Thursday, December 1, 2011

UD Student Profile: Meet Kris®!

Among the graduates this month is Kris® who will receive his MBA in Information Technology Service Management and in Project Management. On paper and in person, Kris® stands out and once you meet him, it is clearly evident why.

Kris® originates from the western coast of India in the state of Goa, about an overnight journey by train from Mumbai. Before ever attending the University of Dallas, Kris® started to invest in his future. Six years ago he describes there was a “hunger for establishing identity.” Often, he says, much of what a person remembers is an email and he set out to make his distinct by tradmarking his name. Assuredly, not many will forget seeing an email from him when they see ® following his name.

Kris® chose to attend UD because of the pre-MBA program, but he decided to stay to earn his MBA because it offered exactly what he wanted to study and the “faculty was really impressive, especially Dr. Sue Conger.”

Dr. Conger soon became one of faculty members Kris® is closest too. She introduced Kris® to Thanksgiving and especially the Turkey Trot, a 5K run in Dallas. It is a cherished memory “because for a faculty person to come out of their professional realm and extend that opportunity for social interaction in the US and during Thanksgiving, that was really kind and touching.” For nearly one and a half years, Kris® also worked with Dr. Conger as her GA. He attributes his time with her as key in improving his “level of thinking” and it is what gave him “a different perspective altogether in terms of academic pursuit.”

Moreover because of the campus itself, Kris® has also had the opportunity to interact with liberal arts students and faculty members. He can speak nine languages, which helps him to socialize with students and faculty who originate from all over the world. Being able to interact with the academics on campus “is really enriching” and he believes if “you go to a normal business school, you won’t get it. So interacting with all of the faculty has given me a better understanding that the roots of UD are really deep and strong.”

From the Student Advisory Board to SIE, Kris® is active on campus. In his third and last term with SIE, he was elected its president. Working with Dr. Mike Cosgrove, the SIE faculty advisor, Kris® and SIE are moving to make the “organization stronger and take it forward in terms of helping the students professionally network and connect to all of those alumni who have been active members of SIE since 1973.” As a member of SIE, he has “been able to give a considerable contribution.”

Following graduation, Kris® plans on pursuing his PhD in Information Technology Service Management at the University of Southern Queensland where he will be able to learn from faculty that he already knows through his work here.

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