University Highlights: College of Business

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The Division of Academic Affairs has announced Dr. Fidelis Ikem as the new dean of the College of Business at JSU. Prior to joining Jackson State, Ikem was dean and full professor in the College of Business at Central State University.

“I am delighted to be here at Jackson State University,” said Ikem. “I hope that my experience enhances what has already been built in this college. I think, with the help of the fantastic faculty and staff here, we can take this college to a new level.”

Ikem seeks to improve the College of Business by engaging faculty and students with the local business community, building more partnerships with corporations and organizations, increasing internship and employment opportunities and creating new degree programs.

Ikem has worked in academia at Albany State University, Winston-Salem State University, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Virginia State University, and Norfolk State University.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Metropolitan State University, and a master’s degree in mathematical sciences from Clemson University.

Ikem also earned a master’s and Ph.D. in operations research from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

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“As I’m walking to the Wells Fargo campus on the first day with my JSU shirt on for Rep your School Day, I see other students from Harvard, Duke and Yale,” says Brookshire. “I was very intimidated but I knew I belonged.”

Mekaya Brookshire interned at Wells Fargo in Atlanta as a paid financial analyst during the summer of 2019. During her tenure, she focused on wholesale lending and operational factors at the company.

Brookshire did so well during her internship that the Fortune 500 company offered her a job as a full-time financial analyst in capital finance post-graduation. The position will be located in Atlanta, Georgia.

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On the first day of orientation, Gabrielle Lyles was astounded as one of the managing directors for the Division of Internal Audit at The Goldman Sachs Group elucidated to his newest group of interns, “It is harder to get into Goldman Sachs than it is to get into Harvard itself.”

The Illinois native is one of 29 interns chosen from a pool of 1,600 applicants to work in the Department of Internal Audit at the Fortune Global 500 company. The Internal Audit department assesses the firm’s internal control structure, advises management on developing control solutions and monitors the implementation of these measures.

The Goldman Sachs Group is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals.

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Lyles was also a recipient of the $15,000 Goldman Sachs Scholarship for Excellence. The annual scholarship is awarded to students who embody business principles, which are fundamental to long-term success and set the standard for what the company does.

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Olivia Howard is a business administration major with a minor in marketing. She is also a native of Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Charles A. Smith/JSU)

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Olivia Carter Howard has always desired to walk the runway during a show at NYFW. “I keep Post-it Notes in my room that incorporate modeling with all of my ambitions.”

This year, the 21-year old decided to buy a plane ticket to the Big Apple in hopes of getting a chance to walk in one of the world’s largest fashion shows.

“My friend and I started looking at flight prices really early since we are both college students with a limited budget,” says Howard. “We got some really good deals.”

After buying their plane tickets to New York, the unexpected happened: Sweet Talk Swim chose Howard’s friend to model in their show. Howard recalls direct messaging the premier bikini and apparel brand daily on Instagram. “I sent them my pictures, videos of my walk and commented on their post daily. They never responded.”

Upon arriving to New York, the Oregon native was determined to meet with other agencies in hopes of walking for their brand. Prior to trying to secure a spot for herself in the infamous NYFW, Howard accompanied her friend to practice for her upcoming show, Sweet Talk Swim. She immediately approached the designer, Cheyanne Anderson saying, “Although you haven’t met me, and I know you already have a crew of models that you want to walk for your line; I still want to walk for you.”

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” top_margin=”none”][vc_column type=”” top_margin=”none” width=”1/1″][vc_empty_space height=”32px”][vc_column_text]The designer replied, “I’m in a rush so let’s go, let’s go.” After Howard quickly walked for her, the designer responded, “Oh, I want you to walk in the show.”

“I could not believe it. I went to the bathroom after practice, and cried on the phone with my mom for at least 10 minutes. I could not stop crying. The dream that I prayed about, diligently worked towards and manifested, came true.”

When asked to share advice regarding following your dreams, Howard replied, “Keep going, pray and manifest everything. You will get discouraged but persistence always wins the race.”

She continued, “Go into everything that you are passionate about doing with love, and make sure your motive is self-influenced. Perfect your craft, keep self-discipline and brand yourself. Most importantly, love who you are because no one else can do it for you. Once you master these things, everything else will fall in place.”

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