Isenberg Alumni Reunite at the 2026 Academy of Management Annual Meeting
Faculty, doctoral students, and alumni from the Department of Management at UMass Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management attended the 86th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management (AOM 2026) in Philadelphia this past summer.
At the conference, which is the largest global gathering of management and organization scholars, management faculty members presented peer-reviewed research, participated in scholarly sessions, and contributed to professional development workshops. Their participation demonstrated the quality and breadth of scholarship taking place at Isenberg while strengthening connections with colleagues and institutions throughout the international management community.
The Management Department has a longstanding tradition of hosting an informal gathering—the Isenberg Alumni and Friends Reception—during the AOM annual meeting, providing a special opportunity for members of the extended Isenberg Management community to reunite and celebrate the relationships that have grown out of their time at Isenberg. The Isenberg Alumni and Friends Reception took place at the historic former home of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, redeveloped into a bar and darts venue known as Flight Club.
Pictured left to right: Pascale Fricke, Mengjie Xu, Ajay Keaton, Adaora Ubaka, Tony Kim, Carlos Valladares, Mzamo Mangaliso, LaStarr Hollie, Zengie Mangaliso, Brad Knipes, Mo McGuinness, Hairom Dong, Bruce Skaggs, Narjes Yousefi, Emily Heaphy, Howard Jean-Denis, and Honggi Lee.
“The Isenberg Alumni Reception at the AOM Conference provides a wonderful opportunity for our faculty, doctoral students, and PhD alumni to reconnect, celebrate the remarkable careers of our alumni, and foster mentoring and research collaborations among one another,” said Mzamo Mangaliso, PhD, who helped organize the meet up alongside Kristin Edmonds, Mo McGuinness, and Carlos Valladares. “At the same time, Isenberg’s strong presence and visibility at AOM showcase the scholarship of our faculty and the continuing impact that Isenberg has within the global management community.”
Alumni who have gone on to build academic careers at institutions across the country—including Morehouse College, New York Institute of Technology, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Westfield State University, Binghamton University, and Eastern Kentucky University—joined current and former Isenberg faculty, doctoral students, and other friends. The gathering provided a wonderful reminder that the relationships forged at Isenberg continue long after graduation, enriching the lives and work of alumni who have moved on to different institutions and career stages.
Isenberg’s presence extended well beyond the reception. Throughout the five-day conference, Isenberg enjoyed exceptional visibility through its sponsorship of the official conference lanyards worn by more than 10,000 registered attendees.
- Learn more about the Management Department at https://www.isenberg.umass.edu/programs/depts/management.
