Meet Georgetown McDonough’s MBA Class Of 2027

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?

Dasmohapatra: “Over the past year, two of the most important developments in Georgetown’s MBA program have been the following:

Curriculum Innovation
We are actively redesigning our MBA curriculum based on insights from employers, alumni, faculty, and students to ensure it continues to align with the evolving demands of the business landscape. The enhanced curriculum emphasizes critical leadership, communication, and decision-making skills, while also integrating AI, analytics, and digital literacy into both core and elective courses. This ensures every MBA student—regardless of background or career path—is equipped to navigate and lead in a data-driven, tech-enabled environment.

Expanding Alumni Engagement and Global Reach
Over the past year, we have deepened alumni engagement and expanded our global reach through intentional programming. This includes increased mentorship opportunities, structured alumni-student connections, and a growing number of regional alumni events across major global cities. These initiatives not only support student career development, but also foster a vibrant, inclusive MBA community that transcends graduation—creating a sense of shared purpose, connection, and belonging among current students, alumni, and prospective candidates.

This year also marks a milestone for Georgetown’s Flex MBA Online (FXO) program: the first cohort participated in their Global Business Experience (GBE), completing international consulting projects for organizations across the globe. Their three in-person residencies were intentionally designed to build layered connection and context: the first focused on the McDonough community, the second on Washington, D.C., and the third on the global business landscape. This structure supports academic rigor, cohort bonding, and immersive, real-world learning for working professionals in an online format.

Additionally, we launched the Dean’s Fellows initiative to recognize high-achieving Full-time MBA candidates admitted in the Early Action round with a prestigious scholarship and exclusive leadership, academic, and networking benefits.

These developments reflect our commitment to preparing students for the realities of a fast-changing, global business environment. By integrating cutting-edge skills into the curriculum, strengthening alumni and professional networks, and recognizing excellence early, we are building a forward-looking, inclusive, and high-performing MBA experience—one that empowers students from all backgrounds to thrive and lead in an increasingly interconnected world.”

P&Q: What types of services do you provide to first-year MBAs to ease their transition into business school?

Dasmohapatra: “Each admitted Georgetown MBA student is paired with an Admissions Advisor who serves as a key point of contact throughout the summer, helping them navigate enrollment, housing, financing, and pre-arrival questions. Once on campus, every student is introduced to their dedicated Program Advisor—a central resource throughout the MBA journey—during orientation, ensuring a smooth handoff and continuity of support.

Before the program officially begins, students receive access to a comprehensive Welcome Website with essential information on enrollment, housing, financial aid, health accommodations, and ways to connect with their classmates. They also complete a pre-orientation summer career course, quantitative prep, and a required McDonough Foundations online module, which introduces academic expectations, community values, and program culture.

Orientation is tailored by program format—Full-time, Flex (in-person), and Flex Online—and includes sessions on the academic journey, career preparation, Jesuit values (including cura personalis), and key aspects of student life. Students participate in activities such as a letter to your future self, business improv, career drop-ins, alumni and peer engagement, and crash courses on critical skills and resources.

A signature Social Impact and Service Day reflects our values-driven approach to leadership and is open to all students. Additionally, international students receive a focused orientation designed to help them acclimate to the academic and cultural expectations of the U.S. MBA environment and the Georgetown community.

Across all of these touchpoints, our goal is to foster a strong sense of belonging, readiness, and purpose as students begin their MBA journey.”

P&Q: What types of support do you provide to international students before and during business school to enable them to better acclimate to your country?

Dasmohapatra: “We offer a thoughtful and structured set of support services to help international MBA students successfully transition to both the Georgetown community and life in the U.S. Before arrival, students gain access to our MBA Welcome Website, which includes detailed information on housing, visa processes, health insurance, financial planning, academic resources, and more—providing clear guidance well in advance of their move. Each international student is also supported by an Admissions Advisor leading up to enrollment and is introduced to their Program Advisor during orientation for continued support throughout their time at McDonough.

To ensure students are culturally and academically prepared, we host a dedicated International MBA Student Orientation—a full-day program that takes place before the main MBA orientation. This day-long program—available in person and virtually—features sessions led by faculty, staff, and current international students. Topics include what to expect in the U.S. classroom environment, time management strategies, and an interactive case simulation to introduce students to the teaching methods used in the program. Students also receive tailored career guidance and insights from leadership and peers as well as second-year international students. Thus, they have the opportunity to begin building relationships through networking and social events. The day concludes with a cultural celebration to help students connect with one another and feel welcomed into the broader community.

In addition, Georgetown University offers a university-wide international student orientation featuring immigration compliance, managing finances, and other acculturation resources to help ensure academic and cultural adaption. Our international students continue to receive ongoing support from the MBA Program Office, Career Center, Office of Global Services, and a vibrant international student community throughout the year.”

P&Q: How does your program integrate other disciplines, such as the liberal arts and STEM, across your curriculum to provide students with a more interdisciplinary experience in business school?

Dasmohapatra: “The Georgetown MBA program takes an intentionally interdisciplinary approach that blends business fundamentals with the analytical rigor and the reflective depth of the liberal arts. From leadership communication and ethics to AI, analytics, and public policy, students engage with complex issues through multiple lenses, preparing them to lead in today’s dynamic, interconnected world.

Since 2020, we have offered a STEM-designated Management Science major, enabling students to build advanced technical and analytical skills alongside their core business education. Our curriculum includes STEM-based courses across all business disciplines from operations and analytics, management, marketing, accounting, finance, and strategy, which give students a firm grounding in quantitative methods, emerging technologies, and digital innovation.

At the same time, students can explore topics rooted in the liberal arts and social sciences—such as Ethical Leadership, Understanding Social Innovation, Design Thinking, The Life of Work, and National Security and the Global Economy, to name a few—that foster critical thinking, empathy, and systems-level awareness. Courses like Meditation and Leadership and Mental Health in the Workplace underscore our Jesuit commitment to cura personalis and the development of the whole person.

We also offer the opportunity to take elective courses—or pursue dual degree programs—across Georgetown University, allowing MBA students to tailor their academic journey to intersect with fields such as healthcare, law, public sector consulting, and international affairs.

Further specialization is available through certificate programs in areas like the Business of Healthcare, Customer Analytics and Insights, Nonmarket Strategy (at the intersection of business, policy, and economics), Sustainable Business, and Global Real Estate. These offerings ensure our students not only gain functional expertise but also understand the broader economic, social, and political forces shaping the business landscape.”

P&Q: What are two ways that your program is incorporating Artificial Intelligence into your programming? How do they better prepare students for the future world of work?

Dasmohapatra: “The Georgetown MBA is integrating Artificial Intelligence into the program in two foundational ways—through curriculum design and through co-curricular, institutional, and faculty-led initiatives—to ensure our students are equipped to lead in a world increasingly shaped by AI and data.

First, AI is embedded directly into our curriculum across disciplines. Students engage with courses such as AI, Analytics and the Future of Work, Data Visualization, Data Science for Business Decisions, Fintech, Digital Marketing Analytics, Healthcare Data and Analytics, Technology Strategy, and Business Forecasting, among others. These offerings develop fluency in using AI and advanced analytics for real-world decision-making, while also strengthening skills in storytelling and communication—ensuring students can both interpret and influence with data. Many faculty actively incorporate AI tools into assignments and classroom work, giving students hands-on experience while encouraging thoughtful use. Emphasis is placed on understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI, including the importance of recognizing bias, ensuring transparency, and making responsible decisions when using emerging technologies.

As part of our core curriculum redesign, we are introducing a required AI module in the opening term. This foundational content will help students understand how to use AI tools ethically, recognize potential biases and risks, and evaluate when and how AI should or should not be used in business and organizational contexts. Additionally, AI and analytics will become part of our core curriculum (in addition to electives) to ensure that students are prepared to lead with technical acumen.

Second, the AI, Analytics, and the Future of Work Initiative at Georgetown McDonough is one of our designated “Fields of the Future,” which indicates a core focus and priority for the school in our efforts to address the key issues facing society in the years to come. Through this initiative, students participate in cross-semester speaker series, panel debates with global experts in AI and digital transformation, and AI-focused hackathons that simulate real-world challenges. These experiential learning opportunities give students direct exposure to how AI is being applied in industries today.

In parallel, we are also working to ensure that faculty are AI-informed educators. Our Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship (CNDLS) provides university-wide guidance on responsible AI use in academic settings, including policies and instructional support. In the business school, we have created a faculty AI committee to share use cases, classroom applications, and best practices across disciplines. Faculty are also actively producing research at the intersection of AI, ethics, and business, which further informs classroom dialogue.”

P&Q: What types of educational and career support do you provide to alumni after graduation? How does it make them more valuable to employers during their careers?

Dasmohapatra: “At Georgetown McDonough, support for our alumni extends well beyond graduation through a robust portfolio of career services and lifelong learning opportunities that evolve with their professional journeys.

All MBA alumni have lifetime access to career advising and executive coaching, where they are matched with a dedicated coach from the McDonough Career Center. Our coaches assist alumni in navigating promotions, career transitions, job offers, and professional development planning. Services include resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, LinkedIn profile optimization, target company strategies, and networking plans—ensuring that alumni are equipped to position themselves competitively in a changing job market.

In addition, alumni maintain permanent access to the Handshake job search portal and can participate in targeted career workshops on high-impact leadership topics such as building trust, giving feedback, and developing strategic influence.

Additionally, the McDonough Alumni Office regularly creates opportunities for alumni to engage in lifelong learning through faculty-led courses and programs focused on emerging business topics. Alumni events often feature fireside chats with experts in high-growth industries, as well as access to signature speaker series like the Stanton Distinguished Leaders Series and regular seminars hosted by our various initiatives and centers. These offerings help alumni stay ahead of industry trends, broaden their perspectives, and deepen their professional expertise. By continuously strengthening leadership skills, business acumen, and self-awareness, these experiences ensure our graduates remain highly valued by employers and well-positioned for sustained career success.”

Click on the links below to access in-depth profiles of the MBA Class of 2027.

MBA Student	Hometown	Undergraduate Alma Mater	Last Employer
Nikhil Appana	Hyderabad, India	Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology	Marley Enterprises
Melissa Barrientos	San Salvador, El Salvador	Superior School of Economic and Business (ESEN)	Unilever
Nicholas Campbell	Larchmont, NY	University of Michigan	Invenergy
Bianca Ellis	Silver Spring, MD	Towson University	Citigroup
Yeukai Enia Danda	Chivhu, Zimbabwe	Catholic University of Zimbabwe	Petalm Africa Group
Titilayo Funso	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Institute of Technology	JPMorganChase
Alex Gabennesch	Westerfield, IN	The Boeing Company	The Boeing Company
Mateus Hintz	Florianópolis, Brazil	Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina	Clube FII
Delmer Jones	Atlanta, GA	Morehouse College	Accenture
Ambrose Kamya	Kamuli, Uganda	Makerere University	City of Elkhart, Indiana
Grant Miller	Roswell, GA	The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina	Deloitte
Lydia Troxell	Purcellville, VA	University of South Carolina	Freddie Mac

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