Minority MBA Association
Minority MBA Association works to raise awareness about corporate social responsibility with all Smeal stakeholders and provide members with necessary tools to embrace and create change.
Minority MBA Association
The purpose of the Minority MBA Association (MMBAA) is to add value to the Penn State community through continual diversity awareness and recruiting events. The MMBAA strives to create a sense of community by providing a strong support base for professional development and enhancing the academic experience of MBA students.
The Minority MBA Association hosted their career fair workshop on September 7, 2007. This year, Karen Hill from GlaxoSmithKline was the featured speaker, and she shared her secrets for success. Karen, a 2003 Smeal graduate, revealed her perspectives for winning at a professional career fair and for interviewing like a pro. Karen shared what she called her game day winning strategy for maximum performance. The session was not only a great preparation tool for the National Black MBA Conference in Orlando, Florida, it was a powerful resource that will be leveraged by many students for years to come.
The 2007-2008 school year started off with a Labor Day cookout hosted by resident grill masters Mohammed Mijindadi and Agaba Tumusiime. The students from the class of 2009 and the class of 2008 had ample opportunity to mix and mingle with one another during the classic end of summer holiday. It was a beautiful day with good food and great conversation.
Members traveled to Orlando, Florida from September 12 through September 16, 2007, for the National Black MBA Conference and Case Competition. This was an opportunity to network and talk with companies that do not generally come to Penn State campus regarding internship and full-time opportunities. Three students competed with schools around the world in a business case competition. During the first weekend in October, several members attended the National Society of Hispanic MBAs in Houston, Texas. This also gave the members an opportunity to connect with companies that normally do not come to campus.
On September 25, 2007, the Minority MBA Association as well as National Association of Black Accountants (an undergraduate business organization at Smeal) invited Dr. Vernis Welmon to lead us in a discussion on Jazz in preparation for a weekend concert at Penn State featuring the Count Basie Orchestra and Nnenna Freelon.
For our annual holiday event, we purchased Christmas gifts for underprivileged children in conjunction with the Toys for Tots Children’s Charity. We were able to help provide a Merry Christmas for local children.
The members also plan and carry out activities related to Diversity Appreciation Weekend which will be held from March 28-30, 2008. Diversity Appreciation Weekend activities will begin with the mixer on Friday evening. The mixer is the event that allows prospective students to meet students and alumni in an informal environment. There will be an alumni panel on Saturday afternoon at the Nittany Lion Inn. This event serves to educate prospective students about MBA life at the Smeal College of Business. The highlight event of the weekend is the Diversity Appreciation Banquet on Saturday night. This year, Vern Taylor will be the keynote speaker during our event. In summary, this weekend serves as our opportunity to show prospective minority students why Smeal is such a great place to get an M.B.A. degree.
On January 21, 2008, the MMBAA celebrated the MLK Holiday by participating in the campus-wide "Day of Service." Our group volunteered by donating our efforts to the local "Meals on Wheels" program. Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers meals to people with health challenges who are not able to prepare their own meals. Several students met in the Hub-Robeson Student Center and participated by decorating lunch bags during the day, hoping to bring smiles to the faces of many of these needy locals. It was a wonderful way to celebrate the tireless service to humanity that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. exemplified during his life.
Our alumni, students, and faculty unite to help show candidates what the Penn State Smeal MBA community is all about.
Minority MBA Newsletters
Winter 2007 Newsletter (.pdf 498Kb) *Acrobat
Summer 2007 Newsletter (.pdf 2,414Kb) *Acrobat
Spring 2007 Newsletter (.pdf 2,414Kb) *Acrobat
Fall 2006 Newsletter (.pdf 593Kb)*Acrobat
Winter 2006 Newsletter (.pdf 2,443Kb) *Acrobat
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Carl Asher, President As the president of the Smeal Minority MBA Association, Carl provides oversight of the Association’s efforts to initiate peer support for minorities, provide a forum for minority professional development and networking, and develop and promote minority cultural and academic programs. |
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Rugigana Kavamahanga, VP of Marketing & Student Affairs Rugigana Kavamahanga was born in Boston Massachusetts and raised in State College. He has received his BA in Economics with a Minor in International Studies from Penn State. Upon Graduation Rugigana spent two years as a Volunteer in the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa. Rugigana was working as A Small Enterprise Development Agent in a consulting capacity for a Micro Finance institution that specialized in introducing savings and Credit to low income farmers and women’s groups.After the Peace Corps Rugigana worked as campaign organizer for Various Campaigns in Oakland California. He was the lead organizer for the De La Fuente For Mayor of Oakland Campaign. Most recently Rugigana was working as an export coordinator for BDP international in Philadelphia.. He will pursue the Marketing and Finance portfolio. rxk169@psu.edu |
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Devon Ray, VP of Alumni & Corporate Relations Devon Ray was born in North Carolina, yet raised all over the United States. She is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University where she minored in Spanish and received a bachelor’s degree in transportation and logistics. During her time at North Carolina A&T, she held a variety of internships for such companies as Union Pacific Railroad and Caterpillar Logistics. She has also interned for the mayor of Atlanta. Furthermore, she was very active in the community and the school, participating in such projects as Reading Connections Adult Literacy Program, Black Child Development, Beta Gamma Sigma Vice-President, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society, Georgia Aggie Treasurer, and Verge Modeling Troupe. She is currently pursuing the supply chain management and entrepreneurial concentrations at Smeal and hopes to obtain a career where she can combine her passion for high fashion with her interest in logistics. dlr269@psu.edu |
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Alicia Holt, VP of Communications Alicia Holt is a native of Montgomery, AL. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in the area of Food Science and Technology from Alabama A&M University in Huntsville,AL in 2005. Immediately after obtaining her B.S. degree she joined the Penn. State Food Science Department as a Bunton Waller Fellow in pursuit of her Master’s degree. While in the Food Science Department her area of concentration was Flavor Chemistry. Alicia is involved in several extracurricular activities most notably the Penn. State Product Development Team, Black Graduate Student Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., etc. Alicia joined the Smeal School of Business in the fall of 2007 and looks forwards to fostering her innovative spirit and developing the necessary leadership skills to succeed in business. Her concentration will be marketing and strategic leadership. agh127@psu.edu |
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Derrick Peña, VP of Finance Derrick Peña is the Minority MBA Association’s Vice President of Finance. Derrick is responsible for the management of the MMBAA’s allocated funds. He is a graduate of California State University Long Beach, with a degree in Marketing. |
