Chelsea Reyes

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

“I am a Trekkie learning Klingon. An avid vinyl and concert poster collector. Former backup dancer for Latinx indie singer, Helado Negro. Meme queen and watercolor painter.”

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: The first time I rode a horse, I was three years old and naked. A very Lady Godiva moment!

Undergraduate School and Major: Duke University, History

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: UCLA Health, Program Coordinator

When you think of Notre Dame, what are the first things that come to mind? How have your experiences with the Mendoza program thus far reinforced or upended these early impressions? When I think about Notre Dame, the first things that come to mind are friendship and game-day fashion. I have made some beautiful friends at Notre Dame, super kind and endearing women and men who’ve made my time so far, a total blast! The fashion is real at Notre Dame, I covet the game-day looks (or as the internet says LEWKS). Vintage and limited-edition gear for miles.

The Mendoza community reinforces my early impressions. My classmates support and uplift each other when it comes to classes, workload, and recruiting stress. The faculty and staff are beyond patient and caring.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Mendoza MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Business on the Frontlines was the determining reason for my choice. The concept of “Business” is often reduced to the practice of capitalism and profit. The altruistic nature of wealth and privilege is forgotten, BOTFL allows my classmates to use their skills and interests to provide value outside of Notre Dame and their professional ambitions.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Mendoza? I have most enjoyed Problem Solving with Professor Viva Bartkus! She challenges students to think deeper and broader about problems and is direct in her feedback. In that class, all you can do is learn and try to keep up! Regarding clubs, Mendoza LGBTQ+ has been an amazing opportunity to engage with other queer classmates, increase the visibility of queer folk at Notre Dame, and promote inclusivity.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: It was converting a full-time behavior health intensive treatment program to a virtual one in March of 2020. As a program coordinator at UCLA, I spent my day with psychologists and patients. It was a monumental task we completed as a team, to transition the program from in-person to virtual. Ultimately, we were able to continue serving our patients during a global health crisis.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment as an MBA so far has been taking leadership roles in Mendoza LGBTQ+.

Mendoza is known as a purpose-driven MBA program that asks students to “Grow the good in business.” What is your mission and how has Mendoza been helping you realize it?  My mission as a business professional is to increase equity and efficiency in healthcare through empathic leadership. Healthcare as an industry is complex, challenging, and high impact; so much of it involves a mixture of qualitative and quantitative strengths and insights. Mendoza’s curriculum is helping me realize it. Mendoza offers a balance and variety of qualitative courses like ethics and communication versus strategic cost management (accounting) and business analytics. Courses and community are rounding me out as both a professional and a leader.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? The best memory as an MBA must be the tailgates! Specifically, the Clemson game.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Mendoza MBA program? Be authentic and genuinely kind! As much as the Mendoza MBA program gives a student, a student must give back to the program and other students. Any applicant should earnestly want to give their time and goodwill to others, it is one of the most valuable features of Notre Dame and Mendoza.

DON’T MISS: MEET NOTRE DAME MENDOZA’S MBA CLASS OF 2024