2025 Graduate Student Spotlights

Jude Azai ’25 MBA

Hometown: Jos, Nigeria | Degree: MBA, Concentration in Marketing and Supply Chain Management

“With a pharmacy degree and over a decade of experience in marketing, sales and supply chain management in
health care, I needed Whitman to optimize my skills and broaden my perspective. I’m privileged to be involved in the
Syracuse Local Leadership Initiative and playing a key role in organizing the Whitman Dean’s Sustainability Challenge.
Highlights include my international trips to Singapore and Malaysia, exposing me to diverse business environments,
and transforming me into a global business professional. Inches make champions. Be Orange. Be Whitman.”

Donald Freenor ’25 MBA

Hometown: La Palma, California | Degree: Online MBA, Concentration in Supply Chain Management

“As my 30-year Army career nears its end, I sought to bridge the military-civilian gap and break free from the usual
online format—#nomorediscussionposts. Whitman delivered. The program design made learning engaging and
rewarding, and I look forward to applying what I learned post-retirement. Thank you to everyone I met along the
way. Most of all, to Veronica, Sophia and Natalia, your love and support made this possible. As I prepare for my first ever
graduation, I could not be prouder to do it as an Orange.”

Bhavana Murthy ’25 M.S.

Hometown: Bangalore, India | Degree: Master of Science in Business Analytics

“My time at Whitman has been a transformative journey, where every experience has contributed to my personal
and professional growth. Collaborating with diverse peers and business leaders through leadership initiatives
broadened my perspective and strengthened my leadership skills. Experiential learning courses, such as my Lean
Six Sigma project with Upstate University Hospital, provided valuable experience to solve real-world problems.
Whitman’s supportive community and dynamic learning environment have prepared me to embrace new challenges
with confidence as I step into the next chapter of my career.”

Mi “Kelly” Tran ’25 Ph.D.

Degree: Ph.D. in Business Administration, Concentration in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises | Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam 

“My Ph.D. journey in the entrepreneurship department has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I had access
to all the resources I needed to enhance my research and teaching, along with opportunities to present my work
at prestigious conferences. The faculty’s support and mentorship in my research and job search, along with their
connections to leading scholars in the field, made a substantial impact on my academic growth. In addition, my
advisor’s care for my mental well-being encouraged me to maintain a healthy work-life balance, making my time here
both productive and fulfilling.”