Graduate Student Spotlights: Class of 2019

Syracuse University's Martin J. Whitman School of Management offers a variety of graduate programs that prepare students to become exceptional business leaders and professionals. Learn more about some of the Whitman School graduate students and their experiences by reading the following:

Marian Kvantaliani

Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia
Degree: MBA
Concentrations: Finance/Business Analytics

“I am a Fulbright scholar, and it was the decision of the Fulbright Program to send me here to Syracuse University. I feel very lucky that the program chose the Whitman School, as it was a perfect fit for me for several reasons. The MBA program is very diverse with students from different countries and cultures, and I have had the opportunity to bring my unique insights to the group, being the first-ever Georgian student at the Whitman School. Class sizes are small, which enables us to discuss the material through classroom discussions on a regular basis, and the professors are extremely helpful and accessible. Finally, being involved in active student life enhances leadership skills, which is critical to transforming ourselves into future business leaders.”

Danielle Sheppard

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Degree: MBA
Concentrations: Marketing/Entrepreneurship

“Attending Syracuse University had always been a dream of mine, and as a teenager living in Ithaca, New York, the Whitman School of Management caught my eye. One of the driving forces behind wanting to attend the Whitman School is its dedication to veterans, more specifically the Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Coming out of the military, I didn’t have a strong professional civilian network, but that immediately changed when I began the MBA@Syracuse program at the Whitman School. It has not only increased my network, but it has also exposed me to different industries and top employers. Whitman has been amazing. The rigorous coursework challenged and pushed me to greater heights and has fueled my ambition.”

Matt Keller

Hometown: Willow Street, Pennsylvania
Degree: M.S. in Accounting

“I came to Syracuse University to be a member of the football team, and I knew that I wanted to study accounting, so the Whitman School was the place for me. The Whitman School has been incredible because on top of my athletic experience, I will leave Syracuse with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree and amazing career opportunities. The thing that stands out to me the most would be how much the professors in the accounting program care about their students and how important it is to them to develop relationships with us. They take a genuine interest in your life outside of school and are sure to make every class enjoyable and beneficial.”

Lu Liu

Hometown: Liaoning Province, China
Degree: Ph.D. in Marketing

“I was once an engineer, and I learned that engineering is about solving problems, but I asked myself, ‘Where do those problems come from?’ At last I found the answer; the problems come from society — how everything runs, why the economy is stagnant or growing, why an organization is running, good or bad. That is the way of thinking that drove me to switch from engineering to business. The Whitman School has opened up the world of business for me and answered the questions that confused me. I’ve learned why the world is running the way it is. Through basic concepts, principles, case studies and advanced research techniques, the Whitman School has prepared me for my future career.”

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Kerri Howell

Kerri is director of communications and media relations for the Whitman School. She is responsible for managing all internal and external communications with students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the business community and other key stakeholders.After receiving her B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo, she went on to earn her M.S. in communications management from Syracuse’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, where she has served as an adjunct professor in the public relations department since 2004.