Alumni & Friends News

Many white-collar businesses are still grappling with when or how often to have staff at the office despite four years passing since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Various work models are being tried, including hybrid, but best practices remain in flux. Marketing major Claudia Hollander Tineo and senior lecturer Stephanie Wapner are among many at Fisher College of Business — and organizations everywhere — who are figuring out new ways of working.

Alumna and Dean's Advisory Council member Corrine Burger (BSBA '85) was one of six women honored with 2024 YWCA Women of Accomplishment awards. The recognition celebrates the impact the women have had throughout the Columbus community.

From allyship to finding life balance, personal branding to building financial wealth and so much more, the third annual Women’s Leadership Symposium continued to connect the Fisher community with business leaders and trailblazers for a day of inspirational learning.

Meet the elite group of leaders selected as 2024 Pace Setters for their passion and purpose in the classroom, throughout academia and in the community.

What does empowerment look like? The Honors Cohort Women in Business Summit connected top executives and industry leaders with tomorrow’s business professionals for an immersive learning experience in New York City. The event, which showcased the power and reach of Fisher’s network of alumni and friends, explored professional uncertainty and unexpected career turns, navigating tough challenges, and the importance of networking, sacrifice, teamwork and gratitude.

Meet Todd Rogers (MBA '93), an entrepreneur and Buckeye alumnus who has brought a Columbus dining staple to the Dayton area.

After rising to prominence for his stand-up act, Richard Lewis (BSBA '69) became a regular in movies and TV, most recently on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In 2023, Lewis was awarded Fisher's Achievement Alumni Award for his outstanding career accomplishments and leadership, positive community impact and unrivaled passion for The Ohio State University.

Shirine Khoury-Haq (MBA '98) has faced hard times and family tragedy in a career that has taken her from working in Pizza Hut to the head of the boardroom. Now, she has the reins as the first female chief executive of the Co-operative Group – the venerable British institution that encompasses 2,400 convenience stores, funeral homes and insurance and legal services.

A curious mind and a desire to help his community led Robert Sanders (BSBA ’00) to a career focused on rebuilding Cincinnati’s urban core through collaboration, creating stability and providing economic opportunities. His real estate company ― with its unique and wholistic perspective to redevelopment ― is bringing communities together.

Nearly a dozen patients who had exhausted all other treatment options for lung cancer swallowed two green capsules a day in the earliest tests of whether a botanical extract can fight the disease. Alumni Award winner Zeenia Kaul (MBA ' 16) co-founded the startup behind the revolutionary potential new treatment.

The advice of a legendary rock band, an iconic football coach and a few business mentors have shaped Michael VanPutte’s (BSBA ’88) path as a pioneering researcher, a U.S. servicemember during times of disasters and — most recently — as an educator and mentor to the next generation of Buckeyes.

Fashion designer Mety Choa, a Fisher alumna, discussed her creative process with students in fashion-related majors and reflected on the value that her marketing degree has brought her and her brand.

Leading, advocating and encouraging others has helped Lindsey Michaels (BSBA ’10) embark on a successful career in human resources at Nestlé for the past 13 years — a path she says she owes to Fisher and Ohio State.

Assistant Dean and Chief Diversity Officer Cynthia Turner was among a select group recognized for their exceptional leadership, vision and commitment to driving diversity, equity and inclusion within their respective industries. These leaders have been chosen based on their impactful DEI initiatives, company's diversity statistics and proven track record as trailblazers in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) space.

Corrine Burger (BSBA ’85), a recipient of Fisher's 2023 Excellence in Service Alumni Award, was recently honored by the YWCA Columbus for her commitment to community advocacy.

What do zeroes and ones mean for the Class of 2023’s Aiden Benyarku? As a soon-to-be product manager at Microsoft, those digits are the foundation of a promising career path that began at Fisher.

Gaining an education, leadership skills, traveling the world and serving her country motivated Susan Allen (BSBA ’74) to join the U.S. Army. Discover how this determined Ohio State graduate ascended to the rank of major, started a second career as a lawyer and is giving back to current Buckeyes who share her interest in business and global experiences.

Imagine a surreal landscape of science fiction and fantasy — a fungus that hums, mutant fish, alien flora, giant moths — where you become part of the story. Now meet Fisher grad Jordan Renda (BSBA ’15), the entrepreneur and former haunted house creator bringing this art to life.

Fisher celebrated 30 years of alumni accomplishment by recognizing six individuals for their significant impact as leaders, professionals and citizens. Meet the graduates who, by the virtue of their hard work and selflessness, exemplify the college’s legacy of excellence and were named 2023 Alumni Award recipients.

The third annual Alumni of Color Network Weekend celebrated the connections among Fisher graduates and the personal and professional achievements of seven trailblazing alumni. Meet the individuals honored for their meaningful contributions to their profession, impact in academia and legacy of excellence in their professional careers.

A passion for fashion and the environment drives Prateeksha Prabhakar’s desire to create sustainable clothing solutions. Discover how the third-year student is making her mark in the fashion industry and plans to continue to turn the runway green.

Whether starting and growing her own petroleum business or providing valuable services following natural disasters in Puerto Rico, Caterinna Sampe Baesse (MLHR ’10) has put to use skills she learned as a graduate student at Fisher. Meet the alumna who has emerged as one of the few female leaders in the energy industry in the Caribbean.

“Mentoring is in my nature,” says Chad Zipfel. Learn more about why the senior lecturer in finance enjoys giving back to tomorrow's business leaders.

Richard Castellano (BSBA ’82) turned to business to fulfill his lifelong dream of leading large companies, traveling the world and eventually becoming an entrepreneur. He shares how his Ohio State experience — and an early pivot in his education — provided him with the foundation for a successful career that led to his “perfect” retirement on the sea.

At The Ohio State University’s 2023 summer commencement Sunday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge (BSBA '75) encouraged the graduates to effect positive change.