Organizations, Strategy & International Management (OSIM) Programs at UT Dallas

Randy Black, CFP, CDFA, BS’06

Financial Planner, Spectrum Financial Group

Black, a certified financial planner, is certain that a successful leader will go above and beyond what is expected when helping others. This value is evident in his work helping numerous clients reach their financial goals. Since his May 2006 graduation from the Jindal School, Black has exceeded several industry standards even though he has not yet reached his 10-year mark in the professional world.

Joe Warren, BS’11

Software Engineer, USAA

Each day, I strive to use best practices, creating beautiful and accessible experiences for our internal and member-facing systems.

Scott Birnbaum, BS’84

Founder And President, Reclaimed Textiles Co.

Scott Birnbaum, a former CPA, founded a business that recycles items otherwise destined for the garbage heap. He established Reclaimed Textiles Co. (RTCM), which repurposes discarded textiles for new use. As president, he is active in all aspects of the company and constantly relies on skills learned while a student at the Jindal School. In addition to his 18 years in textile recycling, he has experience in defense manufacturing, transportation and publishing. Scott established RTCM based on his values regarding quality, innovation and customer focus, and he is committed to developing new means to repurpose used goods in the U.S. and in developing countries.

Robert Kientz, BS’04

Senior Security Analyst, Verizon Wireless

In his role with Verizon, Kientz performs risk assessment of information security vulnerabilities and system security policy compliance.

Vik Thapar, BS’00

Principal, Cypress Growth Capital

Thapar, a Dallas resident, was born and grew up just a few miles from the UT Dallas campus in Richardson.

Jenny Rush, BS’85

Founder, Lymethriving

I came to UT Dallas in the early ‘80s when the campus was young. I loved the flexibility of night classes as I was working full-time at an advertising agency.

Farhad Rizvi, BS’11

Founder, Shamak Associate, Gerson Lehrman Group

Farhad Rizvi had a vision of combining commerce and philanthropy into one business strategy. Along with his older brother, Hammad, he created Shamak Sandals, a company that sells leather sandals handcrafted in the Middle East. But Shamak Sandals reaches beyond shoe sales.

The Perdue Family

Connie, Caitlin and Brad Perdue

For the Perdue family, attending the Jindal School is a family tradition that stands out among many others. Parents Brad and Connie met while graduate students in the 1980s, and many years later, daughter Caitlin received her undergraduate degree as well.

Aubrey Meyers, BS’05, MBA’06

SVP and Deputy General Counsel, Caliber Home Loans, Inc

After Meyers received her BSBA and MBA at UT Dallas, she went to University of Illinois College of Law, graduating in 2009 with a law degree. She returned to the North Texas area, working for a couple law firms before moving to Caliber Home Loans.

Mindy Tiu, BS’14

GE, Commercial Leadership Program

Mindy Tiu, now living in Stamford, Conn, fully embraced her time at UT Dallas by taking part in a broad range of campus activities.

Rolando Perez, BS’20/ MS’23

Perez is a distinguished MS Healthcare Leadership and Management graduate from UT Dallas. During his time there, he also served as the president for the Elite Scholar and Leader Program. He is currently working as a Schedule Capacity Analyst II at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He also serves as the Vice-Chair for the ACHE NTX Student Council and as the Chair for the Member Engagement Committee for NALHE DFW. Driven by a commitment to innovation in healthcare, Perez aims to enhance healthcare quality and access while reducing costs, ensuring that everyone can afford high-quality care. Deeply rooted in Texas, he is dedicated to fostering collaboration and understanding within the healthcare community, believing that unity and mutual respect are key to achieving common goals.

Gary Tillett, BS’82

U.S. Financial Services Partner, New York Metro Deals Leaderpricewaterhousecoopers

Gary Tillett’s notable career spans three decades and includes roles in several divisions within the same “big four” accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers. Tillett currently serves as the New York Metro Deals Leader and is a partner in the U.S. Financial Services sector at PwC. In this dual role, he leads a practice of more than 400 deals professionals and serves some of PwC’s largest corporate and private-equity clients with investments in the financial services sector. Tillett attributes his success to his commitment to the delivery of quality client service and his desire to maintain a comprehensive lifestyle, which has included active community service within his career and personal life since an early stage.

Anjie Vichayanonda, BS’08

Founder And CEO, Leg Up Legal

I wanted to come back to Texas to be closer to family, so I joined the Dallas office of Haynes and Boone, LLP, in 2017.

Saadia Sheikh, BS’09

Vice President, Commercial Divisionwingert Real Estate Company

Saadia Sheikh is passionate about real estate. Just a few years after graduating from the Jindal School, her passion for the industry translated into a thriving career. She serves as vice president at a large real estate brokerage firm in Dallas. While a student, Sheikh sought advice from her professors regarding her professional development and her interest in real estate. Today she continues to seek their feedback, as her Jindal School education remains relevant in her real estate career and the business world.

Dustin Gadberry, BS’07

Chief Executive Officer, Gadberry Construction Company, Inc.

Gadberry is in his second decade in the construction business, having launched his company in 2000. He grew the business while completing his degree at The University of Texas at Dallas.

Sonal Patel, MS’24/ MBA’23

Sonal Patel, RDN, is a Public Health Specialist at Dallas County Health and Human Services. She completed her MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2024. As a dedicated health and wellness professional, Patel brings a wealth of experience from corporate wellness to clinical practice, consistently achieving high patient satisfaction and improved health outcomes. With extensive expertise in program development and implementation, she excels in communication and collaboration, making her a valuable asset in any health and wellness initiative.

Karun Joseph, BS’22/ MS’23

Karun Joseph is a Senior Sourcing Analyst at Health Care Service Corporation. She graduated from the MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management program in 2023. Joseph has successfully implemented sourcing strategies and processes, managed supplier relationships, and led cross-functional projects aimed at optimizing continuous improvement within the procurement organization. Her expertise in strategic sourcing and process improvement is instrumental in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the procurement function.

Blake Cedeno, BS’21, MS’23

Assistant Market Director – Patient Access, Parallon HCA Healthcare

Cedeno started his career with Parallon in January 2022 as part of Parallon’s Manager In Training program where he served at Medical City Dallas, Medical City Heart and Spine, and Medical City Arlington. Cedeno received a recent promotion to Assistant Market Director for Patient Access where he continues to drive exceptional operational performance and deliver team engagement. During his tenure with Parallon, Cedeno has been involved with many projects and has been instrumental in Medical City Dallas’s top tier performance. Cedeno graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management in 2021 and his Master’s degree in 2023 as part of the Healthcare Leadership and Management program.

Brett Philips, BS’05, MS’09

Founding Partner, Shifflett & Philips

Philips, and his friend Nick Shifflett, started Shifflett & Philips accounting firm in 2014 in Frisco. Philips, a CPA, had worked at other accountancies for more than nine years before going out on his own. His practice now primarily focuses on the performance of federal and state tax compliance and consulting with individuals, estates, partnerships and closely held corporations. Philips holds two Jindal School degrees – a bachelor’s in Business Administration, which he completed in 2005, and an MS/Accounting which he completed in 2009.

Phil Neighorn, BA’95, MBA’01

Managing Director, Central Zone Surety Practice, Leadermarsh USA

Phil Neighorn has more than 16 years of experience as an insurance professional and balances his time between working for Marsh USA, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management, and mentoring Jindal School students. He is committed to helping both audiences develop business strategies to successfully reach goals. Whether he is assisting an international client or providing advice to a promising student, he regularly shares his extensive industry knowledge. He also routinely uses the skills he developed while earning his undergraduate degree and an MBA from the Jindal School.

Paige Tellez, BS’20

BS in Human Resource Management Student

The BS in Human Resource Management program provided me with a wide variety of classes taught by professors who are experienced in the field 

Erva Kan , BS’17

Analyst, Investment Office of Turkey

Looking back, the Regional Desks Program was beneficial and a good stepping stone for entering the workforce.

Trysten Henderson, BS’17

J.D. Candidate, The University of Texas of Law

The Global Business program has also changed how I communicate and solve problems in my personal and professional life.

Lindsey Triplett, BS’18

HR and Accounting Administrator, R. Triplett Construction

I would highly recommend this program to anyone wanting to expand their knowledge in human resource management. 

Juan Sepulveda III

Field Study, Tokyo, Japan

Today was a long and eventful day. We took three flights to get to Osaka, and a bus ride to get to Nara. I have been up for about two days straight, considering we crossed the International Date Line. Our first flight was through United Airlines, and we had a 5-hour layover in Houston. While in Houston, I grabbed some coffee at the airport Starbucks and book by Neil Gaiman entitled American Gods. During the layover, I tried to close my eyes for a bit and watch some Netflix using the free Wi-Fi. During the 13-hour flight to Narita Airport in Tokyo, I spent a great deal of time reading about half of the book I purchased in Houston. My classmate and I were uncertain about the video on demand service, and thought the inflight videos cost money due to the credit card reader on the side of the remote, so we decided not to even bother with extra cost. Read full story.

Mindy Tiu

Commercial Leadership Program, General Electric Company

The I&E courses have been extremely valuable for me. I’m learning skill sets that will help me whether I work for a large company or decide to start my own business someday.

Haylee Keisler, BS’20

Employment Screening Coordinator Intern, Southwest Airlines Human Resources – Compliance Intern, Southwest Airlines

The UT Dallas BS in Human Resource Management degree program has provided me with a foundation to start my dream career in human resources.  

Kennedy Shaffer, MS’20

Patient Coordinator, Identity Eyecare

Upon graduation, I approached one of my professors with my dilemma, and he introduced me to ‘the business of healthcare.’ I have been hooked ever since!

Manasi Shinde

Intern, The Design House, Dublin, Ireland

I am a marketing and global business double major hence being a marketing intern in a foreign country was something I had planned to do in my freshman year at UT Dallas. Getting accepted into the international internship program to Dublin, Ireland and being a marketing intern at a fashion house, The Design House Dublin was a dream come true. My entire experience at The Design House and Dublin was knowledgeable and fun. Read full story.

Varshini Thyagarajan

Fall 2023 Internship with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas

I wanted to share my wonderful experience being a Volunteer Services/Hospitality intern at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas during my Fall 2023 semester, under the guidance of mentors/preceptors Eesha C. and Sonya M. I am so grateful for this immensely educating opportunity where I gained invaluable insights into hospital operations and volunteer management. My main roles were to deal with seasonal compliance and safety protocols, serving as the point-of-contact for all volunteers, and facilitating events and onboarding processes. When collaborating with my mentors, I developed a profound understanding of the critical role volunteers play in enhancing the patient experience.

Hayden Hood

Spring 2024 Internship with Scottish Rite for Children

As an Administration Intern, I was able to work on a variety of different projects across multiple departments such as; financial reporting, volunteer training, and various research assignments. Not only was I able to gain experience in the administrative side of a healthcare facility, I was able to gain insight into the clinical operations of Scottish Rite.

Farrah Younes

Intern, Best Way Travel, Cairo, Egypt

Best Way Travel, located in the heart of Cairo, Egypt, is one of the leading travel agencies in the country since 2004. This travel and tourism agency is specialized in handling inbound tours from a wide range of countries around the world, i.e. Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, and Tanzania. Best Way Travel aims to provide their clients with a combination of comfort, convenience, as well as security without emptying their bank accounts. In addition to providing excellent service at an affordable price, this agency also customized personalized holiday packages for both individuals and groups of people. Read full story.

James Ramsey, MS 19

I enrolled in the Master of Science degree program in Innovation & Entrepreneurship right after leaving Xerox Corporation in late 2017. I found the UT Dallas courses extremely interesting, and JSOM has assembled a great team of instructors that bring both academic and real-world credentials and experiences. 

Nickole Selensky, BS’19

Human Resources Assistant, Dentsply Sirona
Summer Scholar – Human Capital Business Analyst Intern, Deloitte

The HRM program at UTD played a key role in setting me up for success post-graduation. The instructors are highly qualified and have vast experience in field.  

Nora Tassabhji, MS’18

Senior Regulatory Associate, UT Southwestern Medical Center

The program perfectly aligned my healthcare and business interests hand in hand. The resources you can access as a student are unmatched.

Quinn Love, BS’19

HR Project Analyst, Baylor Scott & White Health

During my time at UTD in the BS in Human Resource Management program I made great connections and was provided with relevant information.  

Navar Shad, BS’15

Senior Associate, Strategy

My experience at the Jindal School may have helped build a foundation as a professional.

Chris Bagwell, MS 19

Senior Business Analyst, Pizza Hut

The Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship is more than an education in how to start a business. The program’s excellent professors bring a wealth of experience and a vast network to give you real-world insight that you can’t find in a textbook. Not only has the MSIE program given me the necessary technical skills to start a business, but it has also introduced me to experienced professionals who have shared decades’ worth of lessons learned. 

Vivian Ekadi

Fall 2023 Internship with Heart to Heart Hospice

During this past fall semester, I had the opportunity to work at Heart to Heart Hospice as an administration intern. I learned about building patient relationships, time management, and the inner workings of a hospice. Overall, I gained a lot of experience in the field and had the pleasure of working one-on-one with a mentor. My mentor was incredibly helpful in pointing out resources to aid me during the internship and offered critical advice for me to use. This experience has taught me how to adapt to different situations and communicate effectively.

Anish Padala

Fall 2023 Internship with Dr. Keith Thurgood at UT Dallas

In my final senior semester, I am continuing with master’s director Keith Thurgood on his project to find “Which Outpatient Care Hospital System in Texas has the Best Reimbursement and How?” The experience has been collaborative as I contribute to the data analysis, exploring outpatient care reimbursement across 500 Texas hospitals. With a focus on both the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and general Hospital Systems, we aimed to identify and analyze reimbursement practices.