2026 Five-Star Distinguished Alumni Award Winners Announced
These W&L alumni exemplify leadership, service and professional excellence and will be honored during Five-Star Festival, Sept. 18-19.
Business Administration Archive (104 Stories)
What’s Next for Bailey Jordan ’26
Jordan is moving back to her hometown in North Carolina to work in the marketing department at Allspring Global Investments.
Sarah Zimmerman ’26 Receives Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s Marjorie Berkley Award
The soccer and basketball star was honored as the top female scholar-athlete in the conference.
Campus Kitchen and the Connolly Center Cook Up New Ideas
A new partnership between the Campus Kitchen and the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship is giving student food businesses a commercial home on campus.
Interdisciplinary Innovation
Three new Spring Term Abroad courses allow the liberal arts ethos to shine as professors in different disciplines combine forces.
W&L’s Margaret Schweppe ’26 Selected for U.S. Teaching Assistantship to Austria
Schweppe is looking forward to developing her German language and teaching skills in an immersive environment before joining PricewaterhouseCoopers as a management consulting analyst.
W&L’s Jonathan McEwen ’27 Selected to Represent Team USA in 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup
Junior golfer is the lone Division III representative on the 24-person roster.
Soo Yon Ryu Publishes in the Journal of Advertising
The assistant professor of business administration’s research examines how consumers make inferences based on package design.
Pooja Thakur-Wernz Publishes Paper in the Journal of Business Ethics
The article examines deliberate exceeding of legally mandated requirements for corporate social responsibility at firms in India.
Meet Malik Hardy ’26
Hardy discovered his business administration studies allow him to work closely with others to solve real-world problems.
Bright Frimpong Awarded Mednick Memorial Fellowship
The assistant professor of business administration will receive funding from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to support his research on artificial intelligence washing.
Michelle Cowan, Gavin Fox and Keri Larson Receive Honors for Their Published Article
The business administration faculty members were cited for their article that appeared in the August 2025 issue of the Journal of Marketing Education.
Meet Eleanna Giannoula ’28
Giannoula, an international student from Greece, said W&L's genuine community drew her in.
Finding the Why
Phil Marella '81 is the founder of Dana's Angels Research Trust, an organization dedicated to funding research on Niemann-Pick disease type C.
Meet Bella Ferrate ’26
Ferrate chose W&L for its accredited Williams School and the ability to embrace the liberal arts experience.
Pooja Thakur-Wernz and Aliaa Bassiouny Collaborate to Publish Paper in the Critical Perspectives on International Business Journal
The professors co-authored an article titled “Family Ownership and Institutional Voids: Evidence from SMEs in Egypt.”
Career Connections
The W&L network is perhaps most illustrative in the early-career assistance and opportunities our alumni provide to current students.
Refining an Industry
Eric Herrera ’20 was recently named to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his work with chemical manufacturing startup MaverickX, which he cofounded with Jesse Evans ’20.
Two W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards of up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients.
Betty Boatwright ’26 Named to NFHCA Senior Team
Boatwright, co-captain of the field hockey team, is one of just 60 student-athletes nationwide to earn the honor.
Soo Yon Ryu Presents at the Association of Consumer Research Conference
The assistant professor of business administration shared her paper on the materialization of experiences.
Meet Reagan Reiferson ’26
Reiferson has found her "homes" on campus in her sorority and the Outing Club.
Where Creativity Meets Commerce: W&L’s New Arts Management Minor
Collaboration between the business administration and theatre, dance and film studies departments has created pathways for students to blend creative interests with professional skills.
Soo Yon Ryu Publishes Article in Journal of the Association for Consumer Research
The assistant professor of business administration explores the relationship between experience and consumption.
Andi Coulter is the Next Speaker in the Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series
Coulter will deliver a lecture on fan-driven marketing for independent artists on Oct. 6.
Pooja Thakur-Wernz Publishes Research Article for the Global Strategy Journal
The article examines and weighs both the potential benefits and drawbacks of foreign ownership on CSR spending.
W&L Students Learn and Network in New York City
Washington and Lee students interested in finance completed valuable summer internships in New York City this summer.
A Model of Sustainability
Students explored real-world applications of sustainable business practices in the Social Innovation in Scandinavia Spring Term Abroad course.
Meet Martha Greer Walker ’27
At W&L, Walker discovered a passion for English and its focus on learning how to think critically, creatively and empathetically.
Eight W&L Students Awarded Gilman Scholarships to Study Abroad
This round of recipients marks a record-setting Gilman Scholar cohort for W&L.
Entrepreneurship Summit Connects Students and Alumni With Shared Interests
The 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit brought students together for networking, honing their pitch skills and sharing ideas with alumni.
Business Administration Professor Publishes Book in Tandem with W&L Alumna
Jeff Schatten and Teresa Aires ’19 co-wrote a book on the impacts of artificial intelligence on the workforce.
Meet Weyimi Agbeyegbe ’25
Studying abroad in Paris allowed Agbeyegbe to learn more about the intersection of fashion and business.
The Ultimate Teammate
Four sets of twins on W&L varsity sports teams share what it’s like competing side-by-side with their siblings.
Meet John Williams ’25
Williams is a self-starter, including founding several small businesses and a club squash team.
W&L Student-Run Investment Fund Ranks Among Nation’s Largest
The Williams Investment Society’s $25.5 million assets under management rank sixth nationally according to a survey conducted by the Center for Investment Research.
The Right Direction
Stephen Welker ’05 honors his past by shaping the future.
Justin Davis is the Next Speaker in the Anne and Edgar Basse Jr. Author Talk Series
Davis will deliver a lecture titled “Web Scraping for Research on Novel Data” on campus on March 27.
Forging Their Futures
Helen Ezgo ’25 and Maina Shodmonbekova ’25 traveled across the world to expand their horizons at W&L thanks to the John M. Gunn International Scholarship.
Charting New Waters
From rehabilitating its finances to reviving endangered species, Keith Sanford ’80 transformed the Tennessee Aquarium’s future.
In Memoriam: Philip Archel Gibbs, Associate Professor of Business
Gibbs taught accounting, business and management at Washington and Lee University.
Alden Wicker ’09 to Serve as the Fishback Visiting Writer at W&L
The author will deliver the Fishback Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 12, via Zoom.
Andi Coulter publishes book on the band AFI
The assistant professor of business administration recounts the history and impact of the band’s career.
W&L to Host ‘Slices of Research’ Program at Salerno Wood Fired Pizza & Taphouse
Newly promoted faculty members will present their research in a PechaKucha format on Jan. 28.
Meet Sarah Zimmerman ’26
Zimmerman values the connections she’s made with her soccer and basketball teammates and coaches that she knows will last long after graduation.
Jeff Schatten to Offer Public Lecture on Artificial Intelligence Tools and Their Applications
The talk, “Everything That Can Be Automated Will Be Automated: AI Tools Transforming Today’s World,” will be held on Nov. 12 in Northen Auditorium.
Business Administration Professor Presents to Shenandoah Valley Business Leaders
Jeff Schatten discussed his research on artificial intelligence and how it can be used to improve efficiency at work at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley’s annual Business Forum Luncheon.
Bright Frimpong Co-Authors Paper in the Information Systems Journal
The business administration professor and his advisors explore the role of crowdfunding in developing Indigenous communities.
Impacting Lives Through Words
Veronika Kolosova ’25 has explored the liberal arts experience at W&L through campus involvement and an interdisciplinary approach to her studies.
Pooja Thakur-Wernz Authors Paper in the Journal of International Business Policy
The article assesses how international business is affected when violence is directed at civilians and violence levels are constantly changing.
W&L Business Administration Professor Awarded Mednick Memorial Fellowship
Lingshu Hu will receive $2,000 from the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges to support his research on political popularity on X/Twitter.
Members of the Summer Research Scholars Program Featured in Online Publication
Assistant professor Michelle Cowan and students Victoria Bliley ‘26 and Zachary Puckett ’26 had their summer research cited in the July edition of spectra.
W&L Outcomes: Kathryn Cover ’24
Cover is working as a public relations apprentice at Prosek Partners in New York City.
W&L Outcomes: Jackson Hotchkiss ’24
Hotchkiss is spending the next year competing in professional cycling events.
CBL Faculty Collaborative Generates New Community Connections
The 2023-2024 academic year at W&L saw the proliferation of several new course offerings for students through a new faculty development initiative offered by the Office of Community-Based Learning (CBL).
Bright Frimpong Co-Authors Journal Article on Crowdfunding
The first-year business administration professor authored the paper with the members of his doctoral dissertation committee.
Two Williams School Faculty Members Co-Author Journal Article
Bright Frimpong and Keri Larson teamed with two others to produce a paper on crowdfunding that was featured in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights.
W&L’s Leslie Frederick to Present at the 2024 AACSB Assessment and AoL Conference in New York City
Frederick will serve as co-presenter for a session that demonstrates the beneficial uses of technology in the curriculum mapping process.
Meet Nathan Unger ’24
Unger embraces the full W&L experience, including incredible academic opportunities and being a DIII athlete.
W&L Students Claim First Place at University of Georgia Stock Pitch Competition
A four-person team comprised of John Schleider ‘24, Diwesh Kumar ‘24, Bradford Bush ’25 and Drew Thompson ‘25 claimed the $3,000 top prize for their pitch on CVS Health.
Meet Leif Smith ’24
Smith’s W&L experience includes finding a family in his lacrosse teammates and helping other students discover their career paths as a career fellow.
Williams School Executive-in-Residence Howard Rubel ’78 to Speak on the Essential Nature of Equity Research
Rubel’s lecture will be held in Northen Auditorium on Feb. 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Professor Justin Davis Published in the Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting
The second-year faculty member co-authored a paper analyzing the effect of CEO age on financial reporting quality and clawback provisions.
W&L Student Receives Venture for America Fellowship
Josh Rassin ’24 will begin his two-year placement with a startup company following graduation.
W&L’s Justin Davis Published in the Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Science
The second-year faculty member co-authored a paper analyzing the relation between institutional ownership and earnings management.
For Ross Draber ’10, people come first
The United Bank senior executive engages with the W&L community through student recruitment and event participation.
W&L Outcomes: Andrew Tartakovsky ’23
Andrew Tartakovsky ’23 received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Azerbaijan.
W&L Professors Selected by the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) for their Summer Grants for Teaching Pedagogies
Denny Garvis and Zoila Ponce de León presented a two-day online workshop on applying adaptive and interactive learning practices in undergraduate statistics courses.
W&L Business Administration Professor’s Paper Selected as a Finalist for Best Paper Award
Pooja Thakur-Wernz presented her paper at the Academy of International Business Conference in Warsaw, Poland on July 9.
Catching up with Mike Weaver ’20
Weaver’s advice for current students: Take advantage of every opportunity and embrace respectful debate.
W&L Professor Co-Authors Journal Article on Crowdfunding Performance in Countries With Geopolitical Risk
Justin Davis studied numerous Kickstarter campaigns and published the findings alongside three colleagues.
Catching up with Kathryn Young ’19
Young learned the critical skills to excel at her job from the veteran journalists in Reid Hall.
Playing It Forward
Washington and Lee seniors David Onyejekwe ’23, Jake McCabe ’23 and Bailey Keel ’23 have created lasting connections with the local community as volunteer coaches for Lex Lax youth lacrosse.
Catching up with Wes Haydon ’09
Haydon credits the W&L community for inspiring him and guiding him toward success.
W&L Podcast Releases New Episode Featuring Jeff Schatten
"W&L After Class" invites listeners to join a conversation with W&L’s expert faculty on their teaching, research interests and passion projects.
Catching up with Greg Barrow ’87
Barrow’s experience at W&L gave him the confidence to work through any challenge or opportunity.
Growing a Greener Future
For W&L alumni Kevin Green ’07 and Amanda Green ’06, nature and nurture go hand-in-hand.
The Art of: Climate Activism
Nate Abercrombie ’20, conservative outreach coordinator at Citizens Climate Lobby, works toward finding common ground.
W&L’s Andrew Tartakovsky ’23 Earns Fulbright to Azerbaijan
Tartakovsky has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to teach English in Azerbaijan, his parents’ homeland.
Meet Freddie Tobeason ‘23
Tobeason appreciates the balance she’s found at W&L as a student-athlete.
Mock Convention’s Spring Kickoff Features Former Vice President
Mock Convention made its Spring Kickoff event an informative preview of upcoming convention conversations.
Meet Tucker Kavanagh ’16
Kavanagh encourages current students to "never be afraid to reach out to the W&L network."
W&L’s Schatten Featured on The Big Story Podcast
The professor of business administration shared his thoughts on ChatGPT and what AI means for higher education.
Meet Emily Moran ’23
Moran is inspired by W&L’s values and commitment to liberal arts education.
W&L Williams School Welcomes Five Additions to its Board of Advisors
New members will serve a six-year term supporting Dean Rob Straughan and the school’s faculty members.
Williams School Faculty Members Present at Social Entrepreneurship Summit in Cuba
Professors Emily Landry and Jim Casey both spoke at the workshop held in Havana.
Community-Based Learning’s Fall Term Collaborations
Community-Based Learning’s collaborations this fall offered students an opportunity to deepen community connections.
Helping a Local Business Bloom
This fall, Washington and Lee Student Consulting tackled a new project for a local business with a sustainability focus.
Moving Fast with Meta
Collin Frazey ’23 spent his summer working for Meta's intellectual property team in the heart of Silicon Valley.
W&L Outcomes: Emma Cleveland ’22
Cleveland is working as a trip leader for an active travel company in Alaska this summer, and she plans to work in Europe this fall.
Classically Liberal Arts
Kayla Monaghan ’24 is collaborating on a Summer Research Scholars (SRS) project to enhance resources available through Leyburn Library.
W&L Outcomes: Rett Daugbjerg ’22
After a successful summer internship in 2021, W&L's Rett Daugbjerg '22 is now working for JLL's Capital Markets group in Atlanta, Georgia.
W&L Outcomes: Kristen Xu ’22
Kristen Xu ’22 worked diligently during her time at W&L to accomplish her dream of working with a beauty company after graduation. Currently, she is a global marketing coordinator at NARS Cosmetics in New York.
Making Meaningful Impact
Eric Bazile '25 is interning with the Austin Greater Chamber of Commerce through the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP).
W&L Outcomes: Madelyn Sheridan ’22
Sheridan, a business administration and studio art major, will be joining the wealth management team at UBS in New York City.
The Williams School Congratulates Class of 2022 Award Winners
The Williams School congratulates the Class of 2022 graduates who received awards and honors for academic excellence during their time at W&L.
W&L’s Erin Addison ’22 Awarded Fulbright to Uruguay
Addison has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Uruguay, where she will teach English to primary or secondary school students and serve as a cultural ambassador for the United States.
Mallory Keeley ’22 Awarded Fulbright to Germany
Keeley will live in a German community for one academic year to teach English to students in a local school.
Made in the U.S.A.
Capt. Connor Smithson ’13 channels his creative energies into his small woodworking shop specializing in custom flags, plaques and furniture pieces.
In Memoriam: Lawrence Michael Lamont
The professor of business administration emeritus taught at W&L from 1974 - 1999.
Registration Is Now Open for W&L’s 10th Annual Entrepreneurship Summit
The spring event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 29-30 on campus.
The Last 10 Minutes of Your Life
Through her coaching business, Shana Horrigan ’91 works with clients of all ages, in the U.S. and across the globe, who feel they are at a turning point in their lives.
In the Zone
In addition to pursuing a double major at Washington and Lee, Jackson Hotchkiss ’24 is a competitive cycler who just placed fourth in his age group in a national cycling championship.
W&L’s Thakur-Wernz Publishes Article in Journal of Business Research
The article examines the impact of a stronger intellectual property rights (IPR) regime through the adoption of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on innovation by Indian firms in the bio-pharmaceutical industry.
