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RECENT GRAD
Ella Radberg ('22)
Ella Radberg did not always see her future in the financial planning field. Upon first coming to UNT, she initially had her dreams set on becoming a nurse.
“I just knew I wanted to help people,” Radberg explained.
Realizing that the medical industry was not the way she wanted to help, however, she quickly found her calling after enrolling in a financial planning course.
“I like how you get to sit one-on-one with people and see them progress in their lives and reach their goals,” Radberg said.
Radberg had always been interested in saving and investing money, and now she’s helping others do exactly that.
While at UNT, Radberg served as a moderator for the Demystifying Financial Planning event, presented by Schwab Advisor Services in partnership with Schwab Foundation. As a moderator, she got the opportunity to interview a panel of some of the top financial advisors in the Dallas, Fort Worth area.
She also served as a student ambassador at the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) Spring 2022 National Conference in Atlanta. It was there that she found out she wanted to work for a firm that was fee-only, rather than one that also takes commission.
“I feel like fee-only is more ethical… you’re really there to just help the client with whatever they need and you’re not trying to sell them anything else on the side,” Radberg said.
Starting her financial planning career off early, she was hired part time by Aspen Wealth Management prior to graduating last fall.
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FACULTY
Dr. Dexter Purnell
Lecturer by day and recording engineer by night, Dr. Dexter Purnell is showing his students the value of marketing through firsthand experiences.
Purnell engineered (recorded and mixed) one of Billboard's recently named Top Ten Songs of 2022, "No Greater Love," featuring two Grammy-award winners, Rudy Currence and Chrisette Michele.
With an extensive background working alongside many highly acclaimed recording artists and record labels, such as Sony, Disturbing Tha Peace Records, Def Jam Records, Asylum Records, and Slip-N-Slide Records (to name just a few), the talent Purnell brings into his studio also carries over into the classroom.
“As a recording engineer/record producer, it is my job to add value to the client's project and help them deliver that value to the listener. It is my ability to communicate how I can add value that allows me to continue working in the industry,” explained Purnell. “We are all marketers whether we know it or not. Value is the linchpin of marketing. As marketers, we have to create, communicate and deliver value to consumers.”
And as Purnell continues to deliver value in the music industry, his students are able to learn from his marketing successes and gain a unique perspective in the field.
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A legacy of benevolent generosity and real estate excellence, which was founded more than 30 years ago by the Irwin family, will now live on in perpetuity.
Craig Irwin (pictured left), former owner of the residential real estate agency, Place to Be Properties, recently gifted the company to two women that worked alongside him—Stephanie Crooks and Rosanna Guzman. Now, as a way to pay homage to his generosity, Crooks and Guzman, along with their Place to Be colleagues, have established a way for Irwin’s legacy to live on through future generations of real estate professionals.
“Place to Be Properties established the Craig C. Irwin Endowed Scholarship in Real Estate at UNT to acknowledge the high ethical standards of a businessman and outstanding personal character of a kind and compassionate individual,” said Rick Guzman, Rosanna’s husband and Place to Be Properties realtor. “As a real estate professional, he genuinely cares about building relationships with his business associates, employees, and clients. Whether in business or his personal life, Craig Irwin believes in always doing the right thing and treating everyone fairly with honesty and integrity.”
The scholarship, once fully endowed, will provide UNT students pursuing their degree in real estate a chance to relieve their debt and focus on their education.
Dale (’61) and Charlotte (’62) Irwin started their family owned and operated real estate company more than 30 years ago with a mission to make a difference in the world. The company’s commitment to give back is shown through donations they make to the nonprofit organization, Sower of Seeds, after each new lease is signed. And now, the profits earned by Place to Be will also help support one more important initiative of the future—UNT real estate students.
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Airline simulation challenge takes flight with SWA
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Aviation logistics courses at UNT give students the practical application and
critical thinking to have their very own airline take flight
Each semester, Dr. Timothy Kincaid challenges his class to engage in a ten-week, online airline simulation project. Splitting up into teams of three or four, students are tasked with turning around a small, struggling airline by making critical operational and strategic decisions on a weekly basis.
The catch? For the past three years, Southwest Airlines (SWA) has been upping the competition with a team of their own.
“For the past three years, a ‘phantom’ team from Southwest Airlines Network Planning has also played, surprising students each semester by showing up for the last class for the simulation debrief,” explained Kincaid.
From deciding on which routes to fly and how to invest in their aircraft, to determining fare costs, and stock sales, the challenge merges theory with practical application, forcing participants (both from Kincaid’s class and from SWA) to make challenging decisions that will ensure a smooth flying, profitable airline.
And while SWA usually gives students a run for their money, they don’t always land the top spot in the competition.
Olivia Wattman, 2023 aviation logistics major, was part of the Fall 2022 winning team.
“I learned a lot about many decisions that go into a regional airline, firsthand. One of the biggest things I learned from this is to be patient and really watch where you spend your money,” said Wattman. “One of my biggest challenges, however, was that my team was composed of logistics and aviation logistics majors, so none of us knew a lot about stock and loans.”
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North Texas SHRM awards exclusive scholarships to two UNT students
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For the second year in a row, two UNT students have been the sole awardees of the North Texas Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Robert P. Lette Scholarship.
Senior Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management major Mya Koko has taken home the $1,000 scholarship for the past two years and this year, was joined by colleague Madison White.
For both White and Koko, these scholarships will make a tremendous impact on their education and financial freedom.
“As a college student with a job, taking more than 15 credit hours while paying for my own rent and bills is a struggle—but it has also helped me appreciate the effort I am putting in, while learning to depend on myself so that I’m ready for the future ahead of me,” explained Koko. “Receiving this scholarship was an honor, because it means that all my hard work is paying off and gives me an opening to succeed and graduate on time.”
White, who is expected to graduate in December with a degree in Business Integrated Studies with a concentration in HR and Entrepreneurship had similar sentiments regarding the award.
“Coming into UNT as a freshman in 2020, my senior year was going to be unaccounted for, financially speaking, and I was planning on taking out a student loan to cover it,” said White. “But with the help of additional UNT scholarships, a few external scholarships, and the Roger P. Lette Scholarship, I will graduate debt free.”
White and Koko were awarded the scholarships based on merit, their commitment to HR, volunteerism, academic achievement and local SHRM involvement.
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U.S. News & World Report ranks online business programs at the top
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U.S. News & World Report recently released its 2023 Best Online Program rankings—an in-depth look into online programs offered across the country. Once again, the G. Brint Ryan College of Business landed a top spot on the list.
The UNT Online MBA came in at 65th overall, while also ranking 34th in the nation for veterans. UNT online bachelor’s degree programs landed at 74th in the nation.
On the state level, the online bachelor’s degree programs ranked third in Texas and the online MBA program took fourth.
UNT offers seven online bachelor’s programs, one of which is a first-of-its-kind online Bachelor of Science in General Business degree. Overall, there are more than 80 online program options at the university, including bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and undergraduate and graduate certificates.
“To see many of our online programs place highly in national rankings is a testament to our commitment to enhancing our digital academic initiatives,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said. “We want to ensure that our students have the flexible options they need to excel and reach their educational and career goals.”
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Published by UNT News, January 2023
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The G. Brint Ryan College of Business has officially released its 2021-2022 Annual Review magazine. Click here to catch up on what the college was up to last year. From new rankings and programs, to impactful donations and faculty research, the publication is full of note-worthy accomplishments to read about.
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Ryan College of Business Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Audhesh Paswan to assume role as dean of UNT New College
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After serving as dean of New College since 2018, Wesley Randall has decided to resume his faculty position in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. Wes has been a visionary leader as we worked to grow our student body and programs there, as well as helping to open Frisco Landing — our first building at the UNT at Frisco branch campus.
Audhesh Paswan, professor of marketing and associate dean for academic affairs in the business college, will assume the role of dean of New College, effective March 1, 2023.
Audhesh joined the UNT faculty in 1999 after seven years at the University of South Dakota. Before entering academia, he spent eight years in the advertising and consumer product industry, where he served as account manager, account planner, and brand manager. During his tenure as associate dean at UNT, the master’s program in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business grew almost six-fold. As a longtime professor and administrator, he has built strong relationships both within the UNT community and with local business leaders. His considerable industry experience and diverse wealth of knowledge will be crucial to the continued success of the innovative programs and competitive partnerships we’re building through New College. Additionally, with his roots at the Denton campus, he will lead the way for UNT colleges offering high quality educational programs in both locations.
Audhesh’s personal philosophy — that knowledge is the only resource that truly creates and enhances value for all stakeholders — fits perfectly with New College’s significant presence at UNT at Frisco, which is quickly emerging as a knowledge hub in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation and solidifying UNT’s presence in Collin County.
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Published by Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Michael McPherson
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PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES AT THE RYAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
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THE WILSON JONES ENDOWMENT FOR RYAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS CAREER SUPPORT SERVICES
Alumnus Wilson Jones (’85) and his wife, Jane, donated $5 million to the college in 2022 to create a new career center in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. This generous gift will not only go towards the build out of a space that will serve to better prepare students for successful careers, but it will also fund the hiring of new staff and resources to support the college's growing student body. Working in conjunction with this gift, the Wilson Jones Endowment for Ryan College of Business Career Support Services will provide additional assistance to reach these goals and support services that promote career readiness.
G. BRINT RYAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS DEAN'S EXCELLENCE FUND
The Dean’s Excellence Fund also provides immediate, essential support to our students. This fund serves as a vital resource to help our students and campus respond to opportunities and challenges as they occur. When you support the Dean’s Excellence Fund, you support the strategic vision of the college by allowing the Dean to have flexibility in directing the use of resources to the priorities of the college during this difficult time.
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G. BRINT RYAN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FUND
Frank Dudowicz was an ardent supporter of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. Before he passed away on May 1, 2022, one of his final requests was to have memorials be made to the Ryan College of Business Communications Support Fund, a testament to his ongoing efforts to be a positive force in the UNT community. Donations made to the Communications Support Fund aid Dudowicz’s most recent board efforts to increase brand awareness for the Ryan College of Business. Click here to honor Frank's memory with a gift. |
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PLP "25 IN A QUARTER" CAMPAIGN
UNT Professional Leadership Program (PLP) members, former members, and corporate partners and friends are invited to help develop the program's future leaders and their skills in servant leadership, stewardship, diversity and inclusion, ethical practice, problem solving, communications and teamwork.
As part of the inaugural "25 In a Quarter" Campaign, PLP will be setting out to raise $25,000 each fiscal quarter. To help kick off the campaign the PLP Board of Directors has pledged a generous “Leadership Gift” in the amount of $10,000. Now is your opportunity to support the PLP program and make an impact on the future of servant leadership. Click here to give today.
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