Standout Students

Each semester, the Office of Graduate & Professional Programs at C. T. Bauer College of Business selects graduates from each program to be recognized as outstanding students.

The faculty director from the Master of Science (MS) programs determines their outstanding students based on a unique set of criteria. It could be based on a number of factors such as the students’ academic excellence, involvement in their community or their willingness to give back and serve others.

When it comes to selecting the Master of Business Administration (MBA) outstanding student, a committee reviews a select group of nominees and all cast their vote to select one student.

Graduates who are recognized as outstanding students receive a plaque, graduation stole and cord.

Although this honor can only be awarded to a select few, students graduating in the Fall 2025 commencement ceremony should be proud of all they have accomplished throughout their journey here at Bauer.

Shazia Panjwani

Outstanding MBA & Outstanding MS Management Information Systems Student

Shazia Panjwani began her career in healthcare before returning to graduate school to pursue a path that connected people, technology and meaningful problem-solving.

Through the MBA and MS Management Information Systems programs, she stepped into new environments with curiosity, eventually taking on leadership roles that expanded student opportunities and strengthened collaboration across Bauer’s graduate community.

Along the way, she often supported classmates and undergraduates who sought guidance or direction. Her growing interest in technology led her to develop two artificial intelligence projects: a personalized learning concept and a smart planning tool.

She is grateful for the mentors and peers who shaped her journey. She looks forward to continuing a career focused on helping people and organizations grow through thoughtful, technology-driven innovation and a commitment to building solutions with long-term impact.

Georgina Perez Mata Cortes

Outstanding MS in Accountancy Student

Georgina Perez Mata Cortes began her academic journey with a passion for accounting and a commitment to helping others succeed.

Born in Mexico and raised in Houston, she embraced every opportunity to learn and connect with mentors who shaped her path toward personal and professional growth.

After transferring to the University of Houston in Fall 2022, she immersed herself in programs that challenged and inspired her, including the Professional Program in Accountancy (PPA) and the Program for Excellence in Selling (PES). These experiences taught her lessons she will carry throughout her career, while she balanced her studies with supporting her family’s car-selling business. She also joined Beta Alpha Psi, enjoying its collaborative and community-building activities.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in sales in Spring 2024, then continued into the master’s program with a focus on Business Advisory and Internal Audit. In January 2025, she completed her first audit internship at PKF Texas, now Withum, and was thrilled to accept a full-time offer starting January 2026. This summer, she passed all four CPA exams, marking a major milestone toward her professional goals.

Grateful for the mentors and peers who encouraged her along the way, she looks forward to beginning her career as an auditor at Withum, continuing to grow her expertise and working toward CPA licensure. She hopes to stay connected to the University of Houston community and contribute to the success of others, just as so many have done for her.

Annabel Cardoza

Outstanding MS Management & Leadership Student

Annabel Cardoza is a dedicated leader whose work is shaped by a deep commitment to purpose, influence and meaningful impact.

She serves as CEO of Decade Day Service, where she leads with clarity, empathy and a strong sense of responsibility for the individuals and families her organization supports. Her academic journey in the MS Management and Leadership program strengthened her understanding of how thoughtful leadership can elevate both people and systems.

Cardoza approaches every role as a continuous learner who is always seeking to expand her perspective and refine her practice. Her professional experiences have taught her the importance of curiosity, resilience and intentional decision making. She is especially passionate about personal development, and creating environments where people feel both valued and challenged to grow.

Cardoza’s long-term goal is to transition from a consumer of knowledge to a producer, contributing to the field through future doctoral study in leadership and organizational research. She remains grateful for the mentors, colleagues and professors who have shaped her development and supported her growth.

Ciara Cunningham

Outstanding MS Global Business Leadership Student

Ciara Cunningham grew up between two countries. This experience helped shape her worldview and the way she approaches work, as well as life.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in politics, philosophy and economics, giving her a strong foundation in critical thinking, as well as broadening her interest in global business and finance.

Cunningham’s interest in finance led her to pursue a career in wealth management where she has furthered her professional and personal development. She enjoys helping her clients through thoughtful financial consulting and connecting with people from all different backgrounds. Throughout her graduate program, she has focused on strengthening her leadership and analytical skills, and seeks to obtain additional licenses so she can advance professionally in her career in wealth management.

She is honored to be recognized as Outstanding MS Global Business Leadership student and grateful for all the support she’s received along the way.

Natalie Diaz

Outstanding MS Supply Chain Management Student

Natalie Diaz is a first-generation Hispanic Latina graduate.

Her academic journey has led her to getting her associate’s degree in business administration and bachelor’s in finance and marketing. She has excelled academically and socially throughout her time in higher education by graduating with honors and serving as an officer of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society.

Her professional experience spans analytics in banking and finance, as well as oil and gas operations, giving her a well-rounded understanding of organizational processes. She chose to pursue an MS Supply Chain Management because the field encompasses the full end-to-end operations of a business and offers flexibility for future opportunities.

During her graduate studies, she welcomed her son into the world — an experience that further strengthened her determination and drive for excellence. She looks forward to continuing her career with the broad and adaptable foundation that supply chain management provides.

Sara Kooshiar

Outstanding MS Marketing Student

In 2023, Sara Kooshiar graduated from the UH’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Advertising.

Currently, she is a manuscript reader and publicity intern at Abode Press, a literary non-profit in Texas that is amplifying southern voices.

Lillian Lin

Outstanding MS Marketing Student

Lillian Lin has worn many hats throughout her non-linear career: working in retail across multiple brand levels, serving as a restaurant hostess, teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten, supporting faculty as an instructional assistant and building a freelance portfolio in social media marketing for small businesses.

Each role has allowed her to develop and demonstrate her versatile strengths. From customer service and communication to content creation, leadership, organization and problem-solving.

While graduate school was not in her original plans, the experience strengthened her analytical skill set and confirmed her ability to excel in any challenge she pursues. Lin is deeply grateful for this recognition from the Office of Graduate & Professional Programs. She is also thankful for the personal and professional growth she’s experienced while at Bauer College.

As she looks ahead, she is excited for her next chapter and ready to bring her skills, work ethic and passion for marketing into her future career.

Harshit Mathur

Outstanding MS Global Energy Leadership Student

Originally from Mumbai, India, Harshit Mathur completed his undergraduate studies at Lynn University, earning a Bachelor of Science in International Business Management, where he graduated summa cum laude. Through the MS GEL program, Mathur has strengthened his expertise in the oil and gas markets and broadened his understanding of the global energy value chain.

Professionally, he has pursued roles that align with his goal of contributing to the energy industry's commercial and strategic functions, gaining hands-on experience through internships across project management and commercial operations. Mathur is recognized for being analytical, team-oriented, driven and an effective communicator — qualities that have supported both his academic success and professional development.

After graduation, Mathur plans to further develop his career in energy commercial strategy.

Saarah Pirbhoy

Outstanding MS Marketing Student

As a graduate student at Bauer, Saarah Pirbhoy is has developed a strong foundation in data analytics, predictive modeling and digital strategy. She holds a bachelor's degree in physics and philosophy from New York University, a combination that shaped her analytical thinking and interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving.

Pirbhoy began her product management career at Noon in Dubai, working on supply chain optimization for the grocery division. This summer, she worked as a Product Management Intern at Halliburton’s Landmark division. Throughout her graduate program, she has contributed to several applied analytics projects, including CLABSI infection modeling, OECD aid-flow analysis and enterprise NoSQL systems. 

Pirbhoy is passionate about using data to build intelligent products and drive meaningful business impact. Outside of her academic and professional work, she is committed to giving back to the community. She aims to continue her career in product management with a focus on artificial intelligence and data-intensive platforms. 

Logan Smalley

Outstanding MS Entrepreneurship Student

Logan Smalley is an internationally touring musician and entrepreneur whose success is deeply rooted in the support and opportunities provided by Bauer College’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Through the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship and RED Labs, Smalley built the foundation that allowed him to become a business owner partnering with major industry leaders such as House of Blues, Hard Rock Hotel and Live Nation all before graduating.

He is grateful to his Kenton Place bandmates, without whom none of this would be possible, as well as the incredible professors who guided him and his family for encouraging him to pursue his dreams.

Smalley is honored to be recognized as the MS Entrepreneurship Student of Fall 2025 and is excited to continue working with the University of Houston and the Technology Bridge as a contractor and partner — putting his entrepreneurship degree into action with purpose and passion.