MBA applications are open! First deadline: October 14.

Impressions

Impressions

Meet current students

from five of our nine degree programs. (You’ll meet more students from the full-time, EMBA and professional programs in the fall issue.) Get to know where they’re from, where they live, what they do, what they’re reading and listening to, and five words to describe themselves.

Marcela Aguilar, Ph.D. ’26

Inquisitive, Resilient, Analytical, Empathetic, Determined

Born in San Salvador, El Salvador. Her dissertation explores the role of accounting in the informal economy, specifically focusing on how it shapes economic and social dynamics within informal micro-businesses in developing countries. Currently reading “Poor Economics” by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo. Recently selected as a 2024 Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellow

Natalie Stone, MAcc ’24

Energetic, Hardworking, Compassionate, Organized, Adventurous

Born and raised in Houston about 10 minutes from Rice. Will start work at Ernst & Young in their Boston office in the fall of 2024. Just finished reading “A Flicker in the Dark,” a murder mystery with a big twist in the end. “I highly recommend.”

Spencer Kresie, Undergraduate Business Major ’25

Curious, Innovative, Connected, Ambitious, Informed

From Plano, Texas. Has a summer job with FTI Consulting’s Dallas office in their corporate finance – restructuring branch. Hopes to stay in the management consulting sphere as a full-time analyst after graduation. Spencer is also earning an entrepre- neurship minor and completing an Arabic Language Certificate. Listening to the podcast, “How I Built This,” with Guy Raz.

Dart Bebel, Hybrid MBA ’25

Curious, Observant, Goal-oriented, Kind, Authentic

Born in LA. Lives in Austin. Runs growth marketing at Vacasa, the largest full-service vacation rental management company in North America. Favorite memory on campus was MBA night at Rice Stadium, watching the Owls win the Bay- ou Bucket football game! Listening to the podcast “The Old Man and the Three,” with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter. Reading “Positive Intelligence” by Shirzad Chamine.

Nova Wang, MBA@Rice ’24

Driven, Authentic, Perceptive, Committed, Passionate

Born and raised in Vermont. Lives in Boston. Works as a FP&A financial analyst at Public Consulting Group. Reading “Greenlights,” a memoir by Matthew McConaughey.

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