Get to know the UT Dallas Organizations, Strategy and International Management (OSIM) Area from the voices of the people who know best.
What better way to see how the OSIM Area at UT Dallas can help you achieve your goals than to hear directly from the people who have experienced it themselves. Alumni and current students, as well as faculty and staff members, have a lot to say about what you can expect from becoming a part of an OSIM program, working hard with your classmates and finally walking off the stage, diploma in hand, ready to advance in your career.
Student Testimonials
OSIM students, alumni, employers and partners talk about their invaluable academic experiences at the UT Dallas Jindal School of Management, providing advice, perspective, and vision.
Nelson Mavares, BS’18
Cloud Analyst, Oracle
The HRM program was an excellent catapult for my career. The comprehensive curriculum accompanied by exceptional professors and mentors prepared me for my career in consulting.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cezar de Paula , BS’17
International Payroll Specialist, LATAM at Expedia Group
The BS Global Business program was the perfect fit for my educational goals. After I started my courses, I found the program far exceeded my expectations.
Mark Kukiz, MS 19
Product Manager, Peloton
The Professional MBA at UT Dallas provided the flexibility for a tailor-made education with subjects I am most passionate about. The MS in Innovation and Entrepreneurship curriculum enhanced my MBA through practical undertakings in both startup and corporate intrapreneurship settings. The cohort program was a differentiator, enabling the collaborative, in-person experience I was looking for.
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.
Rocio Reyes
Spring 2024 Internship with Intracare
These past three months, I worked at Intracare as a Population Health Quality Reporting Intern. During my internship experience, I had the opportunity to work alongside my mentor and manager, Crystal Limoges. My mentor was very supportive throughout this process and introduced me to new healthcare concepts.
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.
Lily Tran
Fall 2023 Internship with Walgreen’s Pharmacy
During my healthcare management internship, collaborating with my administrator mentor proved invaluable. I learned the intricacies of healthcare operations, honed organizational skills, and gained insights into effective patient care. My mentor imparted crucial lessons on balancing administrative duties, prioritizing tasks, and navigating the dynamic healthcare landscape. This hands-on experience underscored the importance of clear communication and adaptability in managing diverse challenges. Overall, the mentorship provided me with a great understanding of healthcare management, offering practical skills and a nuanced perspective that will shape my future career in the field.
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.
Rose Ewing
Fall 2024 Internship with Southwestern Health Resources
Southwestern Health Resources (SWHR) is a patient centered, Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) formed between UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) and Texas Health Resources (THR) with more than 7,000+ providers caring for over 790,000 patients, 31 hospitals, and over 650+ outpatient facilities and clinics across 14 counties over North Texas. In 2023, SWHR ranked third nationally in total savings among 132 participating ACOs in the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (ACO REACH) Model.
Alayna Thomas, BS’19
Senior Coordinator, HR, H-E-B
Management Intern, H-E-B
The BS in Human Resource Management (HRM) program at UT Dallas introduced me to a field of passionate professionals who want to make the workplace better.
Sydney Tran
Fall 2023 Internship with Foundation Pain and Spine
This past semester, I had the incredible opportunity to work at Foundation Pain and Spine (FPS) as a medical assistant for Dr. Thompson. During this internship, I gained invaluable experience in both patient care and medical procedures. My responsibilities included a mix of clinical and administrative tasks such as collecting patient vitals, scheduling, sterilizing procedure instruments, and completing insurance claims. Being able to work directly with patients and providers reignited my interest in the healthcare industry.
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.
Carlos Rodriguez Cruz y Celis
Highlight – studied abroad at the Vienna University of Economics and Business
Carlos challenges himself to solve problems that are global in nature. He chose the Bachelor’s in Global Business because he wants a global perspective that will prepare him to provide solutions to current and future challenges in the world.
Yen Co
Fall 2023 Internship with Cubic Care Family Medicine
At Cubic Care Family Medicine, I have an opportunity to work alongside a physician on a quality improvement project. Using the “Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycle” to address blood pressure control in hypertensive patients. The approach involved effective communication, careful planning, collecting the right data from the EMR system, and targeted intervention for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure.
Nnamdi Edeoga
Fall 2024 Internship with HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital
My experience shadowing the CEO of an acute care hospital was lifechanging. I gained insight into the inner workings of a hospital from an administrative perspective. I was able to shadow directors of various departments and learned the key aspects of each sector from a clinical standpoint. I further familiarized myself with hospital terminology and metrics by sitting in on important meetings and discussions.
Taylor Bloom, BS’20
Operations Planning and Analysis Summer Intern, H-E-B
A university’s business college is only as great as its professors, students, staff and alumni community. Fortunately, as a student pursuing my BS in Business Administration degree with a concentration in business economics, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from knowledgeable and experienced professors who have brought academic theory into the real global-world of business.
Alumni Spotlights
Read the success stories from JSOM alumni who earned their degree from the Jindal School of Management. These alumni are current professionals who share their insights about their experience and life after graduating from UT Dallas.
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.
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.
Dr. Sai Lakhan Kyasa, MS’24
Kyasa is a dedicated physician from India. Upon graduating from the MS Healthcare Leadership and Management program, he secured a position as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. With a robust proficiency in Epic software, eClinicalWorks, and clinical monitoring, Kyasa brings a diverse skill set to healthcare operations. His expertise extends to research design development, marketing strategy, and the pharmaceutical industry. Kyasa is committed to advancing healthcare outcomes and is eager to connect and collaborate with others in the medical community on innovative healthcare solutions.
Mark Fuqua, BS’79
Exec Vice President And Manager, Energy Banking Comerica Bank
Fuqua completed his BS/Business Administration degree with a finance concentration at UT Dallas when undergrads had been on the UTD campus a mere four years.
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.
Heidi Rasmussen, BS’92
Co-Founder and COO, Freshbenies
Heidi Rasmussen, a former retail executive, and her husband, Reid Rasmussen, a former health insurance company manager, knew health benefits were complicated for employers and their workers.
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.
Kyle Frederick, BS’04
Residential Realtor
Frederick, who earned a BS/Business Administration degree at Jindal School, with a concentration in management information systems, is a residential Realtor.
The Lanes
Giulia Ippolito Lane and Robert Lane
When Rob entered UT Dallas, he already held an undergraduate degree from University of Southern California. He eventually earned four additional degrees at UT Dallas.
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.
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.
Doug Hermann, BS’14
Broker Associate, The Weitzman Group
Hermann double-majored while at Jindal School, graduating with a degree in Finance and a degree in Business Administration.
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.
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.
Brad Perkinson, BS’08, MS’09
Founder,CEO and Brewer, Firewheel Brewing Co., LLC
This Naveen Jindal School of Management grad took the opportunity of getting laid off to pursue a dream of starting what is now known as FireWheel Brewery in Rowlett.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
OSIM Student Experiences
Discover how OSIM faculty are researching, publishing, speaking and engaging in the business community. The authors of these articles also include OSIM students, staff and friends
Do Conferences Help Your Career?
The first time I attended the HR Southwest Conference, I made a point to attend as many educational sessions as possible. Some were very beneficial in giving real-world information about certain subjects such as upcoming laws related to employment and relevant changes in legislation.
How I Started My Business in College
During my junior and senior year, I led a student intern team of up to 25 students who would help with different areas of the business, learn valuable skills and help me increase the capacity and reach of Smiles Bakery.
More Prepared Than I Realized
In April 2019, I had the amazing opportunity to represent the Society for Human Resource Management chapter at UT Dallas and the Jindal School’s BS in Human Resource Management program, along with Shriya Bahri, Yen Dang, and Nickole Selensky, at the 2019 TXSHRM Student Games, hosted by Baylor University.
Faculty Uplift – A Jindal School Distinction
During the summer, Polze, who is a senior lecturer on the accounting faculty, sent out several emails offering advice to incoming freshmen like me, as well as helping us prepare for his class.
Access to Great Resources
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. One of the greatest opportunities that I encountered at UTD was having the ability to travel to Dubai with my International Business class!
How Business Students Network With Professionals
I joined the BS in Human Resource Management program at UTD because I wanted to make a difference in organizations, people’s lives and my career. Events like DallasHR’s HRStars Gala allow HR professionals to get together and celebrate their accomplishments and the impact they have had within the industry.
Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in Organizations, Strategy and International Management?
Bachelor’s Degree Program
Build your understanding of business fundamentals and learn skills in innovation, management and international business.
BS in Business Administration BS in Global Business BS in Healthcare Management BS in Human Resource ManagementMaster’s Degree Programs
Find the Organizations, Strategy, and International Management graduate degree that matches your interests.
MS in Healthcare Leadership and Management MS in Innovation and Entrepreneurship MS in International ManagementStudies
PhD International Management Studies
Develop strong research skills that are especially relevant for students interested in an academic career. Each year the OSIM area sponsors a seminar series to bring researchers from other universities to UT Dallas.
PhD in International ManagementStudies