A Farewell from Dean Sundaram, Graduation, and more

May 2021

Dean's Corner: Farewell from Dean Sundaram

First, I want to offer my congratulations to all of our spring 2021 graduates who are receiving their bachelor’s degrees in finance, master’s degrees in finance and doctorate in finance. After a year of virtual graduations, our students this semester were able to attend their graduation in person at Tropicana Field and celebrate with their peers. Given the challenges they faced during this past year we are very proud of their accomplishments. On behalf of all the faculty and staff at the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, I want to wish all our graduates the best in their future endeavors and their careers.

This newsletter highlights our students, faculty, alumni and board member achievements. You will read about the extraordinary students who represent us in the community through their leadership skills. We have also provided you information about our Student Managed Investment Funds that allow our students to receive hands-on experience in investment management. We also started a new series titled “Careers in Finance” which offers short interviews with various professionals from the financial sector about their career paths to help our students understand the various opportunities available to them.

It is with mixed emotions I write this Dean’s Corner. After five years of serving as the dean for the Kate Tiedemann College of Business and the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance, I have accepted the position of dean for the College of Business and Economics at California State University Fullerton, starting July 15.

Over the past five years, we have achieved much success in raising the profile of the college/school in the region with the support of our faculty, staff, students, donors and the community. We successfully navigated USF consolidation working closely with Dean Moez Limayem and the USF/Muma College of Business leadership team. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the college/school during this period and thankful to my colleagues and the USF leadership team for their support and guidance.

Lastly, I am in debt to the St. Petersburg community, especially the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, which welcomed me as a partner to work on various initiatives that made our community a better place to live, work, and play.

Congrats Spring Graduates!

The Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance is proud to graduate 188 students across undergraduate and graduate programs!

USF Finance Bulls

Join us on LinkedIn for a chance to connect with alumni, get notified for different job and internship opportunities, learn more about career options within the finance industry, and more!

Careers in Finance Video Series

Meet Marcus Wilson, Senior Vice President, Investment Platforms Management at Dynasty Financial Partners.

Wilson attended the University of Notre Dame playing football and continued his athletic career oversees before beginning his career in the financial industry.

Learn more about how he got to where he is now, watch here.

Students at Work: Internship Spotlight

Brooke Dolan is a junior majoring in finance and is interning as an administrative assistant at LPL Financial. Dolan communicates with clients to ensure accurate data collection, coordinates companies' internal financial files and reports, among various other tasks, while developing a knowledge of LPL financial policies and financial management processes.

“My experience since beginning this internship has been amazing," she says. "Learning about the financial planning business has been challenging but necessary for my growth and it has been helpful in getting a small picture of what I hope to be doing when I graduate. I have seen how LPL’s advisers connect with their clients like they are family, which is super important to me when looking toward my future. Everything we do is in the best interest of the client. I cannot wait to be able to create a family of clients when I have my own practice one day.”

Are you looking for an internship? Contact the Undergraduate Program office here.

Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance

Dean's Advisory Board Leadership Award Recipients

Brendan Fritz

Major: Finance

Concentration: Real Estate

"I could not be happier with the amount of opportunities given to me at USF as a first generation student."

Brendan Fritz holds leadership roles in the USF Real Estate Society, Sports Club Council, USF Lacrosse Club, as well as participating in ALPFA, Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity, Tampa Palms Youth Lacrosse, USF Accounting Society, USF Corporate Mentor Program, USF Student Finance Association. Fritz will travel to Dallas this summer to intern with Goldman Sachs as a summer analyst.

Junayed Jahangir

Major: Finance and Accounting

Minor: Business Analytics

"During the time of pandemic this scholarship will help me greatly. I try to give back to the community as much as possible."

Junayed Jahangir is involved with the Tampa Bay Collegiate Leadership Program and holds leadership roles in the USF Ambassadors program, the Student Investment Club, International Student Association, USF Student Government, as well as having worked in several on campus jobs as a tutor with the USF Student Success Center and as a residential assistant. He also completed his recent internship, Ex Labs with TechData.

Greg Smersh Named as Director for Real Estate Studies

In 2018, Professor Greg Smersh pushed for a Real Estate Concentration in the Finance program. The concentration has grown to 24 students this past semester. In recognition of his efforts and plans to continue to grow this program, Smersh was recently named director of Real Estate Studies in the Kate Tiedemann School of Business and Finance.

Smersh has served as the faculty adviser for the Real Estate Society at USF since its inception in 2015. He says that he is continually impressed by the level of student motivation and credits former club president Noah Shaffer with much of the club's success.

"Although Noah is now a successful real estate professional himself, he continues to assist me in this effort," Smersh says, "while current President Brendan Fritz has helped to keep the club going strong during the pandemic." This past semester, the club hosted three online workshops and held outdoor social events. The student organization has attracted more than 500 students.

"We also have huge support from the industry," he says. "Real estate organizations have invited our students to networking events and local companies have hosted corporate tours where students interact with real estate professionals." Recently, Smersh and Shaffer met with Cushman & Wakefield executives, Bruce Lauer and Larry Richey.

"They really want to see an undergrad real estate program at USF," Smersh says. "Industry demand is strong and these guys are hiring."

As director for Real Estate Studies, Smersh intends to grow the real estate concentration and hopes to add another real estate course.

"I'd really like to see a minor in real estate," he says, "and eventually, a Center for Real Estate Studies and a real estate major. Having the support of local real estate companies is critical to our success going forward and we definitely have that."

Alumni Spotlight

Michael Schopler, Raymond James

Michael Schopler graduated from USF in 2014 with a degree in accounting and finance. Schopler is now a senior structured investments associate at Raymond James. He serves as a liaison between all of the major banks and the financial advisors. “Seventy-five percent of my day is spent working with the investment bank and adviser to get what they want for their clients.”

During his time at USF, Schopler was involved in ASA because of fellow student, Matthew Casey. Schopler said that Casey served as a mentor for him during his time here and is grateful for his encouragement to pursue the class. “I gave the program my all, I loved that it was real world,” Schopler said.