Blog Author | UC Davis Graduate School of Management

Profile

Marissa Hernandez MBA 25

I chose UC Davis for its strong leadership culture and people-centered community, preparing me with the business acumen to launch my career in healthcare finance at an institution I deeply believe in.

Current Position

Finance Administrative Fellow, UCLA Health

Previous Work Experience

Administrative Supervisor, UC Davis Health

Previous Education

Master of Business Administration, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Health Professions Post-Baccalaureate Certification, San Francisco State University
Bachelor’s in biological sciences, UC Davis

Fun Facts

My fantasy

Shrishti Gupta MSBA 25

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Shrishti Gupta MSBA 25

I chose UC Davis for its blend of technical rigor and real-world application. The practicum project, Bay Area connections and small cohort size offered the perfect balance of collaboration, career growth and hands-on experience.

Previous Work Experience

AI Strategy Intern, Bevalty Inc
Product Data Analyst, Standard Insights
Founder, Finanacial Consultancy
IT Risk Analyst, KPMG LLP

Previous Education

Master's of Science in of Business Analytics, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Master's in economics, Mumbai University
Bachelor's in business administration, Mumbai

Koji Hasegawa MBA 26

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Koji Hasegawa MBA 26

I chose UC Davis for its strong presence in agriculture, flexible program format, hybrid of in-person and online classes, affordable class sizes and the strength of the UC brand.

Student Leadership and Experience

Bay Area MBA Ambassador

Previous Education

B.S. in mechanical engineering, Kansai University

Previous Work Experience

General Manager, Innovation Center Silicon Valley, Kubota Corporation

Fun Facts

I love running and have completed more than 20 marathon races.
I love traveling and trying new dishes around the world.

Jaimie Asakawa MBA 24

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Jaimie Asakawa MBA 24

UC Davis provides the opportunity to make a positive impact and be the change I want to see!

Current Position

Media & Communications Director, Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management, UC Davis Health

Previous Work Experience

Communications Officer, Pediatric Pandemic Network
Business & Organizational Specialist, UC Davis School of Medicine

Previous Education

Master of Business Administration, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Modern Languages (French & Spanish), University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Fun Facts

I love to run! I've run three half

Daniel Vaziri MBA 27

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Daniel Vaziri MBA 27

I chose UC Davis for its unique curriculum, strong community and career focus. The program sharpens critical thinking, supports career goals and fosters camaraderie—helping students enter the workforce prepared and ahead of the competition.

Student Leadership and Experience

Division I athlete

Previous Education

B.S. in business administration, Pepperdine University

Previous Work Experience

Digital Media Coordinator, WME

Fun Facts

I'm a huge video game nerd.
NYT mini games should always be played in this order: Mini Crossword, Connections, Wordle and Strands.

Nabarjun Vashisth MBA 26

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Nabarjun Vashisth MBA 26

I chose UC Davis GSM because of the boutique MBA experience here, and to make a career transition in the west coast.

Student Leadership and Experience

Director, GSM Ambassador Program
President, Net Impact Club
MBA liaison, Associated Students of Management

Previous Education

Master of Science, civil engineering, Clemson University, South Carolina
Bachelor of Science, civil engineering, Amity University, India

Previous Work Experience

Operations manager, Amazon
Project analyst, Sacramento Clean Cities Coalition
Civil engineer II, AECOM
Transportation engineer, Gresham

Carolyn Gruebele MBA 26

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Carolyn Gruebele MBA 26

I chose UC Davis because of its welcoming and close-knit MBA program, which has allowed me to build strong relationships with both students and faculty.

I was also drawn to the unique courses offered, such as the Industry Immersions, Collaborative Leadership and the Integrated Management Project. These opportunities allow me to strengthen my skills while gaining real-world experience in a classroom setting.

Student Leadership and Experience

Co-president of the Marketing and Product Management Club, UC Davis
Open house event operations lead, Cal Poly
Orientation facilitator, Cal Poly

Eduardo Casarubias MPAc 24

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Eduardo Casarubias MPAc 24

I chose UC Davis because I knew I wanted a master’s in accounting. The MPAc program made the path clear because earning a CPA requires additional units. The program’s strong job pipelines and hands-on learning sealed it. Best of all, the tight-knit cohort felt supportive and inclusive.

Current Position

Tax Staff 2

Previous Work Experience

Teacher Assistant, UC Davis

Previous Education

Master of Professional Accountancy, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
B.S. in business administration, accounting and finance, California State University, Monterey Bay

Fun Facts

Ian Tarter MBA 25

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Ian Tarter MBA 25

I chose UC Davis because the program offered a unique blend of hand-on experience and flexibility combined with their well-recognized and respected brand.

Student Leadership and Experience

Lead, Integrated Management Project (IMP)
President, Sigma Tau Delta Honors Society
Editor, The Watermark

Previous Education

B.A. in English literature, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Previous Work Experience

CEO and Co-Founder, Up Left Media
Store Manager, Apple Inc.

Fun Facts

I have lived on both coasts and traveled to over 39 states.
I have run two full marathons and over

Zeel Shah MSBA 25

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Zeel Shah MSBA 25

I chose UC Davis for its MSBA program’s technical depth, real-world application, collaborative culture and proximity to San Francisco, with the yearlong practicum as a standout feature.

Current Position

Consultant, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
Manager, YES Bank Ltd.

Previous Education

Master of Science in Business Analytics, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Integrated BBA-MBA in finance, Nirma University

Fun Facts

I love desserts and visiting every new dessert shop in the city.
I love baking cheesecakes and brownies.

Kristin Berkery MBA 27

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Kristin Berkery MBA 27

The Online MBA program is essential for me as a working professional with a family—I wouldn't be able to pursue my MBA without this option. UC Davis's reputation for excellence, combined with its diverse graduate community and accessible online format, provides the perfect combination of high standards, flexibility and networking opportunities I need to achieve my career goals. I believe my UC Davis MBA will open doors for me to teach and work at organizations worldwide.

Professional Experience

Educator, Elementary Education, Elk Grove Unified School District
Owner, Kristin Berkery

Aishwarya Singh MBA 22

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Aishwarya Singh MBA 22

The amazing inter-woven collaborative and Innovative culture at the Graduate School of Management is skillfully nurtured in its MBA program. Diversity, cross functional expertise, cultural inclusiveness and respect are built into the DNA of the program. While you enjoy the warm hospitality of Davis, a historical college town, you also have a seamless connectivity to the world's most innovative square mile, the Silicon Valley.

Current Position

HCM IT Manager, Pacific Coast Companies, Inc.

Previous Work Experience

Amazon Inc.
GAP Inc.
SC Johnson
AkzoNobel Decorative

Keerthana Hegde MBA 25

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Keerthana Hegde MBA 25

The main reason I chose UC Davis was for the "close-knit cohort". I aim to forge genuine connections with every classmate, prioritizing depth over superficiality. This would not have been possible in a class of 200+ people.

Current Position

Finance Manager, Nusano Inc.

Previous Education

Master of Business Administration, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
Bachelor of Commerce, Bangalore University

Fun Facts

I enjoy traveling.
I mix perfumes to create my own perfume.
I can speak four languages.

Shannon McPartland MBA 25

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Shannon McPartland MBA 25

I chose UC Davis because I had already earned both my undergraduate and a master’s degree here, and I’ve always felt a strong connection to the university. My husband is also a Graduate School of Management alum, so choosing Davis felt like the perfect fit for both of us.

Current Position

Senior Coroner Technician, Sacramento County Coroner's Office

Previous Work Experience

Coroner Technician, Sacramento County Coroner's Office

Previous Education

Masters of Forensic Science, UC Davis

Fun Facts

I hold three degrees, all from UC Davis.
I love to travel and have set a goal

Yufan (Via) Lin MSBA 25

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Yufan (Via) Lin MSBA 25

After eight years in the workforce, starting over was terrifying. UC Davis' MSBA program helped me embrace data's power and showed me that growth begins when we rewrite our own life scores.

Previous Work Experience

Hotel Partnerships Manager / Data Analyst, Trip.com

Previous Education

Bachelor of Laws in sociology, Shanghai University

Fun Facts

I was named a top 10 singer at Shanghai Disney Resort, and I believe presenting insights is its own kind of performance.
I love badminton, where timing and strategy feel just like business negotiation.
My cats, Alpha and Beta, always

Kyle Ayisi MSBA 25

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Kyle Ayisi MSBA 25

I chose the UC Davis MSBA program for its people and location. Being at the center of AI innovation—surrounded by a program that wants to see you succeed—is a recipe for success.

Current Position

Quant Analytics Associate, JPMorgan Chase

Previous Work Experience

Research Assistant, Princeton Computational Memory Lab

Previous Education

Bachelor of Arts, Neuroscience, Princeton University

Fun Facts

I play the piano and drums.
I once competed in the national spelling bee.
I average 150,000 minutes a year of listening on Spotify.

Kevin Leung MBA 23

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Kevin Leung MBA 23

I chose UC Davis because it has strong engineering and business programs that helped me shape my skill set for the workforce. Its proximity to my family and the Bay Area Part-Time MBA program allowed me to pursue my MBA while working full time in tech.

Current Position

Finance Manager, Meta

Previous Work Experience

Senior Business Analyst, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
Project Engineer, Harder Mechanical Contractors

Previous Education

Master of Business Administration, UC Davis
Bachelor's in civil engineering, UC Davis

Fun Facts

I was a contestant on Season 48 of

Diana Tran MPAc 24

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Diana Tran MPAc 24

I went to undergrad at UC Davis and I love the college-town aspect and the inviting community. It's a big school with a tight-knit feel!

Current Position

Assurance Associate, PwC

Previous Work Experience

External Audit Intern, PwC

Previous Education

Bachelor's in managerial economics, UC Davis

Fun Facts

I like to lift weights, build Legos, and read in my free time!

Anirudh Arora MBA 25

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Anirudh Arora MBA 25

When I was exploring MBA programs, I wanted more than rankings—I wanted a place to grow, and UC Davis delivered. The Part-Time MBA let me pursue rigorous academics while working full-time, but it was the collaborative, purpose-driven culture that truly stood out.

Previous Work Experience

Software engineer, Forcepoint

Previous Education

Master of Business Administration, UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Master of Science in computer science, George Mason University
Bachelor of Engineering in computer engineering, University of Mumbai

Fun Facts

I enjoy travelling so

Deepak Paudel MPAc 25

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Deepak Paudel MPAc 25

I came to the UC Davis MPAc program with a mix of internationalism, journalistic purpose and data-driven rigor. At UC Davis, I have been eager to explore technology through courses like Machine Learning with Python, where I discovered the revolutionary potential of coding to transform the world of audit and analytics.

Previous Education

Bachelor's in economics, UC Davis

Previous Work Experience

Journalist, Foreign News Media

Fun Facts

I've lived in three vastly different parts of the world—Nepal, Qatar and California—and each has added a unique layer to my worldview (and my