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Dear MBA Students, Alumni, and Faculty,

We hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing summer! We are looking forward to welcoming you back for the fall 2024 semester. With a total of 232 students, the MBA program continues to be the largest on-site graduate program at the University. We are grateful that this newsletter can focus on the accomplishments of the program.

MBA Alumni Spotlight

We are so excited to spotlight Ebrahim Karimi Tarshizi, a Spring 2014 MBA graduate! Ebrahim also holds a Master of Science in Mining Engineering, and a PhD in Geo-engineering from UNR. He was recently awarded the 2024 Outstanding Recent Graduate Award for his long-time support of the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno. 

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself, your career, and why you chose to pursue an MBA?

I am currently a professor of practice and the academic director for the Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence master's programs at the University of San Diego (USD). Additionally, I have held positions in the industry and worked as a consultant for various organizations.

I have always wanted to understand how businesses operate and develop practical leadership skills. These skills are primarily taught in business schools and MBA programs, which led me to pursue an MBA at the University of ÁùºÏ±¦µä, Reno (UNR) in 2012. I initially started a minor MBA at UNR while I was a graduate student in engineering and enjoyed early course topics. Later, I applied and was accepted to complete the MBA at the College of Business.

The MBA training from UNR provided me with a comprehensive understanding of business operations, strategic thinking, and management and accelerated my career. It also equipped me with the (soft and technical) skills to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business acumen. This combination of technical knowledge and business tools has been invaluable in my career, enabling me to lead interdisciplinary teams and drive innovative projects. In addition, my MBA knowledge has been extremely practical when it comes to education, including teaching, advising, researching, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

2. What professional challenge(s) have you faced recently, and how did you handle/overcome it?

Providing quality data science and AI education to students from diverse technical backgrounds is challenging. Like the MBA, many of my current students studying data science and AI come from different but still technical backgrounds. Ensuring these individuals are well-prepared in the early courses to succeed throughout their master's studies is a significant challenge. In addition, one of the most significant professional challenges I've faced recently has been navigating the rapid evolution of AI technologies and ensuring that our university curriculum remains current and relevant. This is also very important to prepare students for today's job market as well as the future landscape of AI and data science fields.

To tackle this, first, I established a strong network with industry professionals and set up an advisory board. These connections provide invaluable insights into emerging trends and technologies, which I can then integrate into our graduate courses and lectures. Another strategy was to foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation within our programs. I encourage my faculty and students to stay curious and proactive in their learning in AI and Data Science. I've also incorporated flexible course modules that can be quickly updated or replaced based on new developments in the field. Moreover, my faculty team emphasizes practical, hands-on experience by adding project-based learning to our curriculum. Students gain practical skills and an understanding of current industry practices by working on real-world problems and using the latest tools and techniques.

Overcoming these mentioned challenges and lessons learned have been a rewarding experience and taught me the importance of agility, lifelong learning, and the power of a strong professional network.

3. How has the MBA helped you in your career?

The knowledge and practices I have gained from the MBA have helped me in numerous ways throughout my career. Considering my current role, designing and launching an MS program in a university and leading a technical program in AI requires a solid foundation in business principles that complement technical expertise. In general, the MBA program at UNR equipped me with a diverse skill set that has been invaluable in various aspects of my professional journey. For instance, the MBA program significantly improved my strategic thinking and decision-making abilities. It also enhanced my leadership and communication skills, which are critical for my roles. Understanding marketing management, financial reporting, and related issues has been extremely useful when working with marketing and business groups on any project. Additionally, this MBA program helped me develop essential teamwork, presentation, and other soft skills that are vital for my current position. These skills were honed through various team projects and presentations during graduate studies. In summary, the MBA has been instrumental in shaping my career, enabling me to integrate business acumen with technical expertise and positioning me to lead and innovate in the dynamic fields of AI, data science, and education.

4. What have you found most rewarding about your educational journey?

The most rewarding part of my educational journey has been the continuous opportunity for growth and the ability to inspire and be inspired by others. During my MBA studies at UNR, the people I met and the lessons I learned from my cohort were invaluable and significantly impacted my professional growth. The skills I obtained, from fundamental business principles to critical thinking, leadership, management, networking, teamwork, and communication, will stay with me forever. These skills have been instrumental in my professional development and have provided a solid foundation throughout my career.

Thank you for all your contributions, Ebrahim! We wish you the best in your future endeavors!

Congratulations, MBA Class of 2024!

Our alumni family grew by 38 this past spring. Congratulations to all our UNR MBA graduates. You have done an amazing job these past few years. Your grit, determination, and resilience will take you far!

Outstanding MBA Students & Faculty

In May, we celebrated two outstanding MBA students and an outstanding faculty member at our annual Graduate Faculty & Student Banquet. Congratulations to Wyatt Watson and Elizabeth Clair! And a huge congratulations to our outstanding MBA faculty member, Sonja Pippin! Thank you for all the hard work you have put in to make the MBA program the success that it is.

Welcome New MBA Students!

Introducing the class profile, we are thrilled to welcome 74 new MBA students into the program. This group has an average of six years of work experience to draw on as they move through the program. We are also proud to welcome two international students from Ethiopia & Vietnam. Good luck with your first week!

 

 

 

On behalf of the College of Business and MBA team, we wish you a healthy and productive fall semester!

Sincerely,

Kambiz Raffiee, PhD

Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research

Director of MBA Programs

College of Business