The Exchange: Dean’s Message March 2025

Celebrating Innovation, Leadership, and Community Impact

Colleagues,

At the College of Business, we take immense pride in the incredible achievements of our students, alumni, and faculty. This month, we highlight some inspiring success stories that reinforce our commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and academic excellence.

From Classroom Project to Thriving Business
 One of the most remarkable examples of entrepreneurial success born from our programs is Slingshot, a company that started 20 years ago in a CIS capstone class. What began as a student project has grown into a thriving Microsoft Solutions Provider employing 50 developers. This journey is a testament to the transformative power of education and the entrepreneurial mindset fostered at our college. Be sure to check out the full story in this edition of The Exchange!

MSBA Students Leading the Way in Franchising and Innovation
 Our Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program continues to attract exceptional talent. Take Shermiah Holland, the current MSBA cohort president. She’s a triple major in biology, computer science, and mathematical economics, a portfolio manager overseeing $100 million in assets, and the owner of six Peach Cobbler Factory stores—with part ownership in the franchise itself. She is also the CTO/Co-founder of EnVue Health. And she’s not alone—alumnus Nick Jewel managed two Crumbl Cookie stores while in the program and is now expanding his business further. Their success highlights the increasing connection between analytics, entrepreneurship, and franchise ownership—an area where our college is making a national impact.

Bringing Thought Leadership to Louisville
 Our faculty continue to bring influential conferences to the city, shaping national conversations in business and economics. This month, Louisville hosted The Public Choice Society Conference, co-hosted by our own Center for Free Enterprise. This event, along with upcoming conferences on multicultural marketing and consumer research, demonstrates how our faculty are driving thought leadership across disciplines.

CIS Alumni Shaping the Future of Tech
 Our alumni are making waves in the technology and data space as well. Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest, is a proud UofL alum, and he’s joined by other CIS graduates who are shaping the future of AI and data science. Mike Crabtree was recently named Director of Data Science at Ford, and Oliver Ray, CEO of Number 8—the third-largest IT company in Louisville—reminds us that AI is transforming the industry at an unprecedented pace. Their success reinforces the critical role of our programs in preparing students for the evolving business landscape.

Whether through launching businesses, leading major corporations, or advancing research, our students and alumni continue to embody the spirit of innovation and leadership. Thank you for being part of this journey—your work and dedication make these stories possible.

Go Cards!
Jeff Guan
Interim Dean, UofL College of Business

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About the UofL College of Business:

Founded in 1953, the UofL College of Business fosters intellectual and economic vitality in our city, region, and the global business landscape. Our academic programs, research, community outreach initiatives, and commitment to student success inspire lives and businesses to flourish through entrepreneurship, innovation, critical thinking, diversity, and the power of people.

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