Bauer’s Past, Present & Future
Bauer Community Comes Together At 12th Annual GPP Networking Mixer
The 12th Annual Networking Mixer hosted by Bauer College’s Office of Graduate & Professional Programs held in late October was an evening of connection and networking. This event brought together students, alumni and faculty for a night of engaging conversation and camaraderie, all united in their shared experience of being a part of the Bauer family.
For the first time, the event was hosted off-campus. The venue was decorated with University of Houston’s colors, and attendees mingled in a festive, relaxed atmosphere.
This is a signature event hosted by GPP, Assistant Director of MBA & MS Student Experience Hisham Talib said. Having the event off campus makes it more accessible for alumni to come allows students to explore the city, he added.
“All of us here are working toward student success,” Talib said. “It’s not just: you come in, do the program and finish. We want you to build those relationships with your cohort and network with others. We want to see you succeed.”
MBA candidate Trisha Shah is celebrating her first full year in the program and reflected on how far she’s come since she started in Fall 2024.
“Coming into the program, I was nervous because I thought I would be one of the youngest ones there,” Shah said. “I thought I didn’t have as much experience as everyone else. But as I went through the program, I made friends with the people in my cohort. It was a really enjoyable experience. Having a cohort gave me the opportunity to make those connections and build those close relationships with people.”
She added that she enjoyed meeting with alumni, not only for career development and professional purposes, but also to connect with people she might have otherwise never met.
Vishal Gulati (MBA ‘24) said he was excited to reconnect with colleagues from his cohort and to meet new people.
“What I'm looking forward to tonight is meeting new people and connecting with everyone,” he said. “You get to learn so much from this community and garner new perspectives.”
Students and alumni said this event was a wonderful way to meet new people. They could expand their professional network in a casual environment.
“This type of event reinforces the values we have as a college and what it means to be a Cougar."
Students said this was a great way to build a community and lay a solid foundation for their time at Bauer. Alumni agreed and said that their experience at Bauer gave them a chance to grow and make a lifetime of memories.
Associate Dean for Graduate & Professional Programs Leiser Silva said he’s excited every year for this event, which is a great opportunity for students and alumni to network and for faculty to reconnect with former students.
“This type of event reinforces the values we have as a college and what it means to be a Cougar,” Silva said.
Dean Xianjun Geng mingled with attendees throughout the night and said that he felt a great sense of pride at seeing everyone come together at this event.
“Student success drives everything I do. Bauer is nothing without our community. Success for you is success for the college.”
Built with Shorthand