PEOPLE WHO SHAPE WHAT’S NEXT
At the School of Business, sustainability is powered by people — students applying ideas in real-world settings, faculty advancing practice-focused research, and alumni driving progress across industries. Through applied projects, community collaborations, and roles in organizations adapting to global change, our community builds the analytical, strategic, and adaptive skills needed to lead in a dynamic economy. Together, we are shaping a future grounded in resilience, insight, and long-term thinking.
STUDENTS
MSBA students partner with the City of Winston-Salem to make a difference with solar energy
Two aspiring MSBA students — Isra Al Hashimi and Alberto Colon — worked with the City of Winston-Salem, using analytics to evaluate its permitting process for solar panels. The goal was to help ensure that solar energy solutions reach the communities that benefit from them most.
FACULTY
Pelin Pekgun Joins Second Harvest Food Bank’s Advisory Council
Thomas H. Davis Professor Pelin Pekgun has joined the inaugural Advisory Council of Second Harvest Food Bank, where she will contribute expertise to strengthen the organization’s strategy, outreach, and impact. Her appointment builds on a strong record of research in food bank operations, including published and forthcoming studies on workforce effectiveness, food waste reduction, and […]
The School of Business Faculty and Staff continue to expand Sustainability insights and impact
Featured Story
Ajay Patel
Practicing Practicality
ESG and CEO Compensation
“ESG has been this big topic in the past several years but now some are hammering down on it, and it seems like everybody’s suddenly backing away from using it,” Ajay Patel says. “Our question is, if ESG is important, do firms incentivize CEOs using ESG metrics in the compensation structure?”
Featured Story
Jennifer Claggett
Improving Outcomes
Health Equity and Artificial Intelligence
“My goal is not just to study technology but to shape it—ensuring that it empowers rather than overwhelms, and that it complements human strengths while addressing real-world challenges,” Jennifer Claggett says.
Featured Story
Pelin Pekgün
Optimizing Decisions
Supply Chain Disruption and Resilience
“Being motivated to address food insecurity and reduce food waste in the supply chain, I’ve worked with food banks to make better decisions with the limited resources they have,” Pelin Pekgün says. “Their mission is not to maximize profit, but to maximize the number of food-insecure people they can reach.”
Featured Story
Jeff Camm
Optimizing Conservation
1998 Study Redefined Conservation Strategies, Earns Top Award
25 years on, Jeff Camm’s collaborative, highly cited research on conservation continues to impact species protection. “We were able to bring optimization into an area where it hadn’t been used very much. It was a transfer of knowledge from one area to another—from analytics over to biodiversity conservation.”
Featured Story
Roderick Lewis
Supplier Social Sustainability
Social Sustainability Champion
As a featured panelist at the Reynolds American Supplier Sustainability Summit, Lewis emphasized, “sustainability has become a key factor in decision-making for both students and employees. Many individuals, particularly from younger generations, are increasingly seeking organizations that align with their values and demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability.”
ALUMNI
ALUMNI | Leading Across Industries
Business graduates are proving that sustainability leadership happens everywhere – from energy management to supply chain ethics to ESG assurance.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Allie Napier (MSM, Double Deac)
As Strategy and Operations Lead for ESG Transparency & Reporting at Dell Technologies, Allie helps drive responsible business practices at a global scale.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Maddy Eldredge (BEM)
At The Hershey Company, Maddy leads human rights and social sustainability initiatives, ensuring ethical and sustainable supply chains.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Owen Smith (MBA)
Owen manages energy systems at Meta, advancing renewable energy and efficiency for one of the world’s largest tech companies.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Caitlin Crawford (MSA, Double Deac)
In her role at PwC, Caitlin supports sustainability assurance, helping organizations meet accountability and reporting standards.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Kathleen Price (MBA)
Kathleen works as Environmental Sustainability Risk Executive at Ally Financial, integrating climate and sustainability into enterprise risk management.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Audrey Groves (BEM)
As a Climate Data Advisor at Watershed, Audrey leverages data to help organizations track and reduce their carbon impact.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Maya Elia (BEM)
At KPMG, Maya focuses on corporate sustainability and the role of AI in shaping the future of sustainable business solutions.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Ivan Reguira (MBA)
Ivan brings his expertise in energy and utilities to Tesla, supporting sustainable energy solutions in one of the most innovative companies in the world.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Matt Schmittling (BS Finance)
Matt contributes to sustainable finance as an Institutional Production Analyst at AgAmerica, supporting agricultural resilience and growth.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Richie Horton (MSM)
Richie is a Program Manager of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Truist, carrying forward his commitment to Pro Humanitate.
FEATURED ALUMNI
Serena Agabe Rwejuna (MSM)
As a Chambers-ranked Partner at White & Case LLP Serena serves as the Head of Energy Markets & Regulatory, focusing on clean energy technologies, including solar, storage, on- and offshore wind, hydro, waste-to-energy, and advanced/evolving technologies
FEATURED ALUMNI
Francie Tucker (Summer Management Program)
A recent graduate with a BA in Environment & Sustainability Studies, Francie is putting her passions to work as a Sustainability Consulting Analyst at Schneider Electric.
