GSM Student Association Online MBA (GSMSA OMBA)
The Graduate School of Management's Student Association Online MBA (GSMSA OMBA) represents the Online MBA student voice and enriches their collective journey.
Meet the Team
Karla Hannah
President
Karla Hannah serves as President of the Online MBA Student Association at UC Davis Graduate School of Management, focusing on building connections and creating opportunities for students to grow together. An MBA candidate passionate about strategy, data-driven decision-making and entrepreneurship, her interests span finance, technology and sustainable business.
Before starting the MBA program, Hannah launched and managed her own Mathematics consulting business, an experience that fostered resilience, creativity and leadership. She brings that same drive to her role at GSM, where she champions collaboration, inclusion and meaningful student engagement.
Patrick Zydziak
Vice-President
Patrick Zydziak was born and raised in Southern California, where he developed a strong passion for business, sports and the outdoors. In 2024, he relocated to the Bay Area to pursue new career opportunities and personal growth. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of California, Riverside.
Zydziak began his professional journey in sales and marketing in Los Angeles, gaining valuable experience in customer engagement and market strategy. After a few years, he transitioned into marketing operations and data management in the tech industry, where he discovered a passion for optimizing processes and leveraging data to drive marketing strategy.
Seeking to further his career, expand his network and take on a new challenge, Zydziak enrolled in the Online MBA program at UC Davis. Recognizing the importance of community in an online environment, he joined the OMBA Student Board with the goal of fostering collaboration, building meaningful connections among his peers and enhancing the overall student experience.
Outside of his professional and academic pursuits, Zydziak is a devoted sports fan who loves playing, watching and analyzing statistics across major American sports. He also has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and enjoys hiking, traveling and discovering new places.
LA Shae Benjamin
Director of Finance
Shae Benjamin is a third-generation San Franciscan, born into a legacy of resilience and raised in the city’s projects. Her family migrated from the Deep South during World War II in search of a better life. Today, Benjamin lives her ancestors’ wildest dreams. She is rooted in giving back, building community and never forgetting where she came from.
Her path has been far from linear. She studied fashion at FIDM, earned a B.S. in international business and later pivoted into accounting. For Benjamin, growth is non-negotiable. Every chapter has a purpose, and once it is fulfilled, it is time to move forward.
In 2018, she launched Little Entrepreneurs Playhouse to teach financial literacy to children ages five through twelve. In 2025, she co-founded Building Tomorrow’s Youth, a nonprofit that provides teenagers with real-world financial education and mentorship.
Benjamin’s long-term vision includes building housing in her hometown and opening fully funded schools in underserved communities. Her mission is legacy, empowerment and creating generational wealth that lasts for six generations.
Lisa Jones
Director of Recruitment
Lisa Jones brings more than a decade of experience in talent acquisition to her role as director of recruitment for the UC Davis Online MBA Student Association. She has led recruitment efforts at organizations including Facebook and ATEC Spine, where she currently serves as talent acquisition lead. Jones is known for building high-performing recruiting teams, enhancing hiring strategies and developing inclusive practices that support long-term business goals and improve the candidate experience.
At ATEC Spine, she has driven process improvements and partnered with executive leadership to align talent strategy with organizational growth. Her work focuses on streamlining recruitment operations and mentoring teams to deliver strong hiring outcomes.
Born and raised in Davis, California, Jones moved to Encinitas at 18 and now lives in Carlsbad. She is currently pursuing her MBA at UC Davis with a focus on organizational structure and management. Her academic work complements her passion for building scalable, people-centered hiring systems.
In her spare time, Jones volunteers to help military service members transition to civilian careers, offering guidance on resumes, interviews and navigating the job market. Outside of work and school, she enjoys yoga, crocheting, reading historical fiction, spending time at the beach and playing with her two children.
Jose Aguilar
Director of Events
Terrence Nguyen
Director of Career Development
Born in San Jose and raised in San Ysidro, a border town in San Diego, Terrence Nguyen brings a diverse perspective shaped by two vibrant California communities. He has a background in healthcare operations and administration, with experience supporting patient care teams, managing clinical workflows and contributing to service improvements at large academic medical centers. His long-term goal is to lead healthcare organizations that deliver high-quality, patient-centered and equitable care, with aspirations to one day open his own clinic focused on expanding access for underserved populations.
Outside of work, Nguyen enjoys cooking and trying new recipes, lifting weights and spending time with family and friends.
Daniela Fuentes
Director of Marketing
Daniela Fuentes Ramirez is a seasoned marketing and strategic thought leader with extensive experience in communications, brand strategy and community engagement. She brings deep expertise in bilingual and multicultural marketing, audience segmentation, storytelling through documentary photography and influencer partnerships. Fuentes has led cross-functional teams, developed civic engagement initiatives and executed high-impact GOTV campaigns, driving measurable impact and fostering meaningful community connections.
With an entrepreneurial mindset, she specializes in creating culturally competent campaigns that resonate with underrepresented audiences, leveraging creativity, data-driven insights and strategic partnerships to amplify diverse voices. Her leadership has resulted in campaigns featured in major media outlets. Fuentes’ work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Clio, Telly Awards and CUNA, highlighting her ability to craft impactful, award-winning campaigns that drive engagement and change.
Adrian Alvarez
Director of Corporate Sponsorships
Adrian Alvarez is a program manager with experience in procurement, technical product development and financial management. He currently oversees defense contracts that support the warfighters serving in the U.S. armed forces and our allies abroad. Alvarez has a technical background, holding a mechanical engineering degree with a concentration in fluid mechanics and embedded computer systems integration.
He is pursuing advanced studies in finance and investing with a focus on risk management, technology valuation and asset management. Alvarez has a strong passion for financial markets, especially regarding defense, energy and embedded systems, and seeks to expand his knowledge of exchanges, trading and investment strategy.
Will Runkle
Director of Student Connections
Will Runkle joined the program to meet people and grow his business acumen after majoring in History and English at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Upon graduating he spent two years teaching English in South Korea at Gongdo Middle School. He settled in Los Angeles, where he is a financial advisor with Edward Jones.
He enjoys meeting new people and going on adventures with his family. He and his wife have a nine year old and seven year old. Two California favorites are the central coast and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
His GSM highlight is the connections to fellow students and alumni, whether through break out rooms, group work, residentials, or coffee chats! The coffee chat program enables connections throughout the program and is a crucial component to making the most out of an online degree. Coffee chats reinforce connections made in class and residentials and allow you to connect with amazing people.
Myrna R. Couch
Advisor
Myrna R. Couch proudly serves as advisor to the UC Davis Online MBA Student Association, where she supports the next generation of student leaders in building a collaborative, engaged and mission-driven community. A STEM-designated MBA candidate, Couch previously served as OMBA SA president (2024–2025), ambassador and cohort representative—roles that reflect her dedication to service, leadership and inclusive impact.
As a first-generation college graduate, Couch’s journey is shaped by resilience and a commitment to expanding access and opportunity. Her professional background spans sustainable business, nonprofit leadership and international market research, including consulting work with Wines of Chile through the Burgundy School of Business.
Couch remains passionate about mentoring and empowering fellow students as they navigate their MBA experience. Outside of school, she enjoys beach days with her husband, their two preteen sons and their pack of rescue dogs.
Adam El-Asmer
CMM Cohort Representative
Adam El-Asmer holds a bachelor’s degree in digital media with a focus on audio and video technology. Early in his career, he entered the healthcare industry as a nutrition assistant at Adventist Health Los Angeles, a facility consistently ranked among the top by U.S. News for high performance. In this role, El-Asmer supported both patients and staff, helping improve operations and outcomes through collaboration and service.
Although a graduate degree wasn’t originally in his plans, El-Asmer’s passion for business, leadership and helping others grow developed over the past five years. Supporting individuals, nonprofits and businesses with their development sparked a deeper interest in organizational success and inspired his decision to pursue advanced education. He draws motivation from his father, a small business owner who has run a pressure-washing company for more than three decades. Watching his father’s commitment instilled in El-Asmer a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.
Today, El-Asmer is focused on advancing his career in healthcare or a related field. He is also an advocate for men’s mental health and anxiety awareness, drawing from personal experience. His advocacy has led to the development of an upcoming eBook and self-help journal, with plans to expand into one-on-one coaching and speaking engagements for young adults and diverse communities.
Ashley Nicole Sharp
Cohort Representative
Ashley grew up in Southern California, joining the Online MBA program in January 2025. As the first person in her family to attend college, Ashley strives to prepare her younger siblings for their college and university journeys.
Ashley earned her B.A. in psychology from Arizona State University diving deep into studies surrounding nonverbal human behaviors and group dynamics.
In her spare time, Ashley enjoys spending time with family, creating new recipes, hiking, and playing with her three cats, Mister, Moe and Obi.
Ashley’s goal is to bring human connection and engagement across the MBA programs and UC Davis network.
Chris Perez
Director of Alumni Relations
Joseph Zack
Cohort Representative
Joseph Zack earned his Bachelor of Science in textile engineering from North Carolina State University, where his curiosity about how products move from manufacturing to consumers sparked a lifelong interest in textiles and innovation.
He is currently the director of material innovation and color, where he builds supply chains, develops performance textiles for outdoor gear and apparel, and ensures color consistency across global production. His work bridges creativity and technical precision to bring durable, high-quality products to life. He enjoys collaborating with suppliers and partners to drive new material technologies and sustainable solutions that enhance product performance.
Zack joined the UC Davis Online MBA program during a time of uncertainty in the job market. Motivated by curiosity and a desire to strengthen his understanding of business fundamentals, he sought to complement his hands-on experience with formal education in strategy, leadership and organizational design. The program has helped refine his communication style and deepen his appreciation for how business decisions create long-term value.
Based in Sacramento, Zack enjoys running and recently began cycling, with a goal of completing an Ironman-style endurance event. A fun fact: he knows one magic card trick and enjoys surprising friends with it.