Five Honored With Annual Awards for Outstanding Commitment to Whitman

On June 13, the Whitman School hosted its annual evening of appreciation and recognition for engaged alumni, corporate partners and friends at The Westin New York Grand Central in New York City. The event is held to show gratitude for those who directly contribute to Whitman’s success each academic year. A highlight of the evening is the awards ceremony during which a select few of Whitman’s most dedicated alumni and friends are honored. This year, five outstanding alumni were recognized for their commitment to the School and its students.


THE JONATHAN J. HOLTZ ALUMNUS OF THE YEAR AWARD recognizes an outstanding alumna or alumnus for professional accomplishments and service to the University. Established in 1986 by Jonathan J. Holtz ’78, it is the highest honor given by the Whitman School. This year’s recipient is David Nass ’91, managing director and head of real estate finance at UBS Investment Bank. 


Nass is a member of Whitman’s Real Estate Board and has been highly engaged in real estate and finance career programming through career exploration trip visits at UBS, panel discussions and networking events. Nass’ commitment to Whitman and Syracuse University also includes significant philanthropic support. The recent launch of the Nass Mental Health Initiative was made possible through the generous financial support of his family, including wife Dina ’91 (A&S), and children Sophie ’24 (Falk), Tyler and Abigail ’26 (VPA). This initiative equips students with the tools to identify mental health issues, while also destigmatizing concepts related to mental health in business settings. The Nass family gift provides students with guidance and priorities to help them be successful in both business and life.


THE WHITMAN DEAN’S CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE recognizes Syracuse University alumni, corporate partners and friends who exemplify a significant commitment to help the School prepare and place future business leaders. This year’s honorees are Jasmine Bellamy ’92 and Steve Kron ’95. 


Bellamy is the founder and spiritual director of Love 101 Ministries. She previously served as vice president of merchandising, planning and allocations at Reebok. Through her position at Reebok, Bellamy partnered with Associate Professor of Accounting Willie Reddic, who serves as associate dean for business education, to provide accounting students with real-life business analytics data from Reebok for project work to enhance the learning experience. She has also hosted MBA students at the Reebok headquarters in Boston, lectured in Syracuse University classes, mentored students and provided financial support for student organizations on campus. 


Kron, who serves as director of Americas equity research at Goldman Sachs, has been a foundational pillar for the School’s partnership with the firm. He has been instrumental in taking on student interns and opening doors for more Whitman students, which has resulted in an increased number of direct placements at Goldman Sachs. Kron has sponsored student group visits to the firm during New York City career exploration trips, participated in on-campus student programming and provided philanthropic support for Whitman students.


THE ORANGE OVATION AWARD is given to highly engaged young alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years, representing Whitman’s influential future alumni leaders through their professional success and service to the School and University. This year, Orange Ovation awards were presented to Catherine Cummings ’18 (WSM/MAX/NEW) and Bryan Samimi ’16. 


Cummings is the manager of allocations at Saks Off Fifth and a member of the Young Whitman Advisory Council, on which she was recently named the membership committee chair. She was selected for the Orange Ovation award for her consistent participation in student programming and alumni engagement events, as well as her efforts in making career connections and mentoring students. 


Samimi, who serves as vice president of investment banking at Lincoln Financial, was honored for his exemplary commitment to students through his engagement with Whitman’s Career Center. He has been actively involved in recruiting six students to date and substantially growing the Orange alumni base at Lincoln International, while also providing students with the resources and information to break into investment banking. 


“At Whitman, we are preparing students for future careers, and that means having the skills, abilities, attitudes and networks to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead,” says Interim Dean Alexander McKelvie, who presented the awards. “To do so, we rely on the generosity of time, treasure and talent from the greater Orange family. These award winners represent the strength of education and overall quality and reputation of the Whitman School and Syracuse University, and we are proud to recognize them.”