From the Dean

Dr. Sanjay Ramchander
Dean, McCoy College of Business

Dear Friends, 

Every issue of this magazine reminds me why I love this work. The spring 2026 edition is no exception — it is filled with stories of students and faculty who are not waiting for the future of business to arrive. They are building it. At McCoy College of Business, we believe the most meaningful learning happens where knowledge, experience, engagement, and purpose intersect, and this edition brings that belief to life through the people who embody it every day.

In these stories, you will meet individuals who lead with intention. NaJaiyah Virgil is part of a new generation of entrepreneurs redefining standards and elevating communities. From braiding hair in her mother's garage at 17 to founding a luxury hair care salon in Austin, she has built her business through competition wins, strategic mentorship, and an unshakable vision for what the industry could be. Her story is a testament to what becomes possible when entrepreneurial drive meets the right mentors, resources, and community.

You will also read about Landon Ash, a management senior who noticed a gap and decided to fill it. When he couldn't find a student organization dedicated to supply chain management, he built one. The Supply Chain Management Association now serves students across campus, and Ash is already thinking carefully about who will carry it forward after he graduates. His story — which includes securing a full-time role with Lockheed Martin — is a reminder that opportunity often finds those who take an active role in their own professional development.

This issue also captures the experience of students who attended the inaugural international experience for the Dick Burdick Dean's Leadership Academy in India — a milestone that reflects our commitment to preparing students for leadership in a connected, global economy. Jude Kessler, one of the fifteen students who made the trip, put it simply: "You truly can't price broadening your worldview. An immersion like that will follow me forever and make me a more well-rounded person." That reorientation — from domestic to global, from abstract to lived — is exactly what experiences like this are designed to produce.

Our faculty members continue to play vital roles in preparing students for a rapidly changing business landscape. Dr. Amanda "Mandy" Lester's work in sustainability-informed accounting ensures that our students can navigate the growing demands placed on business leaders to account for environmental and social impact alongside financial performance — equipping them with both the sound judgment and technical expertise the profession increasingly demands.

Our faculty research also explores the complexities of speculative markets and human behavior. The work of Dr. Matthew Flynn, Dr. Yifan Liu, and Dr. Ivilina Popova examines retail trading and risk-taking, offering a timely lens on how ordinary investors are reshaping financial markets — and what that means for the next generation of business leaders.

Additional sections highlight reflections from graduating seniors, recent faculty research publications, insights into McCoy College's centers, and an overview of our online doctor of business administration program, which launched with its inaugural cohort in fall 2025.

McCoy College ranks among the top business schools in the nation — 33rd among public institutions — and our MBA programs continue to draw recognition nationally and internationally. But rankings reflect what the people in these pages already know: this college is ascending, and the best is still ahead.

Together, these stories reflect a community defined by driven students, deeply engaged faculty, and experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. As we look ahead, we remain focused on building an environment where innovation thrives, perspectives broaden, and our graduates are prepared to lead with confidence and integrity.

The stories in this edition exist because of a community that believes in what this college can do — and keeps showing up to make it happen. Thank you for being part of it.

With gratitude and excitement, 

Dr. Sanjay Ramchander 
Darren Casey Professor of Business 
Dean, McCoy College of Business 
Texas State University 
Sanjay.Ramchander@txstate.edu