Costello is student readiness and career preparedness. “Scholarships play a huge role in the success of our students,” he said.

Costello celebrated donors and scholarship recipients on November 18 at the annual Costello Scholarship Luncheon. The luncheon featured an inspiring lineup of speakers whose lives and careers have been shaped by scholarship support. Mitchell Cho, founder and CEO of FedWriters, Inc. (FWI), and a proud George �鶹��Ƶ alum, shared his journey. As a student, he said, he was not the overachiever some might assume. What he did have was persistence and grit. Today, as a member of the Corporate and Community Partners Program, Cho views scholarships as an investment in the future. “Supporting scholarship is not just about philanthropy for us,” he said. “It’s about investing in the future.”

Longtime donor Jim Beers, retired managing partner of Beers & Cutler, encouraged students to keep pushing forward toward their dreams. “It’s so important what you’re doing now—and it will be even more important after you graduate,” he said.

Sandra Flores, BS Business Analytics ‘23, MS Business Analytics ‘25, Historian of the Costello Alumni Chapter, speaking at the Costello Scholarship Luncheon. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

Current students also shared their heartfelt reflections.

“Something I really appreciate about Costello is how it helps us grow,” said Iman Choudry, recipient of the Robert Amy Scholarship.

Historian of the Costello Alumni Chapter Sandra Flores, BS Business Analytics ‘23, MS Business Analytics ‘25, credited her donor’s generosity for making her dreams possible. “I made a promise that I would give back when I can,” she said.

“I made a promise that I would give back when I can,” she said.

— Sandra Flores, BS Business Analytics ‘23, MS Business Analytics ‘25, Historian of the Costello Alumni Chapter

While the speeches inspired and provided valuable insights, the luncheon’s greatest asset was bringing students and their donors together to express gratitude, network, and to ask questions. Many of the donors once stood in the shoes of the recipients, facing similar challenges.

Costello scholarship donors and Costello Alumni Chapter members. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

The Costello Scholarship Luncheon is a proud tradition, celebrating both student achievement and the generosity of donors. With the named scholarship funding continuing to rise, the Costello College of Business is sending a clear message that their business is student success.

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Ajay Vinzé, PhD

Sandra Flores, '23

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�鶹��Ƶ Now: Power the Possible

This MBA student is already putting her degree to work

Sarah Holland — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 15:30:18 +0000

This MBA student is already putting her degree to work Sarah Holland Fri, 12/12/2025 - 10:30

Working full-time while getting a graduate degree is no easy feat. But for Air Force veteran and soon-to-be �鶹��Ƶ alum Kathleen Gillmore, hard work is second nature.

Gillmore is graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ in fall 2025 with a master of business administration and a graduate certificate in business analytics from the Costello College of Business. She started her degree at the same time she started as a data analyst at Accenture Federal Services.

What made you choose George �鶹��Ƶ?

I first heard about George �鶹��Ƶ from my husband, who grew up in Reston and knew the school well. When we moved to Virginia after leaving the Air Force, he recommended George �鶹��Ƶ so we could stay close to family and have a solid support system.

Once I researched the university myself, I was really drawn to its strong ties with major tech and business companies in Northern Virginia, as well as its connection to federal agencies. I chose George �鶹��Ƶ because it offers a great pathway into both the local industry and government sectors.

How have your professors impacted your time at George �鶹��Ƶ?

My business analytics professors have made a huge impact on me. They really fueled my love for working with data, and I enjoyed getting hands-on experience with the different analytics software we used in class. Being able to apply what I was learning with real tools made the material come alive and helped me grow both technically and professionally.

How have your classes helped prepare you for your work as a data analyst?

My classes have directly supported my work at Accenture Federal Services. The business-focused courses helped me understand how organizations operate from a strategic and operational perspective, which improved my ability to interpret the “why” behind the data. The business analytics classes taught me to approach data from multiple angles and to think more critically about patterns, insights, and decision-making. These skills have translated seamlessly into my current role.

How do you hope this degree will advance your career?

This degree has expanded my knowledge in both business and analytics, and I’m already applying what I’ve learned in my current role. Looking ahead, I see the MBA as a versatile credential that will help me continue advancing in roles that involve analytical problem-solving and strategic decision-making. It opens doors across many areas of business and gives me the flexibility to pursue opportunities in different industries as my career grows.

What is one piece of advice you would give to an incoming student?

Use everything George �鶹��Ƶ offers: office hours, workshops, software access, and especially the networking events and career fairs. Those resources not only help you stay on track academically, but they also open the door to meaningful professional connections and opportunities.

What's next for you?

Academically, after completing this degree, I will be returning to George �鶹��Ƶ next year to pursue a second master’s degree in data analytics engineering. Professionally, I look forward to applying everything I’ve learned in the MBA to continue growing as a data analyst and to open up new career opportunities. I’m excited to build on the momentum from this program and position myself for roles that allow me to contribute more strategically and analytically within my field.

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Patriot Profile: Jaylin Lott

Colleen Rich — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 19:31:43 +0000

Patriot Profile: Jaylin Lott Colleen Rich Mon, 12/01/2025 - 14:31

Jaylin Lott

Year: Sophomore

Major: Business with a minor in sport management

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

The athlete and competitor in her fuel George �鶹��Ƶ’s Jaylin Lott’s love for volleyball, but it’s the inner serenity that singing brings her that she treasures away from the court.

Photo by George �鶹��Ƶ Athletics

An Almost Idol: Lott experiences the best of both worlds as a 5-foot-5 defensive specialist for the Patriots women’s volleyball team who also moonlights as a singer—one talented enough to have performed the national anthem at numerous NBA games and in George �鶹��Ƶ’s EagleBank Arena. Her powerful voice even carried her to the third round of last year’s American Idol tryouts, where she was one of just 15 singers selected from a pool of roughly 300 during an in-person audition in Salt Lake City, Utah.

It’s a Family Affair: Strong vocals run in the family. Lott’s grandmother, Ava, who passed away in 2020, sang in the church choir and remains her inspiration. Lott began singing around age 13 while competing and lettering in both volleyball and track at Clark High School in Texas. Her father, Jason, a former Division I track and field athlete at Texas State University, noticed early on that his daughter was gifted in music as well. “[Sports and singing are] both ways to escape the stress that naturally comes with life,” Lott said. “They’ve each been therapeutic in different ways and at different times. I have a deep love for both.”

At the End of the Day: Lott says it's not uncommon to find her singing along to her karaoke machine to unwind after a long day of classes and practice. Her musical inspirations include Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, and other old-school artists she credits for shaping her style and confidence. “As I’ve gotten older, I look forward to coming home and singing karaoke,” she said. “It’s kind of been my peace, especially after moving so far away from home.”

Taking the Stage: She was just a sophomore in high school when she first sang the national anthem before a San Antonio Spurs game, a moment that felt larger than life. “It was pretty big,” Lott recalled, “I was nervous at first, but it was pretty cool.” She returned to perform at Spurs games many times since, and has even sung for a larger crowd before a Dallas Mavericks game at the American Airlines Center.

Photo provided

Passion on the Court: Lott continues to make an impact on the Patriots team that enjoyed its most successful non-conference season since 2009, surpassing last year’s 11-win total and earning a spot in the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament that was held in Richmond, Virginia, in November.

“She has such a gift for passing and defense in middle-back,” said George �鶹��Ƶ women’s volleyball Head Coach Megan Shifflett Bachmann, “and she’s one of the most naturally talented individuals I’ve had the pleasure to coach in that position.”

Bachmann first learned of Lott’s musical talent during recruiting and was immediately impressed. “We’re always hoping to hear even more from her, without putting too much pressure around it,” Shifflett Bachmann said, “It’s a joy every time I overhear her singing to herself in the hallway or along with the music at practice.”

Singing Her Own Song: Singing is more than a hobby for Lott, it’s a passion she hopes to turn into a career. Lott continues to reach out to NBA teams in the region and in her hometown about national anthem gigs while also eyeing possible future auditions on The Voice. Lott also wrote songs for fun throughout middle and high school, and she has long imagined taking the next step—writing music professionally and eventually recording her own music in a studio. Finding time between school and volleyball has been tough, but she’s determined. “I want to put in the work it takes to have people one day hear my music,” she said. “It’s a peaceful thing for me to do, and it carries my grandmother’s legacy, too.”

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Tech Expert, George �鶹��Ƶ alumna, and Costello Dean’s Advisory Council Member Kinsey Fabrizio talks about the AI Revolution and its positive disruption

Katelynn C Hipolito — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 17:23:17 +0000

Tech Expert, George �鶹��Ƶ alumna, and Costello Dean’s Advisory Council Member Kinsey Fabrizio talks about the AI Revolution and its positive disruption Katelynn C Hipolito Fri, 11/21/2025 - 12:23

As president of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, which represents more than 1,200 technology companies and owns and produces CES®—the most powerful tech event in the world, Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04, is a force in the tech world.

Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

Since joining the association in 2008, Fabrizio has played a pivotal role in transforming CTA and CES. Fabrizio was awarded the Women in CT Legacy Award in 2023, recognizing her longtime leadership and contributions to the consumer technology industry. Most recently, Fabrizio was named one of Washingtonian’s 2025 Most Powerful Woman. She served on the Costello College of Business Management Advisory Council from 2023-2025, and is serving as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.

�鶹��Ƶ George �鶹��Ƶ

What made you choose �鶹��Ƶ for your degree?

I grew up in Winchester, Virginia, and what I loved most about George �鶹��Ƶ was its capacity to really challenge me and expose me to diverse people, opinions, thoughts, and different ideas.

What was the most rewarding experience for you at George �鶹��Ƶ?

I remember a class my senior year that centered on conflict resolution and international politics, and I loved it! That class connected me to an internship that led to my first job. I got trained in conflict resolution and as a mediator, and it was just this amazing door that opened. That was definitely a moment that I'll never forget, and I think about that class often.

You have served on Costello’s Management Advisory Council in the past, and have recently joined our Dean’s Advisory Council. What do you think is special about Costello?

Costello is special because of its unique focus on the intersection of innovation and business. It’s tech-forward, dynamic, and truly one-of-a-kind. The more I’ve learned about Costello, the more impressed I’ve become. I’ve been able to learn from the really brilliant people that are part of this group and get exposed to a different part of the university while being able to give back and volunteer my time.

Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

�鶹��Ƶ AI

Where do you see AI going?

AI is a foundational leap. It's as big a new technology and tool as the Internet. We're just at the very beginning of this AI revolution, but we're already seeing it improve lives. We're seeing it solve some of society's toughest challenges, from energy production to climate resilience to chronic disease management to efficiency for enterprises and businesses. AI is an amazing and powerful tool. Businesses are going to be able to optimize their strategy and their operations through AI by boosting efficiency and productivity. I don't think AI is going to completely replace a workforce, I think it's going to add value to the existing workforce. People using AI will make the workforce more efficient and more effective. You've probably heard it before, the saying that AI won't replace people, but people who use AI will replace people who don't. I think that's really important to keep in mind as we move forward. AI is something that we are going to integrate into our daily lives, helping us turn all kinds of data into action.

CTA supports establishing clear, effective guardrails for AI to encourage innovation while protecting consumers. What are your thoughts on the best approach to AI regulation moving forward?

We feel strongly about a light touch, risk-based approach to regulation that protects consumers, but also gives businesses clear rules of the road and doesn’t hinder innovation. One of the ways we think you achieve that is with a federal AI framework, rather than 50 different states with different sets of AI regulations. That is nearly impossible for companies, especially startups, to keep up with, and it would inhibit innovation. The AI Action Plan released by the White House this summer is a good blueprint. It looks at AI innovation in terms of acceleration and ensuring that the U.S. stays a leader. It focuses on streamlining outdated regulations and strengthening public/private partnerships, which is going to be great for AI advancement. It also rightly focuses on infrastructure and the need to modernize the energy grid.

Do you have any advice for higher ed when it comes to AI and technology?

AI is here to stay and it’s important to train students on how to effectively, efficiently, and ethically leverage AI because it is a powerful tool. AI could really accelerate research. It's important that higher ed leans into AI adoption and creates opportunities for students to learn and use these tools. Building AI into the curriculum is really important. So is training students on real world uses of AI , because when students graduate today and go into the workforce, AI is going to be a part of it. Preparing them in the best way possible is a responsibility of higher education.

The Costello College of Business is on the eve of its 50th Anniversary. Technology has grown immensely in the last 50 years. In what ways do you see AI and new technology having an impact on business for the next half century?

We’re just at the beginning of this AI revolution. As AI disrupts entire industries, businesses are trying to figure out how to embrace these new tools to advance and accelerate. A couple areas where we’ll see the biggest leaps forward are blockchain and quantum. AI is going to make blockchain technology more efficiently scalable. Think about financial transactions that can be more traceable and transparent, and health care data transactions that’ll be more secure. We’re years away from quantum technology being an everyday reality, but AI will offer testing platforms to develop quantum technologies in areas like cybersecurity, transportation, and biotech, and make it more scalable.

You work with some of the top leaders in technology, what are you hearing about the latest trends in AI and technology?

Across the business world, you’re seeing companies use AI to boost productivity. We’re also seeing AI used to enhance the customer experience, including as a frontline customer service tool. AI in health care is advancing lifesaving innovations and medical research. There’s also digital twin technology applied to manufacturing to create smart factories and even create models of entire cities. AI is really quick at solving complex problems that humans alone can't solve. AI chips are more advanced than ever, and agentic AI that can manage tasks semi autonomously with a little bit of human oversight expedites basic but necessary back office functions that every business needs. We'll see a lot of these—and some new and exciting applications of AI technology—at CES 2026!

Kinsey Fabrizio, BA Government and International Politics; Spanish ’04. Photo by Hannah Patterson/Costello College of Business.

Our dean likes to say, “Everything is business and that we are all in the business of some thing.” Please tell us about the business of technology and how you think the business college needs to be preparing our students for successful careers in the business of technology.

I think the business of technology is the most exciting business! I love tech and innovation. Think about the benefits of the Internet—everything from streaming content, to digital advertising, toplatforms that allow you to connect with anyone, anywhere. And these days, everything is tech! From entertainment, to health care, to enterprise, they’re all solving real world issues.

The business college needs to prepare students to embrace technology and to adapt. The job opportunities available to kids coming out of college today are going to look different than they do in a few years, and different again in the next 10 years. Making sure today’s business school students are ready to embrace tech and adopt new ways of doing things is critical. Ensuring that curriculums highlight new technologies and advancements is really important. It’s also important to find opportunities for tech leaders to connect with students through tech challenges, startup competitions, and hackathons, which I know George �鶹��Ƶ does already.

One more thing: we can’t forget the importance of being in person and engaging in the physical world, not just the digital world. You learn so much from observing a leader's body language, watching how they present themselves in a meeting, when they speak up, who they make eye contact with, and looking at how they bring different people into the conversation. CES is all about bringing people together to connect, discover, learn, and solve, so we see the value in those things every year at the show. In our world today, real-life, in-person connections give you a competitive edge. That includes CES, which is open to students! We love when people come to CES and get inspired by how technology is transforming the world, see new ideas, meet people, and network.

What advice would you give to George �鶹��Ƶ students who are about to graduate or fellow alumni who are already in the workforce?

First, align your work with something that you care about because that passion will carry you through challenges that you encounter in your professional career. Second, raise your hand for new opportunities in school or at your first job, even if they are outside of your comfort zone. When you are willing to say yes and try something that you wouldn’t naturally do, doors open. Third, seek out a mentor and don't be afraid to ask for constructive feedback. We all need it! It’s so important to get real feedback, because then you can identify what you're great at and where you have opportunities to improve and be the best version of yourself. Seeking out a good mentor is a great way to do that in the professional space.

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Kinsey Fabrizio, '04

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Environmental sustainability pays off—but mostly for media-savvy firms

Katelynn C Hipolito — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 14:42:57 +0000

Environmental sustainability pays off—but mostly for media-savvy firms Katelynn C Hipolito Tue, 11/18/2025 - 09:42

To please both the planet and shareholders at the same time, firms must travel a triangular path.

Whatever else they may be, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives are very often an image-building exercise. Business leaders hope that by being seen to put ethical responsibilities over profits, they will reap profits anyway as a byproduct of reputational gains. It stands to reason, then, that no conversation about the “business case” for ESG would be complete without involving society’s chief reputational brokers—i.e. the media.

Saurabh Mishra. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ.

New published research from Saurabh Mishra, area chair and professor of marketing at the Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ, confirms the media’s pivotal role in influencing ESG profitability.

Forthcoming in the Journal of Business Research, the paper was co-authored by Shekhar Misra at University of Galway, Ireland.

The researchers analyzed ESG performance from the Sustainalytics database, media sentiment from the RavenPack news analytics database, and financial data (including advertising budgets) for 452 firms over the period 2009-2018.

This data-set allowed them to chart the triangular path by which “doing good” (for society and the planet) resulted in “doing well” for the firms in question.

To start with, only the “E” in ESG had any direct positive impact on financial performance—and a muted one at that. Of the three metrics examined—idiosyncratic risk, abnormal returns and Tobin’s Q—only idiosyncratic risk responded favorably to raw, unmediated environmental performance.

The “S” and “G” had either no direct positive effect, or a negative effect upon financial performance.

“You can imagine the E, S, and G would not have the same effect on all stakeholders,” Mishra observes. “Governance, being a little more internal, might have more positive impact on employees, but not necessarily on the outside world. Social kind of falls in the middle—it could be either internal or external.”

With media sentiment, there was a similar disparity. “Greening” efforts tended to drive more positive media coverage for the firm, which translated into higher financial performance. Social and governance initiatives made no significant difference to the media conversation.

But not all eco-conscious firms benefited equally from this media-made halo effect. Those that spent more money on advertising—not necessarily promoting their ESG activity, but advertising in general—saw a greater improvement in media sentiment.

Crucially, Mishra’s data-set included neither specific examples of media coverage nor information about the recipients of advertising spend. The research, therefore, does not suggest the presence of an ethically problematic quid pro quo.

“It’s possible that media simply follow firms [with high advertising budgets] more closely,” Mishra says. “They recognize their efforts more. Everything they do becomes more visible, which kind of magnifies the effect that we’re seeing.”

For Mishra, the findings help clarify contradictions about ESG and its potential payoffs. “If you look at some of the meta-analyses that have been done, the consensus is that ESG’s effect on shareholder wealth is not there, or it’s weakly positive. At the same time, there is a lot of variation. Some firms see a lot of upside and some don’t.”

It’s not, then, that there isn’t a good “business case” for ESG activity. But that case may be more contingent on external factors (such as media sentiment) than many previous researchers believed.

If so, ESG may be most financially successful as part of a diverse strategic portfolio that could encompass advertising spend and possibly other areas ostensibly unrelated to environmental sustainability.

“Advertising researchers talk about a stock effect,” Mishra explains. “Advertising stock builds over time. You have to continually advertise, otherwise that stock starts going down. So if you’re advertising substantially, you get more bang for the buck from investing in the environment.”

But because so much remains unknown about the various factors that help determine ESG’s profitability potential, Mishra cautions against dismissing the “S” and “G” too quickly, despite their apparent irrelevance in this particular study.

“I would hate to say that firms should not invest in social and governance,” Mishra says. “Maybe if you look at some other stakeholder measures—employee productivity measures, for instance—they move the needle there. Because, after all, there is variation in the data, and no one paper can look at every relevant factor. But if your objective is to move media to be more positive towards you, environmental focus is your best bet.”

“I would hate to say that firms should not invest in social and governance. Maybe if you look at some other stakeholder measures—employee productivity measures, for instance—they move the needle there. Because, after all, there is variation in the data, and no one paper can look at every relevant factor. But if your objective is to move media to be more positive towards you, environmental focus is your best bet.”

— Saurabh Mishra, area chair and professor of marketing at the Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ

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Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games

Katelynn C Hipolito — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:51:48 +0000

Costello alum prepares to compete at Southeast Asian Games Katelynn C Hipolito Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:51

Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25, exemplifies exceptional balance—driving innovative strategies at Navy Federal while representing the Philippines internationally in the hammer throw.

Action shot from 2025 Philippine Athletic Championships. Photo by Philippines Athletic Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

As a student-athlete at �鶹��Ƶ, he competed in track and field for nearly five years, spanning four Costello College of Business academic programs. In addition to the hammer throw, he also competed in discus and the weight throw, an indoor equivalent to hammer. Not long after he began competing at the university, he began his career as an intern at Navy Federal. Over time, he advanced in athletics, academics, and his career—building a foundation that continues to shape his success today.

Sidney Yap. Photo provided

Now preparing for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December, Yap is focused on timing his peak performance for competition. Recently promoted to enterprise data analytics consultant at Navy Federal, he starts his day early so that he can focus on his training in the evenings. As busy as he is, he prefers it that way, driven by his passion for athletics, education, and professional growth.

Balancing athletics with his career is nothing new for Yap. While at George �鶹��Ƶ, he worked closely with professors, coaches, and managers to coordinate schedules and manage workloads. Starting his career at Navy Federal as an intern during his sophomore year, he recognizes strong parallels between athletics and his business career—both requiring discipline, strategy, and data-driven decisions.

As much as his athletics skills and habits help him in his career, his job at Navy Federal in turn opened the door to this remarkable opportunity to compete in Thailand. At a company luncheon, a manager approached him after learning about his track and field background.

“He hit me with the question—What’s next?” Yap recalls.

Sharing Filipino heritage, the manager offered to help him represent the Philippines. That conversation led to connecting with the national team coach, securing dual citizenship, and obtaining a passport. Since then, he has competed in the Philippine Nationals in 2024 and 2025. Representing his family’s heritage on an international stage adds deeper meaning to his athletic pursuits.

Sidney Yap at his MBA graduation in Spring 2025. Photo provided

Yap is appreciative of the business foundations and location of his alma mater, reflected in his decision to remain at Costello for his undergraduate and graduate programs. Originally from the area, it wasn’t until he started researching colleges to apply to in high school that he learned it was a top-notch school full of opportunity.

At Costello, he experienced being taught by high-level faculty who prepared him to succeed in his current role. One of his first courses was on organizational behavior taught by Victoria Grady, associate professor of management and director of the MS in management program.

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

“Classes like that help with refinement of your people skills, and I think that goes beyond how you are in the workforce because those organizational behaviors is teaching me, in my mind, how to be a better person with people I interact with in athletics and in public.”

— Sidney Yap, BS Information Systems Operations Management ‘20, MS Management ‘21, Business Analytics Grad Cert ‘22, MBA ‘25

Yap’s story reflects the unique synergy between academic excellence and athletic discipline forged at George �鶹��Ƶ. His years as a student-athlete prepared him to navigate the demands of rigorous coursework, competitive sports, and a growing professional career—all at once. The foundation he built through Costello’s programs continues to guide him as he balances his role at Navy Federal with training for the Southeast Asian Games. As Yap sets his sights on gold in Thailand, he carries the same mindset into his professional journey—proving that excellence isn’t confined to the field but is a pursuit that spans every arena of life.

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This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all

Katarina Benson — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:30:10 +0000

This Costello student leader is working to create opportunities for all Katarina Benson Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:30

There are few �鶹��Ƶ students as busy as senior Rakibul Alam. A senior majoring in business and concentrating on management and marketing, Alam has become one of the most visible student leaders in the Costello College of Business, where he works as a marketing and communications intern. Recently he was among the speakers welcoming the community at Fuse’s grand celebration in September at �鶹��Ƶ Square.

But when you hear Alam talk about his campus experiences, it is surprising to learn that his first week of college was rocky. As a first-generation student commuting to campus from Centreville, Virginia, Alam said wasn’t he sure how he would fit in.

“I remember thinking, I need to get involved if I want to have the best George �鶹��Ƶ experience,” Alam said, and that he did.

Within weeks, Alam joined Student Government and soon co-founded the student organization Collective Organization of South Asia. A semester later, he joined another student organization, �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group. As vice president of the �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group, he has worked to ensure that other students have access to experiential learning opportunities.

Alam spoke at the Fuse’s grand celebration in September. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

“George �鶹��Ƶ has such unique individuals with so much talent,” said Alam, who is also a member of the Honors College. “We need to go out into the community and show what we can do. My goal has been to create those opportunities for others.”

�鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group is open to George �鶹��Ƶ students of all majors. Alam said about 210 students are registered, but there is a core group of about 70+ who are the most active members.

Under his leadership—he is now president of the group, the �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group has grown into more than just a student organization. Over the past few semesters, the organization has brought in representatives from Northern Virginia companies, such as KPMG, one of the area’s top four accounting firms, to talk to students about careers.

And those connections are paying off. He said seven of the group’s members secured high-profile internships in consulting this past summer, including Alam himself who served as a human resources and change management advisory intern at KPMG.

“That says a lot about the kind of pipeline we’re building,” Alam said. “George �鶹��Ƶ students are competing head-to-head with students from Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard—and we’re ending up in the same places.”

That pipeline is expanding beyond the corporate world. Through a formal partnership with the �鶹��Ƶ Consulting Group, Fairfax City Economic Development supports experiential learning opportunities for George �鶹��Ƶ students who consult with local businesses. Program funding is provided to George �鶹��Ƶ, which administers the initiative, ensuring students benefit from real-world experience while businesses gain strategic insights.

“These are the ripple effects,” Alam said. “We’re being recognized not just as students, but as professionals making an impact.”

Rakibul Alam presenting at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by Office of University Branding

Alam himself has a résumé that reflects both ambition and a deep commitment to service. Last year, his summer internship with the U.S. Navy reinforced his interest in government consulting.

“After my Navy internship, I realized how much I wanted to serve the public sector,” he explained. “Administrations change, but the government will always be here. Consulting allows me to use my skills to support the American people.”

That sense of purpose also extends globally. Alam was the recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which allowed him to study international development in Morocco in January 2025. He also represented George �鶹��Ƶ at a United Nations Cooperatives Youth conference in India, where he worked alongside students from across disciplines, including public health and business.

“It was incredible to see George �鶹��Ƶ represented on the world stage,” he says. “These experiences showed me how interconnected business, policy, and global development really are.”

Alam’s drive has earned him recognition closer to home as well. Early in his George �鶹��Ƶ career, he won Costello’s Patriot Pitch competition with a social entrepreneurship project. He has since served as a mentor to other entrepreneurs in the annual competition, paying forward the guidance he received from faculty mentors.

“Every opportunity I’ve had, I had to pitch myself for it,” Alam said. “But when I get to the top, I want to throw the rope back down for others. Because there’s always room at the top.”

That mindset—paired with his relentless schedule—has required discipline. Between taking 18 credits, leading a student organization, and juggling multiple internships, Alam relies on strict time management.

“I learned early on that I needed structure,” he said. “I use calendars, I set boundaries, and I make sure to take mental breaks. And I also have mentors—some older, some younger—who keep me grounded.”

In turn, he also mentors undergraduate business students.

Despite his packed calendar, Alam said he finds balance through pickleball, which he plays religiously, and painting, which fills his home with his own watercolor and mixed-media creations. “Sports and arts keep me well-rounded,” he said with a smile.

Looking ahead, Alam is weighing whether to finish his bachelor’s degree early or pursue an accelerated master’s. Either way, he plans to remain in Northern Virginia after graduation, contributing to the same business and government ecosystems that shaped his education.

“Businesses in Northern Virginia should know they don’t need to look far for talent,” he said. “We’re right here, and we’re ready to make an impact.”

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Costello students put skills to work for Fairfax charities

Jennifer Anzaldi — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 21:36:37 +0000

Costello students put skills to work for Fairfax charities Jennifer Anzaldi Wed, 11/12/2025 - 16:36

Not often can you take a course where you receive top-level instruction for how to prepare for a career, while also having the opportunity to give back to the world around you; but that is exactly what students in �鶹��Ƶ's BUS 303 class experienced this past spring semester when they planned and hosted multiple “Humanitarian Happy Hours.”

Gretchen Hendricks, senior instructor of business foundations in the Costello College of Business, brought this new spin to her course titled Developing Professional Skills—Advanced Elements, providing students with the opportunity to develop their professional skillset through a humanitarian lens. Students put into practice the soft skills emphasized in the course, including teamwork, persuasive writing, effective communication, problem-solving, networking, and leadership, all while flexing their civic responsibility by contributing to the well-being of the community.

Professor Gretchen Hendricks with students at Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

“The Humanitarian Happy Hour events were designed to bring together individuals with similar interests and ideals in a social forum to learn about and potentially get involved with charitable organizations championing great causes,” says Hendricks. “The desired outcomes were apparent—to increase awareness, volunteerism, and donations that result in meaningful change for those in need.”

Students worked in teams to identify and research multiple Fairfax-based charities they were passionate about supporting. Once identified, each team collaboratively wrote a proposal to a senior leader within the organization to persuade them to partner. The proposal included how their team core values and goals aligned with the charitable organization's mission and needs, as well as the benefits (raising awareness, volunteerism, and donations) of holding the event.

Once all four charities—Dulles South Soup Kitchen, Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, Food for Others, and Britepaths—said YES, the event planning and management part of the project began to ensure they executed them successfully. Each team worked directly with a charity point of contact to handle tasks including venue selection and logistics, outreach to corporate sponsors, and identifying attendees to include current students, faculty, staff, and alumni from George �鶹��Ƶ as well as key community members.

“The Humanitarian Happy Hour events were designed to bring together individuals with similar interests and ideals in a social forum to learn about and potentially get involved with charitable organizations championing great causes."
—Gretchen Hendricks, senior instructor of business foundations

“I was inspired by the Humanitarian Happy Hours,” said Christine Landoll, BS Accounting ’89, MS Taxation ’92, director of business engagement at Costello. “This idea is so aligned with who Gretchen Hendricks and Costello are: bold, community driven, and rooted in purpose. Each event, sponsored by local partners and spotlighting a nonprofit, empowered students to step outside their comfort zones, grow professionally, and lead with kindness. At George �鶹��Ƶ, we’re All Together Different—and Gretchen’s class showed how by immediately stepping up to give back and help others move forward.”

This section of BUS 303 is just one of the many experiential learning opportunities at Costello that prepare students for successful careers. Programs like the Patriot Pitch Competition, Career Takeover Days with our corporate partners, the Montano Student Investment Fund, Costello Fellows on Wall Street, Students Run the Show with �鶹��Ƶ Athletics, Impact Fellows, the Honey Bee Initiative, and others—have given students a distinct advantage over other candidates in a very competitive job market.

“Participating in the Humanitarian Happy Hour event was one of the most rewarding experiences I have been through during my time in the Costello College of Business,” says Grant Goodson, a senior business management student who served as a team leader. “From hurdling unexpected obstacles to coordinating timelines and tasks, these skills haven’t just been tested but have grown. Seeing the team’s hard work come together in an impactful way and witnessing the difference we made for Food for Others doing life changing work in our community was immensely fulfilling. I also learned how effective leadership and collaboration can turn a couple of ideas into something with real, tangible impact in the community.”

Students fundraising at Britepaths Humanitarian Happy Hour

In the continued spirit of keeping it local, four Fairfax restaurants—Honor Brewing Kitchen, Velocity Wings, Oh George!, and Banditos Tacos and Tequila—were targeted as locations for each happy hour. And in the spirit of charitable giving, they all hosted the events at no cost.

While the events raised an incredible $3,910 in donations for the four charities, the real win was the power of connection. Each event hosted a mixture of current students, staff, faculty, and alumni, as well as representatives from the charities and other members of the community, including many student family members.

“The thing I enjoyed the most was the people,” says Honors College student Adam Miller, a rising sophomore with a concentration in business management. “I met so many wonderful students, faculty, and people outside of George �鶹��Ƶ that were not only good connections to have, but also kind and genuine people to talk to and get to know.”

“One of the best parts about being a professor is spending time with students, says Steve Pilloff, instructional professor of finance at Costello. “And the happy hour events allowed me to do that in an environment that was fun, involved a good cause, and where the students could demonstrate the wonderful work they did to successfully pull off the events.”

“Food for Others appreciated having the opportunity to work with Costello College of Business students on their Humanitarian Happy Hour,” says Hannah Brockway, development manager for Food for Others. “The care and intention the students put into researching Food for Others, our impact, and how to best contribute was apparent throughout the semester. Students were able to connect, both with their George �鶹��Ƶ neighbors and the greater community, while contributing to a food secure future in Fairfax, Virginia.”

Corporate sponsors also supported each Humanitarian Happy Hour including Angel Tips, Good Neighbor Exterior Services, TFA Soft Skills, Thompson Greenspon, and VLP Financial Advisors.

Dan Lash, BS Economics ’97, partner and advisor with VLP Financial Advisors, says serving as a corporate sponsor “allowed VLP to continue our support of the University with a broader focus on assisting the community.”

“Participating in the Humanitarian Happy Hour event was one of the most rewarding experiences I have been through during my time in the Costello College of Business."
—Grant Goodson, a senior business management student

Hendricks considers a project such as this an extension of her involvement with �鶹��Ƶ Chooses Kindness, also supported by the Costello College of Business at large.

“What I enjoyed most was seeing the ways the George �鶹��Ƶ community upholds the pillars of �鶹��Ƶ Chooses Kindness: education and awareness, positive connections, sense of belonging, courageous advocacy, compassion, and well-being,” says Zareena Khan, assistant director of student well-being programs. “It reminded me that connecting intentionally with one another and giving back to our communities are simple but impactful ways that we can enrich our lives and the lives of others.”

Hendricks is not new to using her class to bring good to the world. In 2022, her BUS 303 students designed and pitched a socially conscious networking site offering personalized acts of kindness called ThreeWishes.

“Our students value experiential learning and appreciate the opportunity to develop job-related skills,” says Cindy Parker, BS Psychology ’92, MS Industrial/Organizational Psychology ’94, PhD ’98, instructional professor of management, director of faculty success, and Leidos Corporate Partner Faculty Fellow at Costello. “This type of semester-long project allows students to not only develop critical teamwork and project management skills but also provides them with insight into how business can—and should—contribute to society.”

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Accounting alum elevates talent and culture at KPMG

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:57:31 +0000

Accounting alum elevates talent and culture at KPMG Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 11/03/2025 - 10:57

Growing up in southern Virginia, Sandy Torchia, BS Accounting ’93, discovered her passion for accounting early. During high school, she realized that hard work in the field could not only open doors to exciting opportunities but also to a fulfilling career.

Sandy Torchia. Photo by KPMG

As the first in her family to attend college, she chose �鶹��Ƶ because it checked a multitude of boxes for her, including its academic rigor, location in vibrant Fairfax, Virginia, and proximity to Washington, D.C. Four years later, she graduated from the Costello College of Business with an even deeper appreciation for the learning environment that shaped her educational and professional journey.

“My parents taught me to put in the work and dream big,” Torchia says. “Graduating from George �鶹��Ƶ was accomplishing one of those dreams for myself, and also for them.”

Torchia attributes her current position as vice chair of talent and culture at KPMG to the education she received at Costello, which equipped her with a strong business foundation and a comprehensive expertise in accounting. She states that these skills are critical to her and her organization’s success as they drive the firm’s talent strategy, positioning KPMG to attract, develop, and retain the best talent.

Her work—leading KPMG into the future—puts her focus on the firm’s employees and partners and how they experience the firm. And like her passion for accounting, she also has a passion for people—she states it’s one of the main reasons she’s stayed at KPMG for more than 28 years. “I love the people I work with,” she says.

Among Torchia’s most impactful experiences at Costello was helping found George �鶹��Ƶ’s chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, one of the largest co-educational professional business fraternities in the country. Establishing and leading the chapter honed skills she has continued to use throughout her career, including relationship management, public speaking, and negotiation. Those came in handy as the work required her to coordinate with other universities and organizations at George �鶹��Ƶ.

She’s proud to not only have co-founded the chapter but to be part of the chapter’s first graduating class too. Torchia encourages Costello students to get involved in special projects and extracurriculars like Delta Sigma Pi. "Whenever and wherever you can, take advantage of opportunities to develop and elevate your skills, including those beyond the classroom,” she says. “Whether it's a formal program like a business fraternity or an informal mentorship, seeking new experiences or training will always add value."

"Whenever and wherever you can, take advantage of opportunities to develop and elevate your skills, including those beyond the classroom. Whether it's a formal program like a business fraternity or an informal mentorship, seeking new experiences or training will always add value."

—Sandy Torchia, BS Accounting ’93

Of course, her drive extended to the classroom as well. “Sandy was a student in one of the first accounting classes I taught at �鶹��Ƶ, and she remains every professor’s model success story,” says Janet Faughnan, senior instructor of accounting at the Costello College of Business. “The technical accounting knowledge and interpersonal skills Sandy developed through her dedication to her studies at George �鶹��Ƶ have been refined and perfected throughout her professional career.”

Sandy Torchia’s journey from a first-generation college student to management committee member at KPMG is a testament to the impact of education, leadership, and innovation. Her time at the Costello College of Business not only equipped her with academic and technical expertise but also inspired her to build something lasting—like George �鶹��Ƶ’s Delta Sigma Pi chapter—that continues to benefit students today. As she leads KPMG's talent strategy, Torchia can call back to those academic and leadership experiences as a strong foundation, equipping her with the right skills for fostering environments that encourage new ideas to excel and people to thrive.

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How consumers react when they feel ‘betrayed’ by a brand

Katelynn C Hipolito — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 14:52:41 +0000

How consumers react when they feel ‘betrayed’ by a brand Katelynn C Hipolito Mon, 11/03/2025 - 09:52

A pair of �鶹��Ƶ marketing professors have unpacked the surprisingly intense and complicated emotional consequences of brand inauthenticity.

We all know what it’s like to discover—either gradually or all at once—someone else’s insincerity. Jessica Hoppner and Russell Abratt, marketing professors at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ, have found that an encounter with an inauthentic brand produces much the same effect.

Jessica Hoppner. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ.

“Authenticity is defined within the context of the brand-consumer relationship,” Hoppner says. In other words, it’s in the eye of the beholder—or in this case, the consumer. Inauthenticity occurs when a brand behaves in a way that appears to go against its perceived core values, or the consumer’s baseline expectations for that particular brand.

“This kind of inauthenticity causes problems for brand managers because for each person it’s a little bit different, and that makes it really hard to navigate,” Hoppner says.

In their recently published paper in the Journal of Product & Brand Management, Hoppner and Abratt trace the emotional cause-and-effect of brand inauthenticity, offering rare insight into this slippery phenomenon.

The paper was co-authored by Ryan White of Winona State University.

The researchers recruited 218 survey participants using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. Respondents were asked to write about an experience of brand inauthenticity and answer a series of questions about that experience and steps they took afterward. The results were analyzed in light of concepts drawn from psychological research, such as appraisal theory and balance theory.

Surprisingly, participants named a wide range of brands (156 in all), only 25.2 percent of which appeared on Interbrand’s Top 100 Best Global Brands List. “It covered large brands, small brands, all different sectors,” says Hoppner. “It’s not constrained to consumer products or the brands that we would normally think about.”

The survey responses showed that customers experienced brand inauthenticity as a betrayal of sorts, with emotional implications comparable to those of human-to-human betrayal.

Brand inauthenticity triggered a complex mix of emotional responses in consumers. Anger, anxiety, and disappointment were the principal motifs across the sample, but individual reactions could include one, two, or even all three. The strength of reactive emotions varied according to the perceived severity of the betrayal.

Further, the researchers found that the three main emotional responses led to different behaviors in consumers.

Abratt and Hoppner describe anger as a “hot emotion,” causing consumers to lash out at brands deemed inauthentic, through retaliation, complaints, and withdrawal of loyalty.

Anxiety inspired a less accusatory and more questioning response, as consumers groped for the deeper truth about this apparently two-faced brand. “Anxiety is very ambiguous,” Hoppner says. “When we’re anxious, it’s often because we don’t really know what happened, why it happened, who’s to blame, etc.” Consumers made anxious by brand inauthenticity actually increased their loyalty to the brand, and sought out more information to resolve the ambiguity.

Finally, disappointment led consumers to lapse into a self-protective passivity. Their central concern became not closure or redress, but rather avoiding further disappointment by turning their back on the offending brand.

Russell Abratt. Photo by �鶹��Ƶ.

Abratt and Hoppner advise brand managers to think twice before launching a rote response in hopes of winning back consumers alienated by perceived inauthenticity. Anger and anxiety show up very differently, and disappointment may not show up at all in any conventionally measurable way. When addressing inauthenticity after the fact, a brand’s best bet may be to ask questions and listen closely before attempting to fix the problem.

Of course, the ideal approach would be to avoid being seen as inauthentic in the first place. That would mean understanding the actual relationships consumers have with the brand, which may differ from how managers view the brand’s value proposition. It may also entail intentional, proactive reshaping of those relationships.

“I think the real issue for firms is to understand who they are,” Abratt says. “In other words, brands have to talk about their identity. And once they have figured that one out, they have to have training amongst their employees and say, ‘this is what we stand for. This is what we do.’ Communicate that to your markets and your community, and make sure that you allow the community and customers to talk back with you.”

“I think the real issue for firms is to understand who they are,” Abratt says. “In other words, brands have to talk about their identity. And once they have figured that one out, they have to have training amongst their employees and say, ‘this is what we stand for. This is what we do.’ Communicate that to your markets and your community, and make sure that you allow the community and customers to talk back with you.”

— Russell Abratt, marketing professor at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at �鶹��Ƶ