Isenberg Graduate Programs Highlights: Academic Leadership, Innovation, and Real-World Impact

At the Isenberg School of Management, a growing portfolio of graduate programs—including both online and on-campus MBA, MS, and dual degrees—attract thousands of students and are taught by faculty members with extensive research and practical experience. We’re proud of the successes among this community, both within the university and in the business world.

During the 2024-2025 academic year, MBA student Nicolas Meneses-Salgado '25 was among the recipients of the 2025 Chancellor’s Citation & Gerald F. Scanlon Awards. Other MBA students—Supriya Sharma, Can (Alyssa) Li, Amlan Sengupta, and Maleeha Joshi—won first place in their category in two case competitions: the International Business Ethics and Sustainability Case Competition and the International Business Ethics competition. 

Another highlight: Dan Gessen, who finished his Master of Science in Business Analytics at Isenberg, was the featured speaker at the UMass Amherst graduate school’s Commencement in May. While completing his degree, Gessen led an infantry platoon of 27 soldiers on a combat deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, which had campaigns in Iraq and Syria. He was awarded a Bronze Star for exceptionally meritorious service in support of combat operations in Iraq.

“I rediscovered the importance of always continuing to learn,” he shared at Commencement, noting that returning to the classroom provided new purpose and perspective.

Additionally, Isenberg graduate faculty continue to drive important conversations in industry research:

• Marketing Professor Matt Thomson’s research on brand nicknames, published in the Journal of Marketing and featured in The Wall Street Journal, challenges prevailing strategies in consumer branding and brand identity.
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Professor Albert Assaf’s study on “place solidarity” examines how tourists express empathy for crisis-stricken regions, offering insights for international policy, tourism strategy, and humanitarian response.
• Master of Finance students in the real estate track are applying classroom theory to real-world consulting engagements, including advising local community leaders in Amherst on sustainable property development aligned with municipal planning goals.

We’re excited to embark on a new academic year and look forward to continued growth and impact by our graduate students and faculty.

Best wishes,

Dean Massey