STEM & Create Path to the MBA, UA

Thank you to everyone who came to our Spring Formal! We had so much fun!! 🌸🤍✨

This week, the Path to the MBA Professor spotlight is on…Professor Wright! Professor Wright graduated from the University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. He then completed his MBA with a concentration in International Finance at Xavier University.

After his graduate studies, Professor Wright began working in Operations at Procter & Gamble, then switched to Corporate Finance. Some of the brands that he worked with during that part of his career were Sunny Delight & Pringles! Later on, Professor Wright moved to Johnson & Johnson and became the Worldwide Controller for its minimally invasive surgical business amongst other positions. Professor Wright held offices in Shanghai, Hamburg, London, Paris, and Rome throughout his career, and he continues to love travelling! In fact, Professor Wright has run the most faculty-led study abroad programs at the University of Alabama in recent years, with three more planned for the Summer 2026! He is passionate about not only helping students reach their full potential in his classes, but also exposing students to the world beyond the United States’ shores. ✈️

Did you know?… his first real job was working at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, where he got to drive a lunar rover (the twin to the one on the moon) and care for the first monkey to ever go into outer space! Also, Professor Wright is a HUGE fan of Alabama athletics and Alabama Basketball, so if you were at a game this season, you might have seen him cheering on the Tide! 🏀 🐘

🌸✨ STEM/CREATE Spring Formal 2026 is almost here! ✨🌸

Join us for a magical evening at the Alabama Museum of Natural History on Thursday, March 26th from 6–8 PM for a garden party–themed formal! 🌿💐

👗 Formal attire (think spring garden vibes!)
🌷 Outside dates welcome
🍓 Light snacks & finger foods provided
🎟️ PDS point included
🗓️ Registration: March 5 – March 23
Link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebgbUEKC7BF8pnbjKnmS2vQMSZF5_JG4hCQfR4xlle3-m2mg/viewform 
⚠️ Only 250 tickets available — first come, first served!

Grab your friends (or your date), dress up, and celebrate the semester with us in one of the most beautiful spots on campus! 🌼✨

This week, the Path to the MBA Professor spotlight is on Professor Dempsey!

Originally from Anniston, AL, Professor Dempsey lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband and their furbaby Fenway! She loves spending time with her family, their 3 nieces, and their nephew! Professor Dempsey brought a passion for fashion into college and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel Merchandising, Production, and Design from Auburn University. She began her career in the retail industry following graduation, focusing on buying, financial planning, inventory management, product design, e-commerce, management, and visual merchandising. She then earned her Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Alabama and continued her work. After 15 years in the retail industry, Professor Dempsey returned to the University of Alabama, became an Instructor in the STEM/CREATE Program, then later began her PhD, which she will defend this upcoming Fall! Her focus in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication closely aligns with her research interests in nostalgia, heritage brands, retail technology, and relationship management. Outside of work, you can find Professor Dempsey cooking, reading, writing, watching movies, or ballroom dancing! She also adores travel, and has visited 46 of the 50 states!

Our students recently participated in a 12 Rules for Life classroom exercise where each of the 371 students wrote their own 12 rules to live by. The rules were displayed around the room, and students added stickers to vote on which ones resonated most before discussing them as a group. This highlights the activity, the creativity of the students, and the community built through the discussion.

Alabama Sawyer takes fallen trees from across Alabama and repurposes them into sustainable furniture and design pieces, giving new life to materials that would otherwise be wasted.

Our GBA 571 students toured the Alabama Museum of Natural History to learn about this first hand.!Students met with Leigh Spencer of Alabama Sawyer and Dr. Friel to explore reclaimed wood, hear the story behind the initiative, and discuss ways they can contribute.

Tomorrow night, we have our STEM/CREATE Study Night! Wear your pajamas and come ready to prepare for finals! We'll have students to help with your Final Case and VSA projects, comfort snacks, and hot chocolate! Bring your friends! 📚✍️♥️

Member Spotlight: Ava Campos!

Ava represented our STEM to MBA community at Deloitte’s Arts & Finance Conference. She worked alongside a team of new Deloitte analysts, joined in finance conversations using skills from this semester’s accounting coursework, and even attended a cocktail event with conference panelists.

Ava had the chance to meet Jeffery E. Horvitz, the owner of the largest American private collection of early French art, and discussed academia, investing, and why they choose to invest in art. She also gained real-world experience navigating professional conversations and problem-solving in real time.

We’re so proud of her for putting her coursework into action and representing our program so well!

Have you visited the Speaking Studio?🗣️
We wanted to take a minute to applaud these teams for taking the time to prepare for their Internet of Things presentations at the Speaking Studio! If you haven’t visited the Speaking Studio yet this is your sign to do so. It will calm public speaking anxiety, craft your presentation, and tune up your presentation skills👏

Another great weekend at Bryant-Denny Stadium! From tailgates to touchdowns, there’s no better way to spend a weekend than cheering on the Crimson Tide! 🏈❤️

Happy Halloween from STEM/CREATE! 🎃

Another social in the books! Bingo, costumes, and spooky fun with students and professors — the perfect way to kick off fall break! 👻🍂