Meet Notre Dame Mendoza’s MBA Class Of 2026

A CLASS PROFILE

In terms of its profile, the 89-member class brings a 680 GMAT average to South Bend – a 15-point improvement – with scores ranging from 560-760. At the same time, a quarter of the class submitted GRE scores, which averaged 317. As a whole, women and international students account for 30% and 25% shares of the class, with class members hailing from 13 countries.

One thing is for sure: Mendoza’s admissions team loved business majors during the 2024-2025 application cycle. They represented a 44% share of the class – not counting another 12% who majored in Economics. Engineers make up 18% of the class, followed by Humanities (9%), Sciences (6%), Social Sciences (6%), and Computer Science (4%).

Considering Mendoza’s slant towards business in the Class of 2026, it is hardly surprising that 28% of the class last worked in Banking, Finance, or Insurance (with another 16% involved in Consulting). Another 11% held Technology-related positions, with the remainder of the class offering experience in Retail and Food, Energy, Government, Healthcare, Media and Entertainment, Education, Manufacturing, Non-Profits, Engineering, and Logistics. In addition, 9% of the class possess military experience.

Among Mendoza’s strengths, you’re bound to hear about its highly influential and engaged alumni network, which consistently ranks among the best according to Financial Times surveys of students and alumni. In a similar survey conducted by The Princeton Review last year, Mendoza posted Top 10 scores for its Faculty and Classroom Experience, along with its Finance and Non-Profit curriculum. Brian Byers, for one, has seen a big difference with his teachers.

“The faculty in Mendoza’s MBA program…genuinely want to see the students succeed. Our faculty is unique because they have a wide range of experience leading up to Mendoza, which helps lay a strong foundation for our MBA students. As a few examples, our current faculty includes an MD at a top investment bank (Howard Lanser) and a professor who has testified in front of Congress (Robert Battalio).”

BUSINESS ON THE FRONTLINES

Another differentiator is experiential learning, which is employed throughout the program. Maybe the centerpiece of this philosophy is the Meyer Business on the Frontlines program (BOTFL), which weaves in the program’s global perspective and commitment to service with a learning-by-doing approach. It’s popular – and demanding – enough that students must interview for a spot on one of the cross-disciplinary teams. Here, students apply McKinsey best practices to solve issues in areas like workforce development, environmental sustainability, and education. Launched nearly 20 years ago, Mendoza MBAs have completed over 100 projects in countries as different as Ghana, Colombia, Romania, and Lebanon.

“Each team can be composed of students from the business, law, or global affairs schools, and is supplemented by two alumni advisors,” explains ’25 alum Mark Giesey. “Each BOTFL course pairs students with a nonprofit or NGO and culminates in a 1–2-week international field visit. These experiences are intensive and involve real-world problem-solving with direct client impact. At the conclusion of each course, students are required to deliver comprehensive, client-facing recommendations for a social impact initiative spearheaded by the partner organization.”

Mendoza MBAs can take multiple BOTFL courses, including a Frontlines in America course where students partner with non-profits in poverty-stricken areas like Appalachia and South Chicago. Giesey himself completed two courses during his time at Mendoza.

“I spent spring 2024 partnering with Newmont Mining Corporation’s Ghana subsidiary. Illegal artisanal gold mining in Ghana is a major threat to the environment, as well as rural communities due to soil and water contamination. My team’s task was to build an alternative livelihood model that could be promoted to local villages via a regional NGO network. During fall 2024, I worked with another student team to put together a strategic organizational framework for Tribal Minds, a nonprofit committed to serving all 26 Indigenous communities in the state of Nevada…It was our job as business students to assist them with scaling their organization into the future.

For James Smart, BOTFL provided a way to test out all the fundamentals, models, and best practices he learned during the first semester core. “I am excited to be a part of the program and to have the opportunity to witness how the business skills I have learned in class intersect with social impact. My team and I are going to be working on a project for an impact investor in Kyrgyzstan this winter/spring.”

LET’S GO BOWLING!

BOTFL courses are just one of Mendoza’s experiential offerings. Smart also points to the Grow Irish Weeks where MBAs can pursue learning on their terms twice a year, These efforts can range from completing consulting projects for companies to tackling skill gaps in areas like financial modeling or strategic communication, Smith adds. In the Applied Investment Management course (AIM), students manage their own portfolio. With the Mod-Away Experience, students spend seven weeks in either Silicon Valley or Santiago, Chile, where they can live, learn, and work.

“These opportunities provide invaluable hands-on practical experience, demonstrating Mendoza’s commitment to creating a positive global impact,” adds Seyi Olasimoju. “While the overall curriculum is impressive, the chance to engage in these experiential learning programs truly distinguished Mendoza for me.”

And South Bend, a slice of small-town Americana, is a pretty good place to spend two years, observes Kingsley Ukaulor, a ’25 alum. “I appreciated the affordability, and peaceful atmosphere. Whether it was grabbing a bite at a local restaurant, volunteering in the community, or enjoying the serenity of the St. Joseph River, South Bend felt like a second home.”

For those who do choose Mendoza, Mark Giesey recommends taking part in another Midwest staple: the spring bowling league. “It’s a lot of fun, and a great way to connect with students outside one’s professional pathway (i.e. meeting marketing majors as a finance major). Many teams wear their own custom bowling outfits, and there are often playful rivalries that arise between teams throughout the season. As a second-year student, it’s also fun to see how my classmates have improved since last season.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSOCIATE DEAN

New faculty, new courses, new partnerships – not to mention career services, global business programming, and soft skill development. These are all topics that P&Q posed to Gianna Bern, Associate Dean for the MBA Program and a Teaching Professor of Finance, in a wide-ranging interview. Here are her thoughts on the present and future of the Mendoza MBA.

P&Q: What have been the two most important developments in your MBA program over the past year? What type of impact will they have on current and future MBAs?

Bern: “Over the past year, we have focused on enhancing the Mendoza MBA experience while upholding the rigor and excellence of our faculty and curriculum. Two key developments stand out.

First, we’ve forged a strategic partnership with our Information Technology, Analytics, and Operations (ITAO) department to create a robust career pathway for students in business analytics, marketing, consulting, and strategy. This collaboration brings together faculty at the forefront of their disciplines, emphasizing the role of technology and ethics in the modern business landscape. In this era of rapid advancements in AI and business technology, this pathway equips our students with the tools to lead ethically and innovatively.

Second, we’ve expanded our finance curriculum to prepare students for thriving careers in investment banking and corporate finance roles such as treasury and financial planning and analysis. Beyond our rigorous core courses, we now offer nine advanced finance electives. This robust selection deepens technical expertise and underscores our commitment to fostering career-ready graduates who excel in competitive markets.

These developments reflect Mendoza’s focus on innovation and academic excellence, ensuring our MBAs are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”

P&Q: Every January, P&Q publishes a “10 Business Schools to Watch” feature that highlights how schools are raising the bar and enhancing the student experience through innovation or expansion in programming or resources. What is one innovation that sets your school apart from your peer programs and makes you a business school to watch? Why is it so groundbreaking?

Bern: “In Spring 2025, we will introduce a suite of information technology and business analytics courses for our MBA students designed to address the evolving demands of the global business environment. These six new courses, including Ethics in Technology and Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders, reflect our commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into all facets of business education.

What sets this initiative apart is our holistic approach: No matter their career track, our students will gain the knowledge to navigate and leverage technology in their industries. This forward-thinking curriculum ensures that Mendoza graduates are adept at using technology and equipped to lead with integrity in an increasingly tech-driven world.”

P&Q: What types of programs do you offer to sharpen your students’ soft skills? What areas do you emphasize and how do you instill these skills in your students?

Bern: “At Mendoza, we understand that technical expertise must be paired with exceptional communication and leadership abilities to create impactful business leaders.

Our Fanning Center for Communication is a cornerstone resource, providing a comprehensive suite of courses focused on written communication, public speaking, executive presence and data storytelling. Every MBA student is required to complete at least one of these offerings, ensuring a strong foundation in critical soft skills.

In addition, experiential learning plays a vital role. For instance, during our Silicon Valley Mod Away, students deliver presentations to industry leaders, receiving real-time feedback that hones their ability to communicate effectively in high-stakes environments. These opportunities, combined with our emphasis on personal development, ensure that Notre Dame MBAs are confident and articulate leaders.”

P&Q: What types of programming – through classroom instruction, extracurriculars, and treks – does your school offer to expose students to country-specific and global business practices? What have students told you were the most educational and fun aspects of these activities?

Bern: “Global immersion is a hallmark of the Notre Dame MBA experience. Through programs such as Business on the Frontlines, Mod Away, and Grow Irish Week, we prepare our students to navigate and succeed in diverse international markets.

This year, our students participated in consulting projects across Croatia, Brazil, Bermuda and Mexico as part of Grow Irish, a uniquely Notre Dame program designed to expand students’ experience with real-world business challenges. During the week-long intensive course, students work in teams with a wide variety of companies on projects ranging from improving financial operations to developing market-entry strategies.

Similarly, our Mod Away program immerses students in places such as Silicon Valley and Chile, where they gain firsthand insights into regional business practices. Students consistently highlight the camaraderie and professional growth these experiences foster, as they work in diverse teams to address complex global issues.”

P&Q: What are the most exciting new courses that your school is offering to MBAs this school year? What makes them so unique and valuable?

Bern: “The most exciting addition to our curriculum this year is a new lineup of information technology and business analytics courses debuting in Spring 2025. These six new offerings, developed in collaboration with Mendoza’s IT, Analytics, and Operations department, include Ethics in Technology, Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders, and Data Visualization and Storytelling.

What makes these courses unique is their forward-looking perspective. They not only teach technical skills, but also challenge students to consider the ethical implications and strategic applications of technology in business. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that Mendoza graduates are equipped to lead responsibly in the digital age, regardless of their industry or function.”

P&Q: Who are two new professors who’ve joined your faculty in the past year? What do they teach and how will they be difference-makers in your MBA program?

Bern: “Two exceptional faculty members, Ahmed Abbasi and Kirsten Martin, have recently brought their expertise to the MBA program, adding tremendous value to our students’ educational experience. Both are long-standing leaders at Mendoza and serve as endowed chairs, reflecting their significant contributions to their fields.

Professor Abbasi, a recognized authority in artificial intelligence, teaches Designing for Human-Centered AI. His course emphasizes how AI can be developed and deployed in ways that prioritize human needs and ethical considerations — an increasingly critical skill in today’s business environment. Professor Martin, a preeminent scholar in technology ethics, leads Ethics in Technology. Her work focuses on guiding future leaders in understanding the ethical implications of technology in decision making and strategy.

Their inclusion in the MBA program coincides with Mendoza’s expanded focus on technology and business analytics, complementing six new tech-driven courses and immersive experiences such as the Silicon Valley Mod Away. Together, professors Abbasi and Martin are equipping our students with a unique blend of technical expertise and ethical leadership, preparing them to thrive in roles across consulting, technology, and analytics. Their impact reinforces Mendoza’s mission to develop leaders who “Grow the Good in Business” and lead with purpose in a rapidly-evolving world.”

Next Page: Profiles of 11 Members of the MBA Class of 2026

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