Meet The Michigan Ross MBA Class Of 2026

If you want to go big, it pays to go blue.

Michigan blue.

Home to nearly 53,000 students, the University of Michigan ranks among the best public universities in America according to U.S. News, a leader in Engineering, Computer Sciences, and Psychology. And UM’s business programs are second-to-none.

The Ross School of Business boasts the 2nd-best Online MBA, 5th-best Executive MBA, and 11th-best Undergraduate programs, according to Poets&Quants. And it’s Full-Time MBA program is equally respected. When business school deans and MBA directors were surveyed about peer schools by U.S. News, Ross ranked in the Top 10 across 10 specializations, notching the 2nd-highest score for Management and 3rd-best scores for Marketing, Project Management, and Production and Operations. When The Princeton Review surveyed MBA students and alumni in 2024, Ross ranked 3rd for its Consulting-related programming and 7th in Marketing.

ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO (AND EAT) IN ANN ARBOR

In that same survey, the Ross Community gave Top 10 scores in measures related to its quality of life: Campus Environment, Family Friendliness, Classroom Experience, and Faculty Quality. That’s the thing about UM and Ross: the football stadium may be nicknamed the “Big House,” but the campus is more of a “Big Home.”

That starts with Ann Arbor, sometimes described as the quintessential college town. Picture four seasons and friendly; students hanging out along the Diag or hiking around the Arb; a place where you can walk anywhere and there is always something to do.

“Moving from Chicago, I was worried that moving to a small college town in the middle of the Midwest would leave me bored most nights,” admits ’24 MBA alum Akbar Arsiwala. “Instead, my social calendar is filled with trivia nights, house parties, potlucks, and watch parties”.

Yes, Ann Arbor is known for its greenery – and well-fed squirrels. Winters may be cold, but falls are electric on game day and springtime is breath-taking with its budding tulips (and bacon fests). Hardly out in the middle of nowhere, Ann Arbor is 30 minutes from the Detroit Airport and four hours from Chicago, says first-year Chloe Pham. And then there are the landmark eateries: Benny’s for breakfast, Zingerman’s for deli sandwiches, Slurping Turtle for sushi, and (of course) Pizza Bob’s for delivery.

AN ALUMNI BASE LIKE NO OTHER

Adam Brewster, who earned his undergraduate and MBA degrees at UM, even penned a homage to the Ann Arbor he loved.

“Maybe it’s the buzz in the Ross Wintergarden – a giant atrium lined with windows that allow the sun to illuminate the space – on one of the first days of class as students jam as many people as possible around a small table to catch up with friends old and new.

Maybe it’s the way the trees paint the town beautiful hues of red, yellow and orange when the leaves start to change on crisp October days.

Maybe it’s the smile you get on a Friday afternoon hearing the marching band practice ‘The Victors’ ahead of a big game on Saturday.”

There is the experience – not to mention the expertise – found at UM. However, there is also scale. At Ross alone, there are 58,000 alumni across 107 countries. Overall, the university can claim 640,000 graduates in 180 countries. Nelson Engle, a first-year, points to their prominence and availability. Many come back to Ann Arbor to speak to students and take coffee chats, he observes, pointing to their “Pay It Forward” spirit. Chloe Pham points to how “strong and active” the alumni are across various industries. Her classmate, Michael Yang, frames the Ross alumni influence in a similar manner.

“I’m recruiting mainly for tech. When I searched on LinkedIn, I found alumni in every company that interested me.”

FOOTBALL FEVER

Maybe the strongest unifying force between students and alumni revolves around football. Why not? Two seasons ago, the Michigan Wolverines claimed a National Championship. Not mention, they’ve beaten bitter rival Ohio State for four consecutive years. Lisa Cheung, a ’24 MBA grad, paints the picture of a campus that literally shuts down on game day.

“We collectively close our books because there is a shared understanding that these days were reserved for cheering on our Wolverines. There is just something about the crisp Fall air, the bright maize and blue taking over the streets, and the captivating energy that I love about Ann Arbor.”

Arriving last summer, Chloe Pham didn’t quite understand the allure of Michigan football. Soon enough, she too was belting out “Mr. Brightside” alongside 110,000 fans in the Big House.

“Whether I’m boarding flights in Chicago or Detroit, I always spot fellow Wolverines proudly wearing Michigan gear, a constant reminder of just how strong and far-reaching the Ross network is. Even homes in Ann Arbor proudly fly the Michigan flag. “Go Blue” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a sense of belonging that I didn’t fully understand until now.”

GET ON ‘THE BUS’

At Ross, that bond is symbolized by The BUS. Imagine a school bus, painted blue and gold, tricked out with a rooftop dance floor. On game days, you’ll find students, faculty, and alumni gravitating to The BUS, with student clubs often sponsoring the tailgating. They swap stories and swill beers, jamming out to music before streaming down to the big game. At the same time, students can enjoy The BUS at events ranging from admitted students’ Go Blue Rendezvous to graduation’s DisOrientation. For ’24 grad Andrea Gutierrez-Marty, The BUS acts as a “living symbol” of her two years at Ann Arbor – and the life-long friendships that came from it.

“The BUS is also where I met and deepened my connection with my best friend and person I most admire from business school.  The BUS isn’t just about the festivities; it’s a representation of the supportive, vibrant community we’ve built. It’s a reminder of the collective journey we’re on, not just as Michigan Ross students but as future alumni, and the enduring bonds we’ve formed.”

Over their first year, the MBA Class of 2026 has journeyed together. They’ve laughed, confided, experimented, and grinded. They stepped out of their comfort zones, sometimes fallen short, and ultimately prevailed. Among their ranks, you’ll find a hip-hop dancer who became an engineer, Desha Dike. Among her accomplishments, Dike headed up distribution at Genentech for a molecule used to treat COVID-19.

“It meant lots of late nights and working on weekends to ensure patients got potentially life-saving medicine, but I was incredibly proud to be a part of such meaningful work so early on in my career.”

IMPACT, FROM JAPAN TO WEST AFRICA

While COVID-19 tested Dike, Kohei Shima’s moment of truth came during the aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Japan on January 1, 2024, which cost over 500 lives, with damage estimated at up to $17-billion according to the Times-Standard. During this time, Shima worked for the Obayashi Corporation, one of Japan’s five largest construction firms.

“Technically, I was in charge of everything except for construction,” he tells P&Q. “I managed the logistics of living needs such as housing, clothing, and food for all team members and construction workers. I also played a key role in contract management and budget control. It was not an easy decision to leave my home and my wife and go to the severely damaged area with the risk of aftershocks. However, I am glad to be part of the meaningful effort to recover from the disaster, and I will never forget the “thank you” sign that the local people made from earthquake debris.”

In fact, the Class of 2026’s impact could be felt worldwide. In Taiwan, Emma Chen spearheaded the development of HSBC Taiwan’s digital account operating platform, which she says cut “branch and back-office operation times by half.” Moving to West Africa, Amrita Gandhi expanded a sustainable cookware manufacturer’s footprint. Not only did its manufacturing operations provide 500 jobs, but also helped users reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 70% more than traditional cooking methods. The job brought an added benefit to Gandhi.

“During my time in Africa, I had the incredible experience of seeing all the Big 5 animals—lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffalo—in their natural habitats. It was an adventure I’ll never forget!”

RETURNING THE JOY OF SNACKING

At Samsung, Chloe Pham managed a product division worth $16-million in annual revenue. After arriving in Ann Arbor, Michael Yang joined Ross’s in-house band, Risky Business. Career-wise, Yang transitioned from playing video games as a boy to helping clients develop them as a professional. By the same token, Saron Mechale launched a venture, goTeff, a snack food that has become a “staple diet of world-champion Ethiopian runners.”

“I’ve had customers who experience multiple allergies and can’t have other snacks in the market; wrestle with serious digestive issues who avoid breakfast entirely because they can’t find clean ingredient alternatives; and endure cancer treatment and can’t have products with high sodium or high fat content,” Mechale adds. “They have come up to me to say that my product has helped them enjoy snacking and breakfast again. I was honored and humbled to see people respond so positively to something that took a lot of time, energy, and intentionality to create.”

Nelson Engle followed in his father’s footsteps and served in the U.S. Military, specifically as a Basic Training Company Commander in the U.S. Army. Here, he earned the Armor and Cavalry Leadership Award, which he says is “given annually to the top-performing Armor or Cavalry Troop on a base.” You can bet his unit was fit. After all, Engle has competed in the USA Triathlon National Championships. In contrast, Elena Helmers-Wegman, most recently with the Milken Institute, started her career with a policy think tank with a startup team – one that grew from four people to over 20.

“We grew a handful of client engagements to over 30 in just four years! I specifically built an operating model that converted and scaled biomedical research investment strategy into impact-driven action. Over the course of my tenure, the portfolio grew to 10+ programs influencing more than $60M of investment into varying diseases across the biomedical research spectrum.”

Like Amrita Gandhi’s African adventures, Helmers-Wegman has a few stories of her own. “I’ve ventured 90 miles north of the Arctic circle in *January* to experience the Ice Hotel, go dog sledding through the snowy forest, and catch the Northern Lights! Freezing but awe-inspiring. Pack layers.”

CLASS QUALITIES

Each class member also brings unique talents. Desha Dike says she has a way of “making people feel at home,” while Nelson Engle “know(s) how to cut through the BS.” For Michael Yang, his special talent is curiosity.

“I have always been a curious person who loves to try new things, learn new tricks on a snowboard or go to a new city without planning,” he admits. My curiosity will not only allow me to meet new people and make new friends, but also facilitate conversations between my fellow students across cultural boundaries.  It is these conversations that make people understand each other’s differences and make the world a better place. During our Mtrek to Croatia (another unique activity at Ross), our group bonded so well – dancing in a castle, jumping off cliffs, and kayaking on the Adriatic Sea – and I was given the nickname, ‘the Curious One’.”

The class also brings a decided global outlook to Ross. Chloe Pham, for one, has already visited or lived in 20 countries. And Mahsa Javadi, a consultant from Tehran, brings a uniquely feminine perspective to the program.

“My background in consulting and venture philanthropy has helped me learn how to balance business goals with social impact, especially in challenging environments. Growing up in a region with fewer opportunities for women has taught me resilience and adaptability, which I believe will add value to our class discussions.”

A CLASS PROFILE

More applicants. More students. Higher GMATs. More minorities. That sums up the Ross class profile for the 2023-2024 application cycle – a year of highs for the Class of 2026. That starts with applications, which jumped from 2,976 to 4,036 from the previous year. In turn, the number of students climbed from 379 to 396 – the largest class in three years. Despite the increases, the program became more selective, as the acceptance rate dipped from 38% to 29%.

The 728 average GMAT also represents a high for the Class of 2026 – nine points better than the previous class. The percentage of U.S. minorities also rose 10 points to 53%, as a similar 10-point improvement could be found among underrepresented minorities (19% to 29%). Globally, the percentage of international students inched up a point to 44%. As a whole, 40 countries are featured in the class. The percentage of first-generation students also increased from 17% to 22%

Last year, STEM graduates accounted for the largest percentage of MBA students at Ross. This year, Business-related majors take high honors with 39% of the class. The percentage of STEM majors fell from 44% to 38%, as the remainder of the class included students who hold degrees in the Humanities (23%). Professionally, Finance professionals replaced Consultants as the largest group in the class, holding 21% and 17% shares respectively. 14% of the class last worked in Tech, while another 14% pursued careers in Engineering and Manufacturing. The remainder of the class includes representatives from Healthcare, Energy, Education, Non-Profits, and Hospitality and Sports. Military personnel constitute another 5% of the class.

A DEEP PORTFOLIO OF STUDENT FUNDS

Among the areas where the Ross MBA program shines is Entrepreneurship. Ranked 5th globally in this area by Poets&Quants, Ross is a place where 100% of faculty are directly involved in a startup according to P&Q research. Even more, over a third of faculty teach a course related to entrepreneurship or innovation. Among students, 80% participate in an entrepreneurship-related club, with another 22% founding a startup between 2019-2023.

If Ross MBAs aren’t starting new ventures, they’re funding them. The school advertises that it offers the most student-run funds than any business school. This includes the first MBA impact investment and venture capital funds. There is the International Investment Fund targeting startups in emerging economics. You’ll find a Climate Fund focused on early-stage ventures committed to environmental solutions. Of course, the Zell Founders Fund serves UM alumni and student ventures.

As a whole, the Ross MBA offers eight student-run funds. Elena Helmers-Wegman, who is pursuing a dual master’s in Health Services Administration, describes the funds as a chance to learn critical thinking and decision-making. She would know. Two years ago, working on her master’s at UM, Helmers-Wegman was part of the Social Venture Fund, where she was involved in six months of due diligence that included the impact evaluation for a healthcare venture. Now, Desha Dike is following in her footsteps with the Social Venture Fund.

“Prior to business school, I was really passionate about education, health equity, and general community service. I led volunteer events and participated in mentorship programs, but the impact that one person can have volunteering part-time is limited. I want to learn how to deploy capital into social and environmental impact companies to have an exponential positive impact on society and then actually put my learnings into practice.”

Next Page: An Interview with Matt Ganderson, Managing Director of the Michigan Ross Full-Time MBA

Page 3: Profiles of 12 Members of the Class of 2026