Johannah Cottrell
Expected Graduation Date: April 2019
Majors: Accounting and Finance
Minor: Italian
Hometown: Petersburg, Mich.
Internships: HM Health Solutions in Financial Planning and Analysis, Merrill Lynch in Financial Advising, Deloitte in Risk and Financial Advisory
Future Plans: Accepted a full-time position as a consultant in Deloitte’s Risk and Financial Advisory practice in Chicago, Illinois.
Study Abroad: Pitt in Rome – 6 weeks in Italy learning about modern Italian culture and language. Service Learning in Organizations in Bolivia – a spring break trip to Bolivia accompanied by a semester-long project class focused on assisting a Bolivian nonprofit, CEOLI.
Favorite TV shows: The Office, Parenthood, New Girl
Favorite place on campus: Heinz Chapel, the stained glass windows are gorgeous and the chapel is a beautiful complement to the Cathedral of Learning.
Favorite Vacation Spot: It’s a toss-up between Italy’s Amalfi Coast and Salzburg, Austria; both are absolutely beautiful!
Favorite Thing about Pitt: I love that Pitt offers the opportunities of a city without being overwhelming. I come from a very small town so I like that Pitt still feels friendly and welcoming.
Something on your bucket list: I really want to hike in the Alps some day! I’m honestly not a big hiker, but I think the views would be worth it.
Hobbies: Reading, Netflix-ing, Day-dreaming about traveling
I fell in love with the University of Pittsburgh from the first time I visited during my junior year of high school. It was only a gut feeling at first, but Pitt started meeting and exceeding my expectations as soon as I set foot on campus as a freshman. Pitt Business has given me more opportunities than I ever thought was possible. As a Pitt Business student, I feel that my professors, advisors, and mentors are truly invested in my success. Accomplishments are even more satisfying when you have such a strong support system behind you!
Ben Fodness
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
Majors: Finance
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Internships: PwC, BNY Mellon, Citi Global Markets
Plans after graduation: Accepted a full-time position with Citi Global Markets in Sales & Trading in New York, N.Y.
Study Abroad: n/a
Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones, Billions, Mad Men
Favorite place on campus: I like the 36th floor of the Cathedral. It’s a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of campus and get a good view of Pittsburgh.
Favorite Vacation Place: Kiawah, South Carolina – lots of great golf and food!
Favorite Thing about Pitt: My favorite thing about Pitt is the plethora of opportunities available. It’s a place where the only limitation is your work ethic.
At Pitt Business, I have truly appreciated the mentorship I gained from older students via student organizations. It helped me stay on track with career development, make good course choices, and learn how to best prepare myself for the next year, or two, or three. I also benefited greatly from alumni networking opportunities. In fact, I was able to connect with a Pitt alumnus at Citi to obtain my internship and ultimately my full-time job.
Katie Gerdenich
Expected Graduation Date: April 2020
Majors: Human Resource Management and Marketing
Minor: Sociology
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Mich.
Internships: Pittsburgh Pirates and Pitt Athletics
Favorite TV Show: Psych
Favorite Sport: Gymnastics
Favorite Place on Campus: The view from the Petersen Sports Complex
Favorite Place in Pittsburgh: The Point
Favorite Food in Oakland: Fuel and Fuddles’ Smashed Potato Pizza
Favorite Pitt Memory: the Pitt vs. Penn State football game 2016
I had never been to Pittsburgh before visiting Pitt, but quickly fell in love with the city and the school. Pitt Business makes it so easy for me to be a full-time student while simultaneously completing competitive internships and taking advantage of the many resources the surrounding community has to offer. I love that the business school has such a familiar feel and that I really feel valued and supported by the professors, students, my advisor, and other faculty. Pitt Business puts great emphasis on giving its students a well-rounded education by participating in things outside the classroom such as study abroad, student organizations, internships, and volunteer work which I believe will allow me to find the utmost success following graduation. This support has given me opportunities that I never would have imagined as an incoming freshman, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision to choose Pitt!
Danielle Hatter
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
Major: Finance
Certificate: Leadership and Ethics
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Internships: Ernst & Young, Council for Advancement and Support of Education
Study Abroad: Plus3 Costa Rica
Favorite TV Show: The Mindy Project
Favorite Place to Eat on Campus: Wafflonia
Favorite Place on Campus: Hillman Library
The minute I visited Pitt’s campus I knew had found my home for the next four years. I fell in love with the city of Pittsburgh and all of the things Pitt had to offer. However, I was most impressed by Pitt Business and the way the students carried themselves. I was intrigued by all of the opportunities that were available to the students, ranging from internships and study abroad experiences to professional development opportunities. One of my favorite things about Pitt Business is the people. I am surrounded by an amazing group of students who push me to excel and are very supportive of my success.
Maggie Moses
Expected Graduation Date: April 2021
Majors: Marketing and Supply Chain Management
Hometown: Butler, Pa.
Study Abroad: Plus3 Italy—This was a two week, three-credit study abroad program. It is held after Spring semester of freshman year, and is the perfect program to test out if studying abroad is right for you. In these two weeks, we traveled around Northern Italy learning about the supply chain of the fashion industry.
Favorite TV shows: Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, and Friends
Favorite place on campus: Personally, I love the Quad. It is such a nice space to sit outdoors and study, eat, or just relax. It almost seems that you aren’t in a city when you are there which is refreshing. I love to go and study outdoors on the lawn when the weather gets nice.
Favorite Vacation Spot: London, England. I fell in love with London’s culture and the architecture. I loved discovering the history and tradition of the country. Tea in the afternoon is definitely something I wish Americans would pick up on.
Favorite Thing about Pitt: I love the urban campus and surroundings the most. Pitt really is the best of both worlds, because although you are located in the city, you are also surrounded by Schenley Park. I love the Farmer’s Market that comes in the fall and spring every Thursday. This is the best way to discover local foods around and change up your eating habits.
Something on your bucket list: Something that I plan on doing is going to Africa. Going on a safari has always been a dream of mine.
Hobbies: Yoga, discovering new coffee shops, and watching reality TV
Upon arrival at the University of Pittsburgh, I was amazed by the city and its endless opportunities. I knew that I could spend four years at Pitt and still discover new places and things every day. Pitt Business does a great job of stressing the importance of networking and establishing personal connections. This is something that I found unique about the business school, and I could not be more thankful that I am part of such a great program.
Luisa Offori
Expected Graduation Date: April 2019
Majors: Supply Chain Management, Marketing, and Global Management
Minor: Chinese
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn.
Internships: Marketing Intern at Pitt Athletics, Strategy and Analysis Intern at DST Systems in Minneapolis, Operations Leadership Development Program Intern at Cigna in Connecticut
Future Plans: Accepted a full-time position as an Operations Specialist at Cigna in Connecticut.
Study Abroad: Plus 3 China – 2 weeks in 4 different cities in China learning about the telecommunications industry. Global Business Institute: Shanghai – approximately 4 months in Shanghai taking major and minor classes, traveling, and gaining cross-cultural experiences.
Favorite TV shows: Chuck, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs
Favorite place on campus:The fourth floor of Hillman. It was recently redone, and going up there to study really helps me focus.
Favorite Vacation Place: Other than Shanghai, it’s between Portugal and Puerto Rico for me. So much to do, and so much rich culture.
Favorite Thing about Pitt: The number of opportunities available! The world is literally your oyster at Pitt.
Hobbies: Cooking, watching Netflix, traveling
I knew Pitt was the school for me as soon as I arrived on campus the first day freshman year. I had actually committed to coming before I even saw the campus for the first time because I wanted a completely new experience from everything I had known. I wanted a school that would not only allow me to study abroad, but to enrich my four years with tons of extracurriculars, professional development opportunities, and friends that were as likeminded as me. At Pitt Business, I’ve found all of these things and have been greatly supported by the staff and faculty as well. Everyday I walk to my classes and know without a doubt that this school was the right choice for me.
Bhakti Patel
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2019
Majors: Accounting, Supply Chain Management, and Business Information Systems
Hometown: Whitehall, Pa.
Internships: Norfolk Southern as a Revenue Accounting Analyst, Rukmini Foundation as a Fundraising Development Coordinator, PwC as a Core Tax Intern
Plans after graduation: Accepted a full-time position with KPMG as an Operations & Compliance Risk Consultant in NYC.
Study Abroad: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Berlin, Germany – I took classes at the Berlin School of Economics and Law, and explored the start-up culture in the city. I had the ability to travel throughout Europe, went to Prague for a weekend, and went to London for a week!
Favorite TV show: White Collar
Favorite place on campus: I like to study in the Cathedral. There’s always a nationality room with great decorations available as a study space.
Favorite Vacation Place: Greece – it’s a perfect blend of warm weather, fun summer festivals, and great food.
Quote: “Intelligence + Character; that is the goal of true education” – MLK
Favorite Thing about Pitt: Since saying “everything” is too broad, I would have to settle for the culture. The sense of community on campus makes you feel right at home.
I had my heart set on Pitt since I was a freshman in high school. I loved that the campus provided students with all the perks of a city without being overwhelming. Each neighborhood in Pittsburgh has its own unique personality and serves as a great medium to explore a variety of cultures. Additionally, the plethora of resources available for personal and professional development has truly enriched my college experience. Many of the businesses in the area partner with Pitt making it easy for me to leverage these resources to explore my interest in the business community. All in all, the individual I have come to be is a direct reflection of the remarkable support, nurturing, and opportunities Pitt Business contributed.
Nick Provenzano
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2021
Major: Marketing
Minors: Legal Studies, Philosophy
Hometown: Summit, N.J.
Internships: MDEA and the Doctor’s Channel, Generational Transfer Entrepreneurs, Piper Creative
Student Organizations: Delta Sigma Pi
Favorite TV Show: Game of Thrones
Favorite Place to Eat on Campus: Forbes Gyro
Favorite Place on Campus: Sennott Square, home of Pitt Business
Pitt has the perfect combination of business and city feel, making it an easy choice for me. I always say it’s like having a mini city all to yourself. Most of the area is populated by college students and is a separate community from the suburbs or downtown Pittsburgh. Pitt Business provides the best resources to grow your skills. It has worked wonders for me, helping me to improve both professionally and socially. Pitt Is It. I could not be happier with my experience so far and look forward to the great times to come.
Juliana Ritrievi
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
Major: Finance
Minors: Economics and Political Science
Certificate: Business Analytics
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa.
Internships: Select Medical in M&A and Corporate Development, Mid Penn Bank as a Project Support Specialist, and the United States Senate as a Congressional Intern. This summer I will be working as an Investment Banking Summer Analyst at Sandler O’Neill + Partners in NYC.
Study Abroad: Global Business Institute in London-6 weeks over the summer in England. I interned at a working capital solutions firm and took an urban studies class.
Favorite TV shows: How I Met Your Mother, House of Cards, Breaking Bad
Favorite Place to Eat on campus: My favorite place is The Porch, but the place I go the most often is Dunkin’ Donuts for my morning coffee & bagel.
Favorite Vacation Spot: Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Favorite Thing about Pitt: How many different organizations you can get involved with on campus. Even within just the business school, there are clubs for a wide variety of interests and passions!
Something on your bucket list: Run the New York City marathon
Hobbies: Reading, yoga, trying out different coffee shops
I always had an interest in Pitt because my dad is a graduate. When I visited for the first time, I fell in love with the campus and the city of Pittsburgh. I remember telling my dad that it was my goal to go to Pitt from the moment we turned onto Forbes Avenue and I saw the Cathedral. Since then, Pitt has enabled me to achieve other significant goals in my life through academic, professional and social resources. In just my first year here I was able to study abroad, network with top companies, join several organizations, and receive a business mentor. I am so proud to attend Pitt and can’t wait to see what other opportunities present themselves through Pitt Business!
Christopher Smith
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2020
Majors: Marketing and Business Information Systems
Certificate: Leadership and Ethics
Hometown: West Orange, N.J.
Internships: H&R Block as an expat tax intern
Study Abroad: GBI Sydney Summer 2018
Favorite TV Show: How I Met Your Mother
Favorite Place on Campus: Mervis Hall
Favorite Quote: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pitt came on my radar during an information session held at my high school during the fall of my senior year. I was impressed with the high rankings that the school had received as a whole, and more specifically, the rankings of Pitt Business. After visiting Pitt in the spring, I knew that I had found the place I would call my home for the next 4 years. I love all the opportunities provided to Pitt Business students to develop professionally. From a great range of study abroad programs and locations, to various networking opportunities, Pitt Business has provided many resources to help me thrive in my professional career after graduation.
