125 Things to Love About WSB

“I love the sound of the Grainger Hall hallways. It’s very special to be surrounded by brilliant minds who will shape the future of the world.”
—Drew Grismore (BBA ’24)

“WSB offers a shared experience that spans many years. Although Grainger Hall wasn’t home to WSB while I was a student, earlier generations still share a common bond.”
—Brian Hale (BBA ’81, MBA ’87)

“Sitting atop the Morgridge Auditorium feels like surveying the world from the summit of Mount Everest, believing that we are all destined to be movers and shakers.”
—Neville Lam (BBA ’97)

“Seeing friends during—and between—classes at Grainger Hall. ‘Grainger High’ helped the large university feel smaller and built great camaraderie between business students!”
—Jenny Patzlaff (BBA ’01)

“Sitting on the wall outside of the Commerce Building in between classes on a late afternoon and listening to the carillon tower music.”
—Mike Garvey (BBA ’77, MBA ’80)

“I love the immediate community that the faculty and staff made for me—even before I applied. They genuinely cared for me and made space for me and my experiences.”
—Stephanie Toney (MBA ’04)

“The professors’ ability to translate complex material to a very diverse class with multiple backgrounds was a good illustration of their support and respect to keep us engaged while promoting a culture of learning.”
—Mary Kaminski (MS ’91, MBA ’09)

“I was selected to help a professor with research on marketing and brand positioning. It was great to be able to work on a project in school that I actually applied to my career in brand management.”
—Cheryl Stallworth (MBA ’81)

“I was in the honors program, and the faculty and school could not have been more supportive and creative in the courses I was allowed to take and the thesis I wrote.”
—Raymond Groth (BBA ’69)

“Working closely with the late professor Werner Frank, who spent solid time with me sorting out advanced applications. WSB faculty makes all the difference to students!”
—William Rauwerdink (BBA ’72)

“I love the wonderful faculty in my department. I appreciate their love of knowledge and their generosity to share their knowledge and experience with the students.”
—Anita Lo (MS ’95)

“I have great memories of the sense of community among the other teaching assistants that I worked with. We had shared experiences in and out of the classroom.”
—Jason Parsons (BBA ’01, MAcc ’02)

“So many MBA faculty were not only amazing at what they do, but they did such a great job engaging students and drawing expertise from my talented classmates.”
—Deb Jahnke (BS ’94, MBA ’17)

“Arif Qureshi (BS ’94, MS ’04) had a quote I loved: ‘Fajitas will always sell for more than tacos. Why? Sizzle.’”
—Mason Brunner (BBA ’24)

“How passionate the faculty are about what they’re teaching and the success of their students.”
—Morgan Burns (BBA ’24)

“The quality of the professors and the exchange of business cases to foster diversity of thought, collaboration, and open dialogue.”
—Michelle Bougie (MBA ’20)

“WSB has the best professors who are so attentive and caring toward their students.”
—Cassidy Cleveland (BBA ’27)

“World-class professors who are well-connected within the business community.”
—Cathy French (BBA ’82)

“Taking Business 560 with Professor Dan Anderson (MBA ’67, PhD ’70). It was a great class, and he made insurance and risk management interesting.”
—Brian Casey (BBA ’79, MBA ’81)

“Taking a class—and receiving constant encouragement—from Professor James C. Hickman. I will never forget him or his class. He truly cared about his students.”
—Steve Weber (BBA ’75)

“WSB is held in such high regard around the world.”
—Melanie Swanson (MBA ’11)

“Peer talent that continuously sets the bar higher.”
—Karl Hansen (BBA ’86)

“World-class business curriculum in a beautiful Midwestern setting.”
—Robert Skattum (BBA ’73)

“Its continued high academic ranking and tradition of excellence.”
—George Kis (MS ’78)

“It has the best real estate program in the world.”
—Steve Stiloski (BS ’87, MS ’89)

“The real, down-to-earth business values the school teaches.”
—Logan Rosenthal (BBA ’00)

“That it is one of the premier business schools in the country.”
—Jake Sweitzer (BBA ’11)

“The excellent education and resources available beyond graduation.”
—Kelly Anklam (BBA ’86)

“The groundbreaking innovations that have come out of the school.”
—Shaun Fisher (BBA ’03, MBA ’04)

“The wide variety of majors, and how successful so many grads have been.”
—Greg Henry (BBA ’93)

“WSB provided an incredible learning and social environment for me to grow up and help determine what I wanted to do when I graduated.”
—Dave Archie (BBA ’77)

“High-value programs where leadership listens to the students and adjusts along the way to ensure the program experience is top notch and exceeds expectations.”
—Yevgeniya Rudnytsky (MBA ’19)

“Knowing that companies recognize the school for being rigorous in its teaching, and that graduates of the school are ready to hit the ground running with new employers.”
—Jon Rehfeld (BBA ’93)

“The real-world problem-solving skills I learned at WSB have paid dividends in all aspects of my life.”
—Joe Lukas (BBA ’95)

“The out-of-class learnings, coupled with in-class knowledge, that allowed me to be a truly global business professional and meet my goals.”
—Quraish Baldiwala (MBA, MS ’02)

“The finance background of the accounting curriculum was challenging and taught me to think analytically and critically.”
—Jonathan E. Strouse (BBA ’78, JD ’86)

“First year MBA accounting was a crucible in 2015. If you could survive that, then you knew you were going to make it. You had to be there, man!”
—Brandon Shields (MBA ’17)

“The Applied Security Analysis program, which was founded in 1970 by Professor Stephen L. Hawk (BBA ’63, MBA ’64, PhD ’69).”
—David E. Westphal (BBA ’74, MS ’76)

“Being surrounded by a plethora of highly passionate and driven business leaders and students in my executive MBA program.”
—Mary Kaminski (MS ’91, MBA ’09)

“I found WSB to be an encouraging institution for professionals returning to school. The faculty helped make it so.”
—David Rosenwasser (MBA ’98)

“It’s a special place that has been doing innovative teaching way before it was vogue to do that.”
—Elaine Worzala (BBA ’84, MS ’85, PhD ’92)

“WSB continues to lead the market in research and in overall development of good humans. The world needs WSB.”
—David Hanley (MBA ’15)

“Getting a solid grounding in real-world finance theory from some of the best in the business!”
—Chess Erwin (MA ’76, MS ’76, JD ’87, MBA ’87)

“It’s a world-class institution located in a world-class city where you can really learn to learn.”
—Jay Warner (BBA ’97, MS ’03)

“The curricula was well-grounded in sound research.”
—Fernando Yepez (BS ’83, MA ’87, MBA ’91, PhD ’92)

“My degree in actuarial science allowed me to work in a job that I loved.”
—Dennis Carlson (BBA ’59)

“Professor James A. Graaskamp (PhD ’65) treated me as family.”
—Bruce Perchik (BA ’75, MS ’80, MS ’96)

“Discussing advanced accounting topics and theory in Professor Jerry Weygandt’s graduate classes.”
—Jon Skavlem (BA ’76, MA ’77, MS ’86)

“I still carry with me and use the critical thinking skills I learned at WSB.”
—Carrie Healy (MBA ’81)

“WSB is a leader in forward-thinking business education in both curriculum leadership and in post-graduation programs.”
—Neil Kosterman (BBA ’72)

“The Business Learning Center. I have fond memories of this resource, and it embodies the collaborative community that is WSB.”
—Amanda Ngo (BBA ’18, MAcc ’19)

“Being on the executive board for the MKT marketing society, which allowed me to develop leadership skills, meet new people, and help support the organization by selling WSB merchandise.”
—Zachary Becker (BBA ’12)

“My favorite experience was working in the Career Studio. I saw WSB from a new point of view and formed connections with friends and mentors who made the school so very special to me.”
—Sam Komisar (BBA ’23)

“Real estate club field trip to Minnesota. It was a blast. I learned a lot and started some lifelong friendships. A few on the trip started some courtships!”
—Elaine Worzala (BBA ’84, MS ’85, PhD ’92)

“All the time I spent at the Grainger Café, whether being productive or just chatting with friends, is a staple of my experience at WSB!”
—Ryan Van Handel (BBA ’23)

“Receiving a Mu Kappa Tau award in 1983 to work for a professor for an academic year. The stipend covered my college costs for the year.”
—Pamela Weisenberger (BBA ’83)

“I love how comfortable and welcomed I feel at WSB. Whether it’s in class, study spaces, or office hours, there’s a strong sense of community that makes it easy to connect with others.”
—Lila Randall (BBA ’26)

“I love remembering the camaraderie of my fellow scholars in The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management and our fun study groups.”
—Dawn Mann (MBA ’90)

“My first M. Keith Weikel Speaker Series event with Carey Lohrenz (BA ’90), the first female F-14 fighter pilot.”
—Melanie Swanson (MBA ’11)

“Having the support of faculty and staff to start a new marketing student organization: the American Marketing Association!”
—Katie Yadro (BBA ’15)

“I’m proud of the successes of many WSB graduates, and that many are giving back to make it an even better experience for future students.”
—Doug Griese (BBA ’75)

“Badger game day tailgates in Grainger Hall for Homecoming are always great!”
—Kelly Lange (BBA ’08, MBA ’14)

“Impromptu boat cruise in Hong Kong on an international trip during my executive MBA program!”
—Michael Orzechowski (MBA ’07)

“Case competitions! I competed in marketing and supply chain events and won both!”
—Evan Smestad (BS ’91, MBA ’04)

“The plethora of networking opportunities.”
—Catherine East (BBA ’25)

“Meeting up with my friends in the undergraduate lounge!”
—Payton Radtke (BBA ’26)

“Through class projects and internships, you make friendships as well as vocational networks.”
—Sally Wong (MS ’96)

“The friends that I made through Beta Alpha Psi.”
—Deb Stevens (BBA ’80)

“International trip to South Africa as part of the executive MBA program.”
—Paul Vanden Boom (MBA ’18)

“Working as a SOAR peer advisor!”
—Cooper Talbot (BBA ’26)

“I met two Badgers in my study abroad summer program in Amsterdam two years ago, and now we have lunch every week in Grainger Hall. These friendships wouldn’t have been possible without WSB.”
—Sophia Novak (BBA ’25)

“After 38 years spent using many of the topics and techniques used in graduate school, I’m still married to the man assigned to the seat next to me in my very first class.”
—Diane Foley (BA ’78, MS ’85)

“The lifelong friendships and invaluable experiences during my time at WSB played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. I’m eternally grateful to be a Business Badger.”
—Amy Fensch (BBA ’95)

“I loved how some amazing alumni have been influential in the career trajectories of current students!”
—Vanessa Mills (MBA ’06)

“The depth of the relationships I have had with faculty, fellow students, and alums is amazing and has been a valuable asset since graduation.”
—Howard Carver (MBA ’67)

“There is a special bond among Badgers, but there is a deeper bond when you are a Badger and a WSB alum. We all know how much we benefited from our WSB education and we want to give back.”
—Britten Brenner Stenson (BBA ’98, MBA ’12)

“Our alumni are what I love most about WSB. I never cease to be amazed by all the impact, innovation, and incredible stories that come from our alumni—and what they all have in common is that they started at WSB.”
—Betsy Lundgren (BA ’03, MA ’05)

“The opportunity to continue to be involved at WSB, to continue to be a voice on campus, and to help others develop and find their path in the same way that others before me provided that guidance.”
—Jason Parsons (BBA ’01, MAcc ’02)

“It provides an opportunity to explore various business disciplines, collaborate with teams, explore diverse perspectives, and build a lifelong network.”
—Evan Smestad (BS ’91, MBA ’04)

“The strong affinity that alumni and corporate leaders have for WSB. The strong Business Badger brand transcends geography and industry.”
—Andrea Derouin Bechtel (BBA ’89)

“No matter how long it has been, you are, and will always be, part of a valuable community.”
—Mike Garvey (BBA ’77, MBA ’80)

“The absolutely outstanding alumni magazine, Update, which has been telling the stories of WSB’s impactful alumni for many years! 😎”
—Chris Malina, writer and editor for Update magazine

“It was and remains a home away from home for me. Warm, welcoming, diverse, friendly, and open, just as a family and a home are.”
—Quraish Baldiwala (MBA, MS ’02)

“Having a great network that builds instant rapport on LinkedIn.”
—Jenny Patzlaff (BBA ’01)

“Alumni networking opportunities at local establishments with other alumni from the area.”
—Eliott Nardi (BS ’13, MBA ’24)

“The school took me to Denver, Seattle, Hong Kong, Cannes, and beyond. And on each trip, I had authentic and personalized interactions with successful and engaged alumni who could help me.”
—Alexandra Kirk (MBA ’17)

“Alumni opportunities for continuing education.”
—Kelly Anklam (BBA ’86)

“WSB’s focus on developing specialties in its students through establishing centers, such as those for marketing research, real estate, investing, and insurance. This results in students being sought after by companies.”
—Jason Elzaurdia (BA ’90, MBA ’01)

“I have a special love for the hardworking people in the career placement office. Everyone there took time to help you. They knew your name. They took the time to be involved in your career search. Great people.”
—Peter Scalera (BBA ’79, MBA ’80)

“WSB excels in professional development, whether it be through mandatory business writing classes or programs to teach students the soft skills that are so important to being a well-rounded business professional.”
—Kevin Machut (BBA ’17, MAcc ’18)

“The coaching and mentorship provided for the executive MBA program are exceptional, and so is the team.”
—Joshua K. (MBA ’26)

“Amazing student services and support! I had a wonderful experience with their student advising and career consultation.”
—Nancy Baker (BBA ’13)

“WSB’s reputation helped me secure my first job out of college and has been a source of support and inspiration ever since.”
—Kevin Gannon (BBA ’01)

“I love the energy, brilliance, and innovation of WSB! Whether you’re a student or an alum, you can always feel its positive influence in your academics, career, and life.”
—Reena Vokoun (BBA ’98)

“Amazing faculty and staff, as well as bright and talented students, create a wonderful environment for learning, growing, and having a lot of fun on the way.”
—Deb Jahnke (BS ’94, MBA ’17)

“It’s a place where diversity and inclusion are valued and fought for in every way possible.”
—Anthony Ornek (BBA ’20)

“Servant leadership is engrained at WSB. Even after so many years, I still have a desire to give back through contributions and mentoring. That says a lot about the culture WSB has developed.”
—Ryan J. Damask (BBA ’98)

“The school’s dedication to supporting those who support our students.”
—Alexis Steinbach (BS ’13, MS ’18)

“The school’s culture and commitment to continuous improvement and raising the bar.”
—Abrianna Barca (BA ’11, MBA ’18)

“I just loved the vibe of WSB: the atmosphere, the setting, and the great professors.”
—Peter Scalera (BBA ’79, MBA ’80)

“I’m taking the WSB perspectives to my current work in public policy and state government engagement.”
—Nancy Baker (BBA ’13)