Alumni Newsletters: School of Business

From the Dean

Welcome to the first School of Business alumni newsletter for 2024! We are excited about sharing updates with you about what our students, faculty, and alums are doing, as well as opportunities for you to interact with your beloved CBU.

I am Pam Church, and I came to CBU in Fall 2021, then became Interim Dean of the School of Business in August 2023 when Dr. Lydia Rosencrants assumed her administrative position, with her current title of Provost and V.P. of Academics. I had retired from Rhodes College after 32 years as an accounting professor, Chair of the Department of Business, and Director of the M.S. in Accounting. In the 2 ½ years I have been here, I have fallen in love with CBU students with their impressive academic abilities, grateful spirit, and strong work ethic that often includes committing to the classroom, demanding internships, athletic teams, and numerous extracurricular activities. Many share responsibilities with their families to help provide financial support while they are in school. Generally, every year sees 100% placement for our graduates in an impressive list of jobs, thanks in large part to the committed efforts of Amy Ware, Assistant V.P. of External Relations and Career Services, and her team as well as the efforts of our faculty members.

I hope that you enjoy catching up with the news in the School of Business and that you will share information with friends and relatives who might be interested in coming to join us at CBU! We also hope that you will find opportunities to come see us yourself, possibly through alumni events, sharing your expertise in a classroom, or catching up with individual professors.

Continue Your Formal Education at CBU

Also, if you are interested in advancing your education, remember that CBU offers discounts for graduate school to our alums! The School of Business offers multiple graduate degrees and certificates that can support you in achieving personal and career goals. We’d love to talk to you about planning your educational future and joining more than 500 people who hold at least two degrees from CBU.

Pam Church, Ph.D., C.P.A.
Interim Dean, CBU School of Business

Alumni Spotlight

When she was first looking at colleges, native Memphian Denise Adams (Business Administration/Finance ’16) decided that she needed to go to a local school because her mother was being treated for cancer. Her best friend convinced her two weeks before classes started that CBU was the best place. “The admissions counselors were empathetic to my situation and helped me gain admission. CBU may not have been my first option, but it was definitely my best option.”

Denise is a currently a Senior Reporting Accountant in the Shelby County Trustee’s Office. “When you enter through a door on CBU’s campus, you see ‘Enter to learn.’ Exiting a door, it says ‘Leave to serve.’ I internalized these words, and my current role truly embodies them. I am a public servant to the citizens of Shelby County, and although I do not work directly with the public, it brings me joy in knowing that my role has an impact in making everyone’s life better each day.”

As a student at CBU, Denise was very involved. She was a member of the Black Student Association board, Mathematics Association of America, NAACP, the Chair for the Spirit Committee of the SGA, and the NPHC due to being a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. “CBU fostered an atmosphere of allowing me to blossom into who I truly am, a leader,” she says. “During my time, I had the opportunity, with my friends, to be part of organizations and causes that were bigger than me.”

Denise also admits that her college experience was not without challenges. For example, she was forced to leave school during her senior year due to her mother’s health problems. “But when I returned, I was welcomed back with open arms.”

Since graduation, Denise has been a financial executive for a medical device company, lead accountant for Kroger corporate offices in Nashville, Senior Financial Accountant for Concord Music Publishing, and Senior Accountant for ITW. She also owned and managed an event and décor business in Memphis. “I’ve been in a lot of rooms and navigated them with poise and confidence,” she says. “That has a lot to do with the various seminars and lunch-and-learns CBU offered throughout the years.”

But she emphasizes that the most important aspect of CBU — the one that she gets to keep forever — are the friendships she made. “In 2017, when my mom passed, the CBU community really showed up for me. I am forever grateful for CBU for that. We will always be family!”

Student Spotlight

In the vibrant landscape of academic excellence, Lucia Montes (Finance ’25) shines as a beacon of dedication, intelligence, and ambition. Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Lucia is currently 21 years old and has already left an indelible mark on her academic path. After graduating as the salutatorian from Memphis Business Academy High, she has maintained a position on the Dean’s List every semester at CBU. Beyond academics, Lucia contributes to her community by volunteering at both her church and school’s food pantries. 

With a double minor in Banking and International Business, Lucia’s journey is marked by significant achievements, most notably her recent recognition as the recipient of the $1,000 Whit Agee Scholarship by the Mortgage Bankers Association of Memphis. Lucia first learned about the scholarship through Dr. Pamela Church, who reached out with detailed requirements and the application itself. The alignment between the scholarship’s criteria and Lucia’s career aspirations in Finance, Banking, and the mortgage field made it a perfect fit. 

Her enthusiasm for Finance is fueled by the diverse learning opportunities the field offers. From comprehending personal finance and investment strategies to analyzing data and contributing to economic growth through sound financial decisions, she is motivated by the multifaceted nature of her chosen discipline. She acknowledges the support and guidance of professors like Dr. Bjoern Claassen and Dr. Huiyang Li, who have played pivotal roles in her academic journey, providing recommendation letters for opportunities like the Whit Agee Scholarship. 

 “I am grateful for the opportunities CBU has given me,” Lucia says. “My favorite things so far have been the relationships I’ve built with my professors and classmates. Not to mention the ratio of students to professors, which grants us more individual attention and support. I hope to be able to give back as much as I’ve been given in the near future.” 

Looking ahead, Lucia envisions graduating with Honors in the Spring of 2025 and seamlessly transitioning into her chosen field. With an open mind to various avenues within Finance, including banking, mortgage, and investing, she plans to make an informed decision, leveraging the hands-on experience she has gained at CBU. Her overarching objective is to leverage acquired knowledge and experiences to effect positive change on a global scale.