Degrees of Distinction

Charléne Van Heerden (BBA '24)
Outstanding MS in Accountancy Student

Charléne Van Heerden moved from South Africa to Houston in 2021 to start college at Houston Community College before transferring to the University of Houston in 2022. She graduated magna cum laude in Spring 2024 with a BBA in Accounting. 

While at Bauer, she was an active member of Beta Alpha Psi and later took on a leadership role as the Vice President of Logistics in Spring 2023. She also gained valuable experience through two internships, one in tax at EY and another in audit at Deloitte. 

Right after graduating, Van Heerden started her master’s in accountancy while working as an Instructional Assistant.  

She will be moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, after finishing her master’s, where she plans to spend the summer studying for the CPA exam before starting her full-time role at Deloitte’s Charlotte office. 

Shreedevi Nandam
Outstanding MS in Business Analytics Student

Shreedevi Nandam is a global marketing and analytics leader with a track record of driving growth across both B2B and B2C sectors. She holds a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Bauer, as well as an MBA in marketing, a combination that reflects her strong foundation in both strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making.

Nandam’s career spans high-impact roles in fintech, digital payments, manufacturing and U.S. home improvement services. She currently serves as head of marketing for the 19th largest home improvement enterprise in the United States, where she leads growth initiatives and has launched products and services across more than 25 international markets.

Recognized for her ability to translate complex data into actionable insights, Nandam is a trusted advisor in executive settings. She is also expanding her professional footprint through thought leadership content on LinkedIn and Instagram, where she shares expertise in marketing strategy, sales enablement and analytics.

Shruti Satish Patil
Outstanding MS in Management Information Systems Student

Originally from India, Shruti Patil combines a strong academic foundation, including an MBA in Information Technology, with over five years of consulting experience specializing in product management and user-driven analytics. At Bauer, she has led digital transformation for the Doctorate in Business Administration program and represented the college at the national Humana-Mays Healthcare Analytics Case Competition.

Beyond the classroom, Patil contributes as a Bauer Ambassador and serves with the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GSPA), helping build a stronger student community. A certified Professional Scrum Product Owner, she is passionate about applying technology thoughtfully to solve business challenges and enhance user experiences.

In her free time, she mentors undergraduate students in India, helping them navigate their career paths in technology. After graduation, she plans to advance her career as a Product Manager and ultimately fulfill her long-term goal of becoming a faculty member.

Ben Atherholt
Outstanding MS in Supply Chain Management Student

Ben Atherholt brings nearly five years of experience in procurement and logistics to his work in the supply chain industry. He began his career with the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served aboard the Cutter TAMPA and developed a strong interest in procurement and inventory management. After transitioning to civilian life, he entered the private sector and moved to Texas, where his wife is completing her medical residency.

Atherholt transferred from Syracuse University to the University of Houston to pursue a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management, balancing full-time work and graduate studies. In his most recent role, he gained hands-on experience in breakbulk shipping, further expanding his expertise in forecasting, vendor management and contract negotiations.

Following graduation, Atherholt will begin a new role as Contracting and Vendor Manager for a data and telecom firm in Richmond, Virginia.

Erin Cummings
Outstanding MS in Entrepreneurship Student

Erin Cummings brings over a decade of business experience rooted in purpose-driven leadership. She began with a stand-up paddle board yoga business and went on to found YESyoga, a lifestyle brand focused on courage and authenticity. Cummings is the founder of Armine + Ambrose, a semi-fine jewelry line inspired by resilience and intention, and Built on YES, a platform created from her graduate research to help female founders integrate mindfulness into business strategy.

A published author and angel investor with Golden Seeds and the Houston Angel Network, Cummings champions women-led ventures while mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. She also launched the Cummings Student Managed Investment Fund and Mentorship Pilot Program at Wichita State University, her undergraduate alma mater.

Cummings lives in Houston with her family and is known for blending strategic clarity with soulful leadership to help others lead with grit, empathy, and purpose.

Anna Economon
Outstanding MS in Marketing Student

Anna Economon, a 2024 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in economics, Economon pursued graduate studies to broaden her business expertise and make the most of her final year of NCAA eligibility as a student-athlete.

Originally from a multicultural background—Dutch, Greek and American—she has lived in Switzerland, the Netherlands and Ohio before coming to Houston. As a five-year member of the UH women’s golf team, Economon helped lead the program to a top-25 national ranking and a successful transition into the Big 12 Conference. She also served as president of both the UH and Big 12 Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, representing more than 10,000 student-athletes and advocating for improved conditions and equity in collegiate athletics.

Following graduation, Economon will join 84.51° in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a full-time marketing consultant.

Mirza Mustafa
Outstanding MS in Finance Student

Originally from Pakistan, Mirza Mustafa earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) before gaining several years of experience in corporate and treasury banking. This early work provided a strong foundation in financial operations and risk management.

Mustafa is currently completing a Master of Science in Finance at the University of Houston, where he is graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Alongside his studies, he works as a consultant with TotalEnergies, gaining hands-on experience in the energy industry. This role has solidified his interest in pursuing a long-term career in oil and gas.

Jake Gutierrez
Outstanding MS in Finance Student

Jake Gutierrez is a Master of Finance student with experience as a portfolio manager in the Cougar Investment Fund and as CFO of the Bauer MBA Society.

He has accepted a position as a Treasury Associate at Bank of Texas, launching his career in finance.

Cayden Capello
Outstanding MS in Global Energy Leadership Student

Cayden Capello is the Outstanding Master of Science in Global Energy Leadership student at Bauer. He earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, where he completed co-op internships in process engineering and application development in the chemical and plastics industries.

Capello began his career at LyondellBasell as part of the EngineerU rotational program, starting as a tank farm production engineer. He now works as an internal audit engineer, focusing on identifying and mitigating risks across operational, financial and cybersecurity domains. His decision to pursue graduate studies at Bauer reflects his commitment to enhancing his leadership capabilities and technical expertise to support long-term career advancement.

Outside of work, Capello leads LyondellBasell’s University of Texas at Austin recruiting team for its OneFinance rotational internship program.

Trent Satterwhite
Outstanding MS in Management & Leadership Student

Trent Satterwhite comes from a background in both healthcare and human resources. He currently serves as a Corporate, Sales & Clinical Recruiter at Traditions Health, where he has been employed for over eight years. Prior to transitioning into recruitment, he worked over a decade as a Physical Therapist Assistant in various healthcare settings.

His early career began with distinguished service as a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force, serving multiple tours overseas. Academically, Satterwhite holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from American Military University, graduating magna cum laude, and is completing his Master of Science in Management and Leadership with certificates in Human Resource Management and Leadership Development.

Dorian Nikole Vallejo
Outstanding MS in Management & Leadership Student

Dorian Nikole Vallejo holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and currently works in human resources at Howmet Aerospace. Vallejo began her career with the company in Mexico and, through a series of promotions, now serves in a leadership role at the Michigan site, where she is spearheading the implementation of a new onboarding program for more than 4,000 employees.

A first-generation English speaker, Vallejo has overcome significant challenges throughout her academic and professional journey. Her experience reflects a deep commitment to continuous learning, leadership development and creating meaningful change in the workplace. She credits resilience and hard work as the keys to her success.

Sean Peed
Outstanding MBA Student

Sean Peed earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2022. While working in oil and gas at refineries as a Project Engineer and Reliability Engineer, Peed began to find a passion for entrepreneurship and real estate investment. Leveraging his engineering background, he transitioned into commercial real estate due diligence conducting Property Condition Assessments.

He came to Bauer College to obtain his MBA with a focus on real estate. While earning his MBA, Peed served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Bauer MBA Society and as the Graduate Representative on the Bauer College Board. He also began working with a private equity multifamily investment firm.

After graduation, he plans to continue learning and advancing his career in real estate investment with the ambition of starting his own firm.

Alarna Paterson
Outstanding Executive MBA Student

Alarna Paterson is currently a Project Manager at Siemens Energy in Houston, Texas, where she leads cross-functional teams to deliver marine industrial systems projects, with a focus on power infrastructure, drives, motors, and process automation. With over a decade of experience in project management across global operations, she has a proven track record of delivering high-impact projects on time and within budget.

Originally from the island of Grenada, Paterson attributes her strong sense of integrity, resilience and collaborative leadership style to the values instilled in her from her Caribbean upbringing. These qualities have shaped her approach to leading diverse teams and building lasting partnerships. Throughout her career, she has held key roles at Schneider Electric and Yokogawa Corporation, where she managed complex automation and energy projects across international markets. Her strategic mindset and ability to align stakeholders have consistently driven project success and client satisfaction.

Paterson holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology from the University of Houston-Downtown and is receiving an Executive MBA with a focus on executive management, entrepreneurship and leadership.

Lynne Pesce
Outstanding Executive MBA Student

After earning her undergraduate degree from The Catholic University of America, Pesce began her career at a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. She was then recruited to work in development at her alma mater. Returning to her hometown of New Orleans, she took on the role of Operations Manager in the financial services industry.

After taking time to focus on raising her five children, she re-entered the workforce with Emerge Dynamics, a value growth consulting firm specializing in M&A and Strategic Planning. She played a key role in launching Correct Profit, an accounting services firm, where she now serves as Managing Partner.