Student Ambassadors
CONNECT WITH USWe encourage you to connect with our ambassadors via email, LinkedIn, or a 1:1 Zoom meeting to answer your questions about school culture, why they selected The Merage School, academic pathways, the path to UC Irvine from across the U.S. or another country, and much more. Take advantage of this great opportunity!
Cameron Cooke
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Irvine
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Economics
Hometown: Trabuco Canyon, California 
I was born and raised in Southern California and began my academic journey as a scholar-athlete at community college before transferring to UC Irvine, where I studied Business Economics. During my time as an undergraduate, I was president of the Merage School LEADS Program and vice president of finance and operations of Scholars of Finance. I chose the Master in Finance program at UC Irvine to receive a strong understanding in financial modeling, market analysis, and investment strategy. My career goals include earning my CFA Charter and pursuing a role in private equity or real estate investment, where I can combine my analytical background with my interest in market dynamics and asset valuation.
Mario Gavina
Undergraduate Institution: California State University, Fullerton
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Administration, Information Systems
Hometown: Costa Mesa, California
Language(s): Spanish
Specialization/Career Path: Investment Banking & Private Equity
I’ve always had a strong interest in both finance and technology at a personal and global level, intrigued by the stock market and how economic trends shape business decisions, investments, and consumer behavior. Over time, that curiosity grew into a genuine passion and ultimately inspired me to change my career path toward finance. What stood out to me about the MFin program were the clear career pathway options and the opportunity to work with real companies through the capstone project. I hope to apply my technical and analytical background in a finance role that allows me to create meaningful value for those around me.
Sam Kassis
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Irvine
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing
Hometown: Redding, California
Specialization/Career Path: Investment Banking & Private Equity
I went to community college at American River College where I played tennis for two years. Then I transferred to UC Irvine where I got my degree in business administration. I chose UC Irvine because I had a great two years at UC Irvine as a transfer undergraduate. I liked the professors, student-run clubs, and supportive student network. The master's program was attractive because of the location in Orange County, the weather, and close proximity to financial firms. My goal is to work in private equity and obtain a leadership role or start my own firm.
Aurhan Khan
Undergraduate Institution: Northeastern University
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Administration; Minor in Law and Public Policy
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan 
Language(s): Urdu
Specialization/Career Path: FinTech
After completing my undergraduate degree in 2022, I went back to Pakistan where I worked in credit analysis at a small credit rating agency, and then FP&A at a larger firm. I also worked for about a year in the UAE in the FinTech space as a business analyst. All of these experiences have helped me to gain a solid understanding of the different aspects of finance that different positions require. I chose Merage for the program's focus on the CFA curriculum, for the pathways of FinTech and Private Equity, and the vast number of extracurricular opportunities like clubs, fairs, and general networking events. My goal is to enter and explore the FinTech or Private Equity spaces.
Usharib Laeeq
Undergraduate Institution: California State University, Fullerton
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Administration
Hometown: Corona, California
Language(s): Urdu, Punjabi
Specialization/Career Path: Investment Banking and Private Equity
Before joining the MFin program at UC Irvine, I spent five years of my career working in retail at a luxury brand. I choose UC Irvine Merage School because it offers many opportunities to grow, learn and develop as a business professional. I’m planning to pursue a career in private equity because how different businesses operate, what makes one business more valuable than the other, and how to help businesses that are struggling to be more successful and profitable are questions that really interest me.
Amanda Mancia
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Riverside
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Economics; Double Minor in Marketing and Finance
Hometown: Whittier, California
Language(s): Spanish
Specialization/Career Path: Corporate Finance and Asset and Wealth Management
During my undergraduate studies, I gained strong foundations in finance, investments, econometrics, and marketing through both coursework and practical projects. These experiences equipped me with analytical, organizational, and communication skills that I continue to build upon in my professional journey. I chose UC Irvine because of its strong integration of finance, technology, and data analytics skills that are increasingly essential in today’s financial landscape. I was particularly drawn to the Merage School’s collaborative learning environment, access to industry-focused resources like Capital IQ and Bloomberg terminals, and its strong network of finance professionals in Southern California. My career goal is to become a financial director and eventually a chief financial officer.
Nimsy Medel
Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Riverside
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Administration; Finance
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Language(s): Spanish
Specialization/Career Path: Wealth and Asset Management and Real Estate
My journey to the Merage School began at a local community college, where I navigated the transfer process before continuing my studies at UC Riverside. As a proud first-generation college student, the path wasn’t always straightforward, but it taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of creating my own opportunities. My journey helped shape my curiosity and allowed me to explore a variety of interests. While at community college, I earned my real estate license and gained exposure to the field as a referral real estate agent alongside a team. More recently, I gained hands-on experience in property management, which deepened my passion for exploring the intersection of business, finance, and meaningful connections with people. I chose the Merage School to pursue my MFin because truthfully it has always been one of my top schools. Upon completing the MFin program, I’m looking forward to sharpening my financial modeling and analysis skills while combining them with my people-focused approach.
Ashleigh Morgan
Undergraduate Institution: Southern Methodist University
Major(s)/Minor(s): General Business
Hometown: Coto de Caza, California
Language(s): English
Specialization/Career Path: Real Estate
I spent my undergraduate education at Southern Methodist University as a business student. I studied to be pre-law for two years before coming back to business because of my love for real estate. I chose the Merage School for its quantitative outlook on the Master of Finance since I am confident in my soft skills after focusing on entrepreneurship and real estate in my undergraduate career. What finalized my decision was when I had the opportunity to speak with some of the Merage School staff before applying. They were extremely open and helpful, focusing on helping me find the right spot for myself. My goal is to become a broker in commercial real estate and eventually invest in properties myself.
Fabricio Pozas Saboya
Undergraduate Institution: Fresno Pacific University
Major(s)/Minor(s): Business Administration - Finance
Hometown: Porto Alegre, Brazil 
Language(s): Portuguese, Spanish
I chose UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business for having unique attention to each student. As an international student, the quality of attention received from the institution is essential in helping to shape a professional career in a foreign country. My career goals include using financial solutions to cause a positive impact in companies and in people's lives, using the best of my abilities to contribute in a meaningful way to society.
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