The Latest

UC Davis MBA Grad Pledges to Support Economic Growth in Liberia
Amazon manager dedicates education and network to supporting the rebuild of his homeland
Siah Gaye MBA 18 chose the Bay Area Part-Time MBA program for its reputation—and to stay close to his mother. The last time they were separated, he was just learning to walk, his country was at war, and his mother was hiding him from the men who

Marie Chaisson MBA 04
Director of Portfolio Management, PayPal Holdings, Inc.
Marie Chaisson earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Washington in speech communication after she realized it would take more than four years to graduate with a forestry degree, her first major. She stayed in Seattle, combining her

UC Davis MBA student Kelly Gillett Shares Her Experience
Newberry Leadership Fellow
“I found my stride and voice as a leader . . . and what makes UC Davis different is definitely the community. From the day you walk in the door every one knows your name and you know everybody,” says Full-Time MBA student Kelly Gillett. Kelly is the

Jesse Rodriguez MBA 19
Latino Affairs, California State Senate
The UC Davis Cal Aggie Alumni Association has recognized Sacramento MBA student and Aggie alum Rodriguez with its annual Young Alumnus Award.
Jesse Rodriguez B.S. 13, MBA 19 has dedicated his time to working for the community and empowering youth

Melinda Ornburg MBA 16
Former Forensic Anthropologist Now Studies Customer Clues
Giving back is at the top of Melinda Ornburg’s priority list. In her previous career studying to be a forensic anthropologist, Ornburg MBA 16 spent her working hours dissecting human skeletons during an internship at the Los Angeles County Coroner’s

Vickie Sherman MBA 13
Senior Marketing Manager, Golden 1 Credit Union
Vickie Sherman’s office is steps away from the landmark sports and entertainment arena her company named and is a centerpiece of the renaissance of downtown Sacramento: Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise.
Vickie Sherman’s

Adam Gouveia MBA 13
BitPesa
It was an investment opportunity like no other—compelling enough to quit his San Francisco finance job to join his client, a fintech startup in Africa.
It was an investment opportunity like no other. For Adam Gouveia MBA 13, BitPesa was compelling

Daniel Covrig MPAc 17
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Realizing that his professional success required a deeper immersion in finance, Covrig entered the UC Davis Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc) program in fall 2016.
Thirty-five cents for a stem, ten dollars for a bouquet. Daniel Covrig had

From Energy to Education, Lavender Whitaker Leads with Empathy and Insight
Bay Area MBA Student Focuses on Innovation at PG&E
Growing up in a communal community, Lavender Whitaker’s parents stressed “the importance of thinking about the effects of your actions on others and the environment.”
Those words of advice stuck with her. Although she dabbled in several majors as

Grace Guo MBA 17
Going Global: Grace Guo Combines Chinese and American Backgrounds
Pursuing a business career in the U.S. is the riskiest decision Grace Guo MBA 17 has ever made. She gave up her career and home, leaving behind her husband and daughter in China, to come to the UC Davis Full-Time MBA program.
Summer Internship
Brian Gage MPAc 15 Finds Renewal at UC Davis
Perseverance Propels Him Toward Long-held Career Dream
By Joanna Corman
The word “no” doesn’t resonate with Brian Gage MPAc 15. In high school, he dreamed of graduating from UC Davis.
As an undergraduate biochemistry major at Davis, he enrolled in pre-pharmacy while working at his family’s initially