Contact the McCombs Admissions Committee
512-471-7617
512-232-5490
1-800-658-9227
Search our MAC Gallery to view profiles of the current MAC members. When you find a member that matches your background or interests, feel free to e-mail them a brief message.
McCombs Admissions Committee Student Leadership
McKenna Brooks, Co-chair :
Concentration: Marketing
Internship: Frito Lay: Brand Managment
Bio:
I spent the summer of 2007 interning at Frito-Lay, Inc. in Plano, TX where I was a Brand Management Intern placed in the portfolio Brand Design and Experience Studio team. I worked on two different projects over the course of the summer entailing work on the company’s core brands: Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Tostitos, and Sun Chips. I completed an in-depth brand exploratory to increase the differentiation among those brands and identify brand guardrails for future innovation. For my second project I created a framework which helps brand teams clearly articulate the meaning of appetite appeal with relation to their brands.I graduated from the University of Colorado in 2001 with a degree in Finance. After graduation, I worked for a financial software company, FactSet Research Systems, based out of San Mateo, CA. I held roles in consulting, management, and sales during my five years with the company. Among the highlights of my career at FactSet were managing client relationships with over 1,000 investment professionals, the establishment of a new consulting group consisting of twelve consultants, and management of over $5 Million in revenue in the Texas region. At McCombs, I am pursuing a degree in marketing with a focus in brand management. In addition to being a co-chair of the Texas MBA Admissions Committee, I am actively involved in the Venture Fellows program, serve as the VP of Operations and Finance for the Graduate Marketing Network, am the Cohort 4 Representative in the Graduate Business Council, and am a member of Graduate Women in Business.
Why MAC?
In short, I am passionate about continuing the collegial learning environment and passion for the program that we have created here at McCombs through recruiting the best talent possible. I have enjoyed my time here at McCombs and I valued the interaction with current students during my decision to come back to business school. Hopefully I can share my experiences and stories with prospective students and encourage them to embark upon this journey which has opened more doors for me than I imagined possible!
Vijayendra Kumar (VJ), Co-chair :
Concentration: General Management
Internship: Deloitte Consulting LLP: Strategy & Operations
Background: I graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Institute of Technology, BHU India. Prior to MBA at McCombs, I worked for 4 years as a Supply Chain Management Consultant for a variety of industries. I had an enriching experience while working with and managing multi-cultural consulting teams in several countries. Currently a member of MBA Class of 2008, I am pursuing General Management with a focus in Consulting. I spent the summer of 2007 interning with Deloitte Consulting LLP in the Strategy practice. At McCombs, I am serving the Texas MBA Admissions Committee as a co-chair. I am also an active member of Graduate Consulting Group and like to participate in events organized by several other student organizations including Indian Graduate Business Association.
Why MAC?
I was attracted to McCombs School of Business because of the quality of students and diverse offerings of the MBA program. Being an international applicant, I interacted extensively with Admissions Committee during my own application process and was impressed with the help committee offered. Now, I enjoy being a part of Admissions Committee, which has a significant and critical contribution in shaping the future of the MBA program.
Ben Rodgers, Co-Chair:
Concentration: Finance
Internship: JPMorgan Securities, Syndicated and Leveraged Finance, New York, NY. Worked in the levered finance (LBO) division for JPMorgan’s investment bank, providing financial assistance and advisory services to companies being acquired, and the financial sponsors involved in the transactions.
Background: Prior to McCombs I was a consultant for Ernst & Young for 5 years in their Energy and Healthcare divisions in Houston and Dallas, respectively. I’m originally from Lubbock, TX and went to Texas A&M for my undergraduate degree in Finance.
Why MAC?
I ultimately enjoy serving other people and MAC offers students the opportunity to give back to McCombs, have a direct impact on the quality of our future colleagues and ensure that the spirit of the Texas MBA is kept respectable and strong. Abe Lincoln once said “In the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Though somewhat cheesy, that’s it – I honestly enjoy serving others in a role that makes a positive impact on everyone involved: current students, prospective students and alumni; helping McCombs live up to it’s fullest potential, which is right in the mix of all of the other top 20 schools.
