Celebrating Our 2026 Student and Teacher Award Honorees

Each year, UC Davis Graduate School of Management recognizes the outstanding teachers, students and new graduates who embrace the School’s core values of collaborative leadership and who demonstrate a commitment to team building and service.

We congratulate the achievements of our student and teacher award honorees for the 2025-26 academic year.

Image

Teacher of the Year Awards

• Julie Morris, Full-Time MBA
• Brian Kennedy, Sacramento Part-Time MBA
• Mehul Rangwala, Bay Area Part-Time MBA
• Robert Yetman, Online MBA
• Janie Chang, MPAc
• Jörn Boehnke, MSBA
• Michelle Higgins, Master of Management

Dean H. Rao Unnava Exemplary Impact Award

The Dean H. Rao Unnava Exemplary Impact Award celebrates faculty whose contributions strengthen the GSM community, create opportunities for others and reflect a deep commitment to helping others succeed.

• Lecturer Vanessa Errecarte
• Lecturer Mehul Rangwala
• Lecturer Cyrus Aram

Image

Stephen and Shelley Newberry Distinguished Fellowship Award

The Newberry Distinguished Fellowship Award is the School’s largest privately funded fellowship award and was established by then Lam Research Chairman Stephen Newberry and his wife Shelley Newberry. Awardees have a broad base of experience and indicators that they will be successful team leaders in business; they can make difficult decisions that are not popular, take responsibility and are accountable; and they also demonstrate great potential for leadership and long-term CEO or COO roles. 

• Hitesh Bali, Full-Time MBA 26
• Shubhi Gupta, Full-Time MBA 26

Leadership Awards

Image

James F. Sullivan Award for Distinguished Service to the School

Established in 1991 in James F. Sullivan’s honor upon his retirement as vice chancellor of business and finance at UC Davis. One award is presented at commencement to an MBA student in recognition of outstanding service.

• Wafa Zakarih Alkhatib, Bay Area Part-Time MBA 

Robert H. Smiley Leadership Award

The Robert H. Smiley Leadership Award recognizes students who have shown outstanding leadership in activities and enterprises at the Graduate School of Management, in the name of a former dean and emeritus professor, Robert Smiley. These students have shown leadership and initiative in starting new programs or taking existing programs to new and improved levels of operation and success.

• Hitesh Bali, Full-Time MBA
• Marisol Ibarra-Bouslama, Sacramento Part-Time MBA
• Harcharan Kaur, Bay Area Part-Time MBA 
• William Runkle, Online MBA 

Image

Will Snyder Award for MPAc Excellence in Leadership

Established in 2016 by the executive director of the Masters of Professional Accountancy Program Will Snyder and his wife, Helena, the Leadership Award recognizes a graduating MPAc student who demonstrates outstanding leadership in activities and enterprise in the MPAc program. 

• Mia Katherine Hildebrand MPAc 26

MSBA Leadership Award

The MSBA Leadership Award recognizes a student who has shown outstanding leadership in activities and enterprises at the School. This student has shown leadership and initiative in taking programs to new and improved levels of operation and success.

• Niti Chirag Patel MSBA 26

Master of Management Leadership Award

The Master of Management Leadership Award recognizes a student who has shown outstanding leadership in activities and enterprises at the School. This student has shown leadership and initiative in taking programs to new and improved levels of operation and success.

• Tarun Gautam MM 26

Outstanding Leadership & Impact Award

Initiated by leaders from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM) Bay Area Part-Time MBA Class of 2018, the purpose of the Outstanding Leadership & Impact Award Fund is to support a GSM graduate student(s) who demonstrates exceptional leadership qualities and has made significant contributions to the GSM community while supporting, promoting and reducing barriers for women in business. 

• Marisol Ibarra-Bouslama, Bay Area Part-Time MBA

Academic Excellence Awards

Image

Richard C. Dorf Award for Academic Excellence for MBA Students

The Dorf Award for Academic Excellence recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the MBA curriculum in each of our programs. Endowed by Professor Emeritus Richard and Joy Dorf, the award honors MBA students with the highest grade-point average.

• Rajat Raj Jha, Full-Time MBA 
• Kimberly Fox, Sacramento Part-Time MBA 
• Max Lavine, Bay Area Part-Time MBA 
• Matthew Hazouri Hess, Online MBA

Will Snyder Award for MPAc Excellence in Academic Achievement

Established in 2016 by the then executive director of the Masters of Professional Accountancy Program Will Snyder and his wife, Helena, the Academic Achievement Award recognizes a graduating MPAc student with the highest cumulative GPA.

• Allison Keleher MPAc 26

Image

MSBA Award for Academic Excellence

The MSBA Award for Academic Excellence was established by faculty to recognize outstanding academic achievement in the MSBA program. It is awarded to the student with the highest grade-point average.

• Linyu (Max) Tian MSBA 26

Master of Management Award for Academic Excellence

The MM Award for Academic Excellence was established by faculty to recognize outstanding academic achievement in the MM program. It is awarded to the student with the highest grade-point average.

• Brendan Mustain MM 26

Image

GSM Alumni Association Student Fellowship Awards

The GSM Alumni Association awards annual fellowships to deserving students from each program. Nominees exemplify the core values of the association. They are passionate, energetic student leaders who help to improve our community.

• Hitesh Bali, Full-Time MBA 
• Marisol Ibarra-Bouslama, Sacramento Part-Time MBA 
• Jason Bartus, Bay Area Part-Time MBA 
• Daniela Fuentes Ramirez, Online MBA 
• Rishita Dwivedi, MPAc 
• Saurav Kanegaonkar, MSBA 
• Emmanuel Adewumi Durojaiye, MM

Image

Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Candidates

The mission of Beta Gamma Sigma is to encourage and honor academic achievement and personal excellence in the study and practice of business. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest national recognition a business student can receive at an AACSB school.