JU Davis College of Business & Technology

Alumni Spotlight! alumna Alexandria Mason says, “I really enjoyed my time in the MBA program at JU. The curriculum was diverse, and even though it was online, I was able to actively engage with my professors and classmates. The Business Law class was my inspiration to seriously explore the idea of law school.”

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT: McKenna Hantak

McKenna Hantak is a rising sophomore marketing major in the Davis College of Business and Technology at Jacksonville University. This summer, she has had the opportunity to work in two very different marketing environments: Haymaker Coffee and Miller Electric Co.

McKenna's primary role at Haymaker Coffee is focused on social outreach, including researching target markets and creating content that resonates with audiences while staying true to the brand's identity. At Miller Electric Co., her work centers on internal marketing initiatives, including employee-retention efforts, merchandise design, and gaining exposure to the electrical engineering industry.

Her work contributes to both organizations by supporting marketing efforts that strengthen engagement with key audiences. Through these experiences, McKenna has developed her marketing and content creation skills while also gaining confidence in professional settings and learning about industries that were completely new to her.

Her coursework at Davis College, particularly in management and business statistics, has provided a strong foundation for her internship experiences. Management courses strengthened her ability to collaborate with professionals, while business statistics prepared her to work efficiently with Excel and data-driven projects. Experiencing both a small business and a corporate environment has been an invaluable part of her professional growth this summer.

Alumni Spotlight! alumna Alexandria Hoffman says, "“I am so thankful for my time at JU and all the wonderful people, mentors, and teachers I got to work with. I am now in year 8 of my career at Principal Financial Group.” For more information on the MBA program, visit https://www.ju.edu/dcob/masters/programs/mba.php

Engineering Design Day at the Davis College of Business & Technology was a great success!

Student teams from all four years of our engineering programs showcased innovative design projects, demonstrating the knowledge, creativity, and technical skills they have developed throughout their studies.

We are incredibly proud of our students and all they can accomplish when challenged to solve real-world problems. These projects were presented at the end of the spring semester and reflected the talent, dedication, and hard work of our future engineers.

Alumni Spotlight! alumnus Alejandro Baptista says, ""I'll be forever grateful to the Davis College of Business & Technology for gifting me the best academic experience of my life. I've been promoted three times since completing the program in 2019."
For more information on the MS in Applied Business Analytics, visit https://ow.ly/vBQs50YZbxG

Davis College of Business & Technology faculty, students, and alumni were excited to attend Catalyst Data Day with the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.

Dr. Caitlin Sockbeson, Dr. Angela McTammany, Dr. Jim Simak, Dr. Arpita Jadav, Dr. Irina Toteva, Dr. Mini Zeng, Noor Ashouri, DBA candidate, and Olivia Peal, who attended as part of her internship with NLP Logix, represented Jacksonville University. Together with nonprofits, researchers, and community leaders, they explored how data and impact measurement can help strengthen Northeast Florida.

Alumni spotlight! alumna Vulnavia Barclay says, “Since earning my EMBA from Jacksonville University, my career in fraud and risk management has thrived. The program opened doors and allowed me to pursue opportunities I otherwise would not have imagined. Jacksonville University taught me that leadership means turning knowledge into impact.”

Congratulations to Dr. Christine Makama, who recently graduated from the Davis College of Business & Technology DBA program.

Dr. Vikas Agrawal presented the paper, “From Strategy to Performance: The Mediating Role of Practiced Dominant Logic and Knowledge Management Competencies,” co-authored with Dr. Christine Makama and Dr. Doug Johansen, at the Annual Conference of the Academy of Marketing Science in Savannah, Georgia.

We are proud to recognize this meaningful academic achievement and the continued research contributions of our faculty and graduates.

INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT:

Haley Hutchinson is a rising senior accounting major in the Davis College of Business and Technology at Jacksonville University. She is also a Zimmerman Scholar, Dean’s Fellow, DCOBT student ambassador, and vice president of operations for Alpha Delta Pi sorority. This summer, she is working for Genesee & Wyoming Inc. as an accounting intern.

Haley’s primary role at Genesee & Wyoming Inc. is to support the day-to-day operations of the accounting and finance department. Her responsibilities include assisting with accounting processes, working within company systems, and supporting various financial and operational tasks as needed.

Her work contributes to the team by helping maintain efficient accounting operations and supporting accurate financial reporting. Through this internship, Haley is strengthening her skills in Excel and financial systems while also improving her problem-solving, attention to detail, and professional communication skills.

Her coursework at Davis College, particularly in accounting and finance, has provided a strong foundation in core accounting principles and financial analysis. These classes and academic experiences have prepared her to apply her knowledge in a real-world corporate environment.

Meet Dr. Selen Savas-Hall, Associate Professor of Marketing & International Business.

With experience at international companies such as PwC, Marks & Spencer, IBM, and GfK, Dr. Savas-Hall brings a global perspective to her teaching and research. Her work explores international marketing, consumer behavior, services marketing, retailing, and brand loyalty.

Her research has been published in leading journals, and she continues to help students understand how brands, consumers, and global markets connect.

Outside the classroom, Dr. Savas-Hall enjoys dancing, walking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.