Admissions Ambassadors | Simon Business School

As the 29th overall MBA school, Simon not only offers a STEM-designated degree but also a supportive community to foster growth and future careers.

The community.

Fall is Western New York is the best.

Data Analytics; Simon VISION Consulting; Consulting Club; Simon Women in Business; Forté

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Andrew Black, Simon Business School MBA Class of 2022

Andrew Black, Class of 2022

Email: ablack25@simon.rochester.edu

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Q&A

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergraduate School and Major: Colgate University, Psychology
Academic Focus: Marketing Strategy and Analytics

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What was your pre-MBA focus?

I worked at M&T Bank in Commercial Planning & Analytics and joined the bank through the Management Development Program.

Leadership and analytics were two areas I identified as essential toward taking the next step in my career. Rooted in collaboration, the MBA program offered the most robust opportunities to learn to lead and excel in team-based settings. Additionally, Simon was the nation’s first program to offer the STEM MBA designation regardless of specialization. Analytics is an integral aspect of the program, and that was a differentiator from other programs.

How team-oriented the MBA program is. Simon seeks out individuals who believe we can accomplish more together, and it shows in the collaborative spirit of the school.

How accessible everything is. There is a wide range of things to do, from hiking trails to museums to great restaurants. Although Rochester is a smaller city, there is no shortage of places to go to keep you busy.

Simon Marketing Association; Simon Product Management Club; Simon Volunteers

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Kelly O'Brien, Simon Business School MBA Class of 2022

I knew I wanted to come to Simon after Women’s Weekend in 2019, when not one but TWO current students reached out after the weekend was over. I wanted to surround myself with people who cared like that.

Kelly O'Brien, Class of 2022

Email: kobri30@simon.rochester.edu

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Q&A

Hometown: Niagara Falls, NY
Undergraduate School Major: Fordham University, American Studies
Academic Focus: Strategy Consulting

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What was your pre-MBA career focus?

I worked in higher education, arts administration, and public policy. I also just completed my MS in Urban Studies!

The diversity. Simonites go out of their way to engage with difference.

The vernacular architecture! So many houses are decades—if not centuries—old and are absolutely beautiful to look at. I also love being within a two-hour drive of my family for the first time in over a decade.

Consulting Club; Simon VISION Consulting; Simon Women in Business; Simon UNCorked

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Odochi Uwazurike, Simon Business School MBA Class of 2022

I chose Simon because every time I visited the campus, the staff, faculty, students, and alumni always made me feel like I was “at home.”

Odochi Uwazurike, Class of 2022

Email: ouwazuri@simon.rochester.edu

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Q&A

Hometown: Inwood, NY
Undergraduate School and Major: Dartmouth College, Religion and Psychological and Brain Sciences
Academic Focus: Strategy Consulting

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What was your pre-MBA focus?

Before Simon, I was the survivorship and young adult program coordinator at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY, for seven years.

I chose Simon because every time I visited the campus, the staff, faculty, students, and alumni always made me feel like I was “at home.” From my very first correspondence with the Admissions Team over email and text (yes, they are that cool that they offer to text you) to meeting my future classmates at Scholarship Weekend, it always felt like Simon was the right fit for me.

I love Simon’s idyllic location on the University of Rochester campus. Tucked perfectly between the Interfaith Chapel and Rush Rhees Library, Simon sits in the most charming nook on campus. The best part of this is all the impromptu scenic photoshoots we get to take “for the ’gram.”

The bustling culinary scene. I’m a huge foodie, so having so many restaurants to check out while exploring the city is extremely exciting!