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G. Brint Ryan College of Business.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

SPOTLIGHTS

STUDENT


Sarah Fuller ('22)

The first woman in history to score points in a Power 5 football game will be joining the G. Brint Ryan College of Business this fall.

Sarah Fuller is transferring to UNT from Vanderbilt, where she not only led the soccer team to a conference tournament championship, but also suited up for kickoff during their conference football game against Missouri.

“Originally, I was going to pursue my MBA in Hospital Admin but then I kicked a football and my world changed a little,” said Fuller.

Pursing her MBA in sport entertainment management, Fuller chose a different degree path, because she wanted to make a difference.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see how incredible this program is and Professor Heere has been a great help to me already. I'd love to one day either be a sports agent or work in the NWSL and bring a team to Dallas or Nashville, and I believe this program will help me do just that.”

The Mean Green women’s soccer team also played a role in Fuller’s application to UNT.

“I also chose North Texas because of their success on the soccer field... This women's soccer team has shown time and time again their championship mentality and I'm excited to join in the fight for another ring.”

Expected to attend the ESPYs on July 10, Fuller has been an inspiration to women in sports everywhere — and plans on using her UNT degree to help other women get the recognition they deserve in sports.

ALUMNUS

 

Joel Johnson ('97)

Addison-based Guaranty Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Guaranty Bank & Trust NA, announced on May 17 that Joel Johnson has been hired and appointed as the company’s chief digital officer.

Johnson and his team will help the bank better serve its communities with digital banking offerings, including the potential cryptocurrency and digital wallet service offerings currently being considered.

Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience helping top-tier organizations across multiple industries establish a digital strategy and redefine their customer experiences and product strategies.

Most recently, he led the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s digital initiatives by developing online and mobile channel interactions. He is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a BBA degree in business computer information systems.

“With the ever-changing digital landscape, Joel will help us stay at the forefront of serving our customers today and into the future,” says Ty Abston, chairman of the board and CEO.

READ MORE...
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Published by Bankersdigest.com, May 2021
 

FEATURED DONORS

KPMG

The UNT G. Brint Ryan College of Business is committed to connecting the DFW community with its students through mutually-beneficial partnership opportunities. In 2021, the college welcomed its first official corporate partner, KMPG, through its newly formed Corporate Partnership Program.
 
“KPMG’s partnership with the UNT Ryan College of Business promotes an environment that supports our commitment to recruit and hire talented professionals with the right skills, experiences, and competencies to succeed, and whose personal values align with the KPMG values that serve as the foundation of our firm’s culture,” said KPMG Partner and 2004 UNT accounting alumnus Jason Greenlee.
 
KPMG has been a long-standing supporter of the college’s mission to prepare global business leaders and scholars in an intellectually stimulating and engaging community. The global accounting firm established the KPMG Professorship at the college, a position that is currently held by Dr. Paul Hutchinson.

Corporate partnerships at the UNT Ryan College of Business strengthen our programs, while simultaneously offering industries the valuable opportunity to connect to the college and its students—enhancing marketing opportunities for our partnering organizations through several tiers of benefits. We invite you to learn more about how becoming a partner of the college can expand your reach and your brand by contacting Michael.Farrell@unt.edu.

IN THE NEWS

93% of accounting students land job offers following spring internships

UNT accounting students are well aware that internships are a key component to landing a full-time job offer.

Many accounting firms test out the potential of entry-level job recruits through their internship programs, which is why the G. Brint Ryan College of Business does everything it can to get its students in the door early.

104 UNT accounting students participated in spring internships this year, and 93% of those students were offered a full-time job offer with the firm where they interned. Of the 26 students who interned with big four firms, all received job offers, while 70 of the 75 students interning with mid-market and regional firms were offered a permanent position.

93% placement is impressive in its own right—but coupling that feat with the added challenge of standing out in a new and unfamiliar workplace while operating remotely is even more notable.

“The most challenging part of the internship was probably having to learn and adjust to a new experience in a remote environment, while missing the in-person experiences and human connections within the office,” recalled Valerie Valerian, BS/MS accounting student.

Valerian interned with Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) and used all resources given to feel connected and successful in the workplace. Among other things, Valerian “learned how to build a network and be adaptable and flexible within a virtual environment.”

“The internship allowed me to apply what I learned from my UNT accounting courses in a professional setting and helped me gain a whole new perspective of business acumen, digital acumen, and soft skills that will prepare me for my future endeavors,” continued Valerian.
 
READ MORE...

Uncovering the success of a salesperson

Dr. Blair Kidwell, professor of marketing at the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, has coauthored a new publication in the Journal of Marketing titled: “Emotional Calibration and Salesperson Performance.”

The article looks at the roles of emotional confidence and emotional intelligence in sales—debunking the common belief that high emotional intelligence alone is the strongest asset to a sales team.

Kidwell and his fellow researchers analyzed more than 350 individuals in varying industries to uncover that having both high emotional intelligence, coupled with high emotional confidence, led to the most success in sales.

The research also found that lacking in either characteristic worsened employee outcomes.

“We believe that if sales managers continue to invest in emotional intelligence training or selection tools, they should also invest in developing and sustaining emotional confidence. If their salesforce does not have the emotional confidence to match their emotional skills, then they cannot realize the benefits of these skills,” explained Kidwell.

READ MORE...

Professor Jose Lineros weighs in on face app privacy

You may have seen the latest internet craze where in just seconds an app can turn one of your old photos into a fresh new cartoon.

These days we are all familiar with facial recognition. There are filters that scan your face on Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook. You see one of your friends posted a filtered photo online, and next thing you know you have to try it, too.

It’s all fun and games until you realize once again, you skipped past the terms and conditions.

“So it’s kind of a certainty of ‘I can see my grandkids with cartoon eyes’ versus, ‘I’m not exactly sure what I’m giving up,’” said Jose Lineros, a cyber security expert at UNT.

He says these days, it’s hard to do anything online without having personal data collected. “We’re at the opening gates of a world of artificial intelligence and machine learning."

Voila AI Artist is the newest of the popular face-changing apps. It’s currently the number one free app in the App Store.

Today the company addressed their privacy policy online after saying they’ve received concerns. 

READ MORE...
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Published by Nicole Nielsen, CBS DFW, June 2021

THE MORE YOU KNOW

Drs. Vaziri, Ogbanufe and Kipp among UNT Washington DC Faculty Fellows program

The UNT Division of Research and Innovation established UNT's Washington DC Faculty Fellows program in 2019. The program was developed as a way to connect UNT's rising star junior research professors with program directors at funding agencies in DC.

The ultimate goal of the program is to assist UNT's thought leaders in growing their research efforts by obtaining resources and discovering new funding opportunities.

Three faculty represent the G. Brint Ryan College of Business, including Dr. Hoda Vaziri from the Department of Management, Dr. Obi Ogbanufe from the Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences, and Dr. Peter Kipp from the Department of Accounting.

The Fellows have already conducted virtual visits this year, including one with Dr. Fleming Crim, chief operating officer for the National Science Foundation, and are continuing to build on the connections they have made.

Vaziri, Ogbanufe and Kipp are a part of the second cohort of UNT Washington DC Faculty Fellows since the program's inception.

READ MORE...

College recognized for commitment to diversity and inclusion

The University of North Texas has once again been recognized for its efforts in diversity and inclusion.  
 
The University ranked among the top 40 universities for the number of diverse doctoral graduates, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. The 2020 rankings, released earlier this year, showcased UNT as number thirty-nine on the list.
 
In Diverse Issues in Higher Education’s rankings by discipline, the Ryan College of Business came in at number one, and received sixth place for Hispanic graduates and ninth place for diverse graduates in undergraduate business programs.

 


PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITY AT THE RYAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

THE MCNATT EMERGENCY FUND

In 2019, Jim (’66) and Linda McNatt established a lifeline for students in emergency situations. That lifeline is known as the McNatt Fund for Students in Financial Crisis.
 
In just two years, the McNatt Fund has received over 650 applications and provided nearly $570,000 to more than 440 students.
 
But we need your help. With the unanticipated number of students in need of financial help throughout the pandemic, the McNatt Fund has now depleted its resources.
 
Students like Leslie Davis, senior integrated studies major, rely on the McNatt Fund to stay in school.
 
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I relied solely on my recent job to fund me through school. I am very independent and never want to worry anyone about my hardships. After I lost my job, I had nowhere else to turn for financial assistance. My family has made it very difficult to focus on my obligations at school, because they are in constant need of assistance. By awarding me [the McNatt] fund, you have lightened my financial burden, which allows me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning,” said Davis.
 
Other students, like first generation college student Laurie Bengoa, would likely not have been able to graduate if it were not for the support of the McNatt Fund.
 
“As the youngest and only person in my entire family to leave the US Virgin Islands and get a college degree, I had to work four jobs just to get by. Regardless of my difficult financial and home situation, I have always been determined to work hard and persevere. I wanted to defy the odds and make my dreams come true... Now, because of [the McNatt Fund’s] generous support and help, I will be able to do so,” said Bengoa.
 
Students like Davis and Bengoa are depending on your support to continue their academic dreams. Please consider donating to the McNatt Fund today.

Every gift matters, because every student matters.

GIVE TO THE MCNATT FUND
 

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University of North Texas
G. Brint Ryan College of Business

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