20 Wharton Alumni to Receive Bendheim Loan Forgiveness Fund
Wharton Social Impact Initiative is pleased to announce the 2015-2016 recipients of the John M. Bendheim Loan Forgiveness Fund for Public Service.
These recent Wharton alumni–now recognized as Bendheim Fellows– were selected from a pool of talented graduates, all lending their business acumen to careers in the nonprofit or public sectors.
The fund grants up to $20,000 per year to pay down selected candidates’ student loans. Created in 2005 by John Bendheim, W’40, and his son Tom, WG/Lauder’90, and managed by the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, the loan forgiveness fund has granted $1.3 million to 8o alumni recipients lending their business knowledge to careers in the nonprofit or public sectors.
This resource is open to MBAs during the first five years after graduation, and candidates can be selected more than once over the five-year period.
The alumni receiving this year’s awards are as follows:
New Awardees:
Chike Aguh is a 2013 MBA graduate with concentration in Innovation Strategy. In his role as Chief Programs Officer with EveryoneOn, he supports the organization’s mission to eliminate the digital divide by making high-speed, low-cost internet and computers and free digital literacy courses accessible to all unconnected Americans. (everyoneon.org)
Mary Ann Chu is a 2015 Management graduate. As a Project Leader with Endeavor Global, she will work to catalyze long-term economic growth by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating the best high-impact entrepreneurs in developing/growth markets.
Yuanxia Ding is a 2011 MBA graduate with concentration in Strategic Management. In her role as Consultant and Senior Policy Advisor at the US Department of Education, she supports the mission to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness. (www.ed.gov)
Claudia Gutierrez, MBA 2015, graduated with a concentration in Finance. In her role as Associate Investment Officer with the International Finance Corporation, she assists in the organization’s mission to end extreme poverty by 2030 and boost shared prosperity in developing by developing the private sector in emerging markets. (www.ifc.org)
Herim Lee completed her MBA in 2015 with concentration in Management. Lee is Deputy Director of the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports where she supports the pursuit of policies in relevant fields, such as boosting creative industries as a tool for upgrading national brands and soft power and building financial resilience in cultural organizations and institutions through new funding models. http://www.mcst.go.kr/english/index.jsp
Joshua Lotstein, MBA 2015, concentrated in Management. In his role as Director of Regional Operations for Summit Public Schools, he supports the mission to prepare a diverse student population for success in a four-year college or university and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society. (www.summitps.org)
Joshua McCann, who graduated in 2014 with a concentration in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management, was a very active social impact student while at Wharton. As an Analyst with the International Finance Corporation, McCann supports organization’s mission to end extreme poverty by 2030 and boost shared prosperity in developing by developing the private sector in emerging markets. (www.ifc.org)
Christopher McKinney is a 2013 MBA graduate with concentration in Finance. In the US Department of State he is a Diplomat (and Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officer) supporting the mission to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. (www.state.gov)
Nimesh Modak earned his MBA with concentration in Entrepreneurial Management in 2015. In his role as Director at Imagine H20, he supports the organization’s service as a path-to-market for water innovation through a rigorous business accelerator, providing water entrepreneurs with the resources, insight, and visibility to launch and scale a successful business. (www.imagineh2o.org)
Mira Patel is a 2015 MBA graduate with concentration in Management. With the US Small Business Administration she is Senior Advisor to the Administrator, serving the mission to maintain and strengthen the nation’s economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses and by assisting in the economic recovery of communities after disasters. (www.sba.gov)
Margarita Salasyuk completed her MBA in 2015 with a concentration in Entrepreneurial Management. In her role as International Programs Manager for Water.org, she supports the organization’s mission of delivering access to water and sanitation to low income communities in developing countries. (www.water.org)
Mark Spector is a 2015 MBA graduate with concentration in Finance and Management. Under the umbrella of the New York Economic Development Corporation, Spector is President of the Hudson Yards Development Corporation and Vice President of Real Estate Transaction Services. In these roles, he supports the NYEDC’s mission to leverage the City’s assets to drive growth, create jobs, and improve quality of life. (www.hydc.org)
Recurring Awardees:
Ashley Beckner, MBA 2013, graduated with concentration in Entrepreneurial Management. At Bricolage Academy, where she is Director of Finance and Strategy, she supports the mission to advance educational equity and prepare students of diverse backgrounds to be innovators of change (www.bricolagenola.org)
Melissa Brown earned her MBA in 2012 with a concentration in Corporate Development. As an analyst at Inter-American Investment Corporation she supports the organization’s focus on development and social impact in Latin America and the Caribbean through financing and technical assistance of small and medium enterprises in the region. (www.iic.org)
Aidan Connolly earned his MBA in 2012 with concentration in Strategic Management. He supports the New York Irish Arts Center’s mission to build a community of artists and audiences around performance, exhibition, and education and to preserve the evolving traditions of Irish culture for generations to come as the Center’s Executive Director. (www.irishartscenter.org)
Miguel Garza Martinez is a 2012 MBA graduate with concentration in General Management. As CFO of Clinicas del Azucar, he supports the organization’s maxim that every Mexican, regardless of income, should have access to specialized diabetes care. (www.clinicasdelazucar.com)
Paul Giacomini is a 2012 graduate. At the US State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, he supports the mission to end destabilizing violence worldwide in his role as a Conflict and Stabilization Advisor. (www.state.gov/j/cso)
Matt Stephenson is a 2011 MBA graduate with concentration in Entrepreneurial Management. As Director of Finance with KIPP Austin Public Schools, he supports part of the nation-wide “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. (www.kippaustin.org)
Wendy Guthrie earned her MBA with concentration in Entrepreneurial Management in 2012. At the Federal Bureau of Investigation she is a Section Chief (Senior Executive Series). (www.fbi.gov)