Craig (CJ) Shellenberger

University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business

“A firm believer in humor is the best medicine.”

Hometown: Longmont, Colorado

Fun Fact About Yourself: I once played a concert at Disney Land

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Denver – Undergraduate & Masters of Accountancy

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte, Audit and Assurance Senior

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? The first things that come to mind for me are the school’s unique reputation for community and pride, as well as its strong academic standing. While I always knew Notre Dame had a close-knit alumni network, experiencing it firsthand has exceeded my expectations. Throughout my internship search, alumni have been incredibly generous with their time, guidance, and support, and I have come to truly appreciate how meaningful an asset this network is both during my time at Mendoza and beyond. I have also greatly valued the support of second-year students, who have been instrumental in helping me prepare for interviews, and I look forward to giving back in the same way next year.

Aside from your classmates, what was the one key part of the Mendoza MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? One of the main reasons I chose to attend Mendoza was because of the school’s strong reputation for developing ethical business leaders. Experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom centered on developing concrete business skills through volunteering were a unique aspect to the curriculum that drew me to the school.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Mendoza? I have most enjoyed being part of the Consulting Club this fall. As I have been preparing for interviews, I have been extremely impressed by the support from the second years in the club, and their willingness to volunteer significant amounts of time towards my preparation. I think this speaks to culture of the program, and I am excited to repay the favor next year.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment has been leading operational turnarounds of two key divisions at Denver Commercial Property Services as an Accounting and Financial Controller. I redesigned budgeting and reporting processes, partnered closely with operations leadership, and drove sustainable margin improvements that materially changed how the business operated.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? My biggest accomplishment was being selected for the Applied Investment class, which is a competitive class in which students have to apply for admittance. The class challenges students to actively manage $30M of the University’s endowment.

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 is to grow into a business leader whose focus is empowering the communities and organizations I am a part of.  I have been extremely blessed with the various educational opportunities of my life. I believe it is important that I use these opportunities to best serve and grow both my future employer, and the communities I am part of.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? Home football games and the tailgates have been my favorite. I am looking forward to Notre Dame’s revenge tour in 2026.

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