March 2026
Ready to see how the Saunders community is shaping the future? Our March Issue is full of high-impact research, student success stories, and our events calendar. Don't forget to contribute your own news for next month by visiting Saunders announcements or emailing us at communications@saunders.rit.edu.
Luna Altall ’26 (finance), Natali Belušić ’26 (international business), Kaitlin Black ’26 (finance), Gustav Blom ’26 (management information systems), Tita Butić ’26 (hospitality and tourism management), Spencer Dennis ’27 (finance and accounting), Ankang Lin ’26 (management information systems), Tyler Mahan ’26 (finance), Isabell Repalust ’26 (international business), Elizabeth Robertson ’27 (marketing), Rania Sabri ’26 (accounting), Emma Schleher ’26 (supply chain management), Irina Sidorenko ’25 (global business management), Neva Vidović ’26 (global business management), Mads Wilson ’25 (global business management) ’27 (MBA), Brian Yan ’26 (finance and accounting), and Xun Zhang ‘26 (management information systems) have been named RIT Outstanding Undergraduate Scholars for 2025-2026. The award goes to the top 1% of undergraduate students who achieve academic excellence while also giving back to the community through civic or volunteer work, by conducting research, or being engaged in a co-op or work in their field of study.
Jillian R Antol ’26 (global public health and criminal justice), David L Brassie ’26 (exercise science), Ericka Chen ’26 (accounting and management information systems), Sonakshi Das '25 (finance and MIS) ’26 (MBA), Jovan Alfred English '21 (hospitality and tourism management) ’26 (MS hospitality business management), Bell Grace Guenther ’27 (human-centered computing), Felix-Nadine Galbraith-Herweg '25 ( global business management and MIS) ’26 (MBA), Virginia Lee Howe '22 (hospitality and tourism management) ’26 (MS hospitality business management), Seth M Law ’28 (exercise science), Bree Power ’27 (MBA), Aden Joseph Ruben ’26 (supply chain management), and Gideon Noah Samara '19 (applied arts & sciences) ’26 (MS organizational leadership and innovation) arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in partial completion of MGMT 758 Global Health Systems Management and Innovation, a faculty-led study abroad course taught by Saunders College for the first time. Students take 5-6 online classes during spring semester and spend spring break in Stockholm. Learn more here.
Koa Butler ’27 (finance and MIS), Brennan Lee ’26 (MS finance), Shane Girolamo ’28 (finance and computer science), Owen Cavo ’27 (finance and MIS), Evan Ren ’28 (finance), Lan yin L Zheng ’26 (finance and MIS), Santhan Sai Ravi ’26 (MS finance), Erodona Ibraj '24 (individualized program) ’26 (MS finance), Anastasiya Tsikh ’26 (finance), Sadhvi Kumar ’28 (finance), and Roshni Tolani ’26 (finance) attended the MIT Sloan Fintech Conference, February 20, 2026, in Boston. They were accompanied by Archana Jain, associate professor and chair of the department of finance and accounting. Learn more here.
Kristen Cassar ’25 (supply chain management) ’26 (MBA), Sarah Fillip '25 (supply chain management) ’26 (MBA), Nick Lucarini '25 (supply chain management) ‘26 (MBA), and Ian Anderson ’27 (MS global supply chain management) took part in the Texas Christian University Graduate Supply Chain Case Competition, February 19-21, 2026, on the campus of TCU. The faculty advisor is Kevin Sweeney, associate professor in the department of management. Learn more here.
Shane Girolamo ’28 (finance and computer science)—team captain, Lanyin “L" Zheng ’28 (finance, MIS), Evan Ren ’28 (finance), Koa Butler ’27 (finance), and Michael Paoletti ’27 (finance and marketing) took second place in the 2026 CFA Institute Research Challenge, on February 7, at RIT. This competition “provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis.” Christopher Petrosino is the industry mentor for the team; Hao Zhang, professor in the department of finance and accounting, is the faculty advisor. Learn more here.
Brady Janowski ‘25 (accounting) ‘26 (MBA) has passed his final CPA exam part TCP. Following graduation in May he will be joining KPMG in Boston.
Palak Wadhwa '24 (individualized program) '25 (MBA) and Jacob Knerr ‘29 (environmental sustainability, health, and safety) participated in a panel discussion titled “Alternative Breaks Student Leadership Model: Benefits and Challenges” at SUNY Brockport's annual Student Leadership Conference on Feb. 28. Knerr and Wadhwa shared their experiences as participants and student trip leaders in the RIT Alternative Break Program.
Lindsay Connelly ‘11 (marketing) ‘18 (MBA) has been named to the Inc. 2026 Female Founders 500 list. The annual list honors the country’s most dynamic women business leaders, recognizing founders whose ideas, resilience and execution help shape the future of their industries. Connelly is founder and president of Linden Digital Marketing.
Soon Hyeok (Steve) Choi, assistant professor in the department of finance and accounting, has received the 2025 Housing Research Manuscript Award from the American Real Estate Society for his co-authored article, “The Winner’s Curse in Housing Markets”, includes a cash prize of $2500.
William Dresnack, associate professor in the department of finance and accounting, has been recognized with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award by the New York State Society of CPAs. He will receive the award at the Society’s Annual Meeting, President Installation and Awards Dinner on May 14, 2026, in New York City.
Brad Dunn joins the department of management as an adjunct professor beginning February 9, 2026.
Jacquie Mozrall, dean of Saunders College of Business, was interviewed on an episode of The Wilmac Wire, “Higher Education, Workforce Readiness, and the Future of Business Talent,” on January 8, 2026. She discussed how business education is evolving alongside technology and AI.
Rajendran Murthy, professor in the department of marketing, has been recognized with a Best Paper award for “Crowdsourcing and M&A as Open Innovation Strategies: A Study in Signaling and Complementarity,” which he will present at the Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Conference, March 29 to April 1, 2026. One of his co-authors is John Ettlie, former Rosett Professor of Business in the Saunders College of Business.
Peggy Tirrell, senior associate director for graduate programs and admissions for Saunders College of Business, has won the Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Staff Award at the 2025 Presidential Award for Outstanding Staff.
