MBA Fair & GMERA Spring 2026 Atlanta School Information Hub

Welcome to the information hub for participating schools at the Clear Admit MBA Fair 2026 and the GMERA Spring Meeting. This page contains everything you need to prepare for and navigate both events in Atlanta. #mbafair2026 #gmera26

Event Locations Map

To help you easily navigate between venues, we’ve created a custom Google Map with all locations marked, including Georgia Tech Scheller, Emory Goizueta, and dinner/tour sites.

👉 GMERA 2026 Google Map

Monday, May 11th

MBA Prospect Fair @ Georgia Tech Scheller

• Time: 5:00-8:30 PM
• Location: George Tower | Scheller Tower, 55 Fifth St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30332

Agenda:

5:00 – 5:20 PM
MBA Fair Open / Networking

5:20 – 5:40 PM
Panel 1: MBA Decoded: Why an MBA Now? (ROI, Risk & Opportunity)

5:45 – 6:05 PM
Panel 2: Admissions Tips 1: What You’ve Done – Tests, Work & Activities

6:10 – 6:30 PM
Panel 3: Post-MBA Careers Exploration

6:30 – 7:20 PM
MBA Fair Networking
Meet admissions teams at their tables

7:20 – 7:40 PM
Panel 4: Admissions Tips 2: What You Say – Goals, Essays & Interviews

7:45 – 8:05 PM
Panel 5: How to Finance Your MBA

8:05 – 8:30 PM
Final Networking & Wrap-Up

Panel Details:

Panel 1 – MBA Decoded: Why an MBA Now? (ROI, Risk & Opportunity)

Time: 5:20 – 5:40 PM

Pursuing an MBA is a major investment of time and resources. In today’s rapidly changing global economy, many candidates are asking: Is now the right time? This panel explores who pursues an MBA, what students learn during the program, and how to think about the degree’s value—both professionally and personally—especially in uncertain times.

Speakers:

• Paul Mannie: Assistant Director of Global Admissions, Stanford GSB
• Lauren Sutherland: Program Director, Admissions, Duke Fuqua
• Brent Nagamine: Director, MBA Admissions, U. Washington Foster
• Amy Mitson: Director of Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing, Dartmouth Tuck

Panel 2 – Admissions Tips 1: What You’ve Done (Tests, Work & Activities)

Time: 5:45 – 6:05 PM

There are many components that go into a successful MBA application; this panel focuses on what you’ve done prior to applying. What role do standardized tests and academic performance play? How much work experience is needed? And how do admissions teams evaluate extracurricular involvement?

Speakers:

• Joanne Kang: Associate Director, Operations, MBA Admissions, Harvard Business School
• Emily Sharkey: Executive Director, Graduate Business Admissions & Recruiting, Georgia Tech Scheller
• Stacey Batas: Director, Full-Time MBA Recruiting & Admissions, Texas McCombs School of Business
• J.R. McGrath: Executive Director, Masters Admissions, Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business

Panel 3 – Post-MBA Careers Exploration

Time: 6:10 – 6:30 PM

The flexibility of an MBA means that there are endless possibilities for career paths after business school.  We will use this panel to explore a few of the more popular options that candidates take.

Speakers: TBD

Panel 4 – Admissions Tips 2: What You Say (Goals, Essays & Interviews)

Time: 7:20 – 7:40 PM

Beyond your academic and professional background, how you present your story plays a critical role in the admissions process. This panel explores how to define career goals, approach essays, select recommenders, and prepare for interviews.

Speakers:

• Steven Thompson: Senior Director, Full-Time MBA Admissions, Northwestern Kellogg
• Whitney Kestner: Managing Director of Admissions, UVA Darden
• Amanda Fend: Senior Director, Recruiting & Outreach, Vanderbilt Owen
• Amber Walsh: Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Yale SOM

Panel 5 –How to Finance Your MBA

Time: 7:45 – 8:05 PM

Financing your MBA requires some careful planning – that ideally isn’t left until after admissions offers are received.  In this session we’ll explore many of the key components that comprise a smart plan for paying for business school.

Speakers:

• Nikhil Agrawal: Co-Founder, Juno

Tuesday, May 12th

GMERA Membership Meeting @

• Time: 8:30 AM -4:15 PM
• Location: Emory University’s Goizueta Business School | 1300 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322

Agenda (Tentative):

1:00 – 1:30 PM
Emory Campus Tour

1:30 – 2:15 PM
‘Hot Topics I’ Concurrent Workshops

2:15 – 2:30 PM
Networking & Coffee Break

2:30 – 3:15 PM
‘Hot Topics II’ Concurrent Workshops

3:15 – 3:45 PM
Group Presentations

3:45 – 4:00 PM
Student Financing Trends Update from Juno

4:00 – 4:15 PM
Closing Remarks

4:00 – 6:30 PM
Free Time

6:00 – 6:30 PM
Optional: Decatur Stroll

6:30 – 9:00 PM
Dinner @ The Iberian Pig – Decatur

Participating Schools & Representatives:

Berkeley Haas

• Cindy Millette – Director of Admissions, Full-time MBA (Interim) | Linkedin

• Scott Rief – Senior Director of Marketing Strategy & Insights | Linkedin

Carnegie Mellon Tepper

• J.R. McGrath – Executive Director, Masters Admissions | Linkedin

• Brittany Miller – Director of Admissions, Marketing and Communications | Linkedin

Chicago Booth

• Kate Spencer – Director, Admissions Marketing | Linkedin

• Nicole Chen – Director, Student Recruitment and Admissions | Linkedin

Columbia Business School

• Sarah Lamparski – Senior Associate Director of Operations | Linkedin 

Cornell Johnson

• Eddie Asbie – Executive Director of Admissions  | Linkedin

Cornell Tech

• Joe Korevec – Director of Enrollment and Admissions | Linkedin

Dartmouth Tuck

• Amy Mitson – Director of Admissions, Recruitment & Marketing | Linkedin

• Tim Neil – Assistant Director, Recruitment Admissions & Financial Aid | Linkedin

Duke Fuqua

• Bikram Gautam – Director of Market Intelligence | Linkedin

• Lauren Sutherland – Program Director, Admissions | Linkedin

Emory Goizueta

• Melissa Rapp – Associate Dean of Graduate Admissions | Linkedin

• Allison Hill – Senior Director Operations | Linkedin

Georgetown McDonough

• Tiffany Cochran – Director of Marketing Strategy | Linkedin

Georgia Tech Scheller

• Emily Sharkey – Executive Director, MBA Admissions & Recruiting | Linkedin

• Rebecca Whitley – Director, Full-time MBA | Linkedin

Harvard Business School

• Joanne Kang – Associate Director, Operations | Linkedin

• Katya Gonzalez-Willette – Assistant Director, Marketing | Linkedin

Indiana Kelley

• Brad Rosenwinkel – Sr. Associate Director of Admission | Linkedin

London Business School

• Monet Lawes – Senior Global Recruitment Manager | Linkedin

Kellogg Northwestern

• Steve Thompson – Sr. Director, Full-Time Admissions | Linkedin

Michigan Ross

• Matt Ganderson – Managing Director, Full-Time & Global MBA Programs | Linkedin

• Jada Kavanagh – Director, FTMBA Admissions | Linkedin

MIT Sloan

• Pamela Spencer – Director, Marketing, Outreach & Recruiting Events, Admissions | Linkedin

• Eileen Jacob – Associate Director, Marketing | Linkedin

NYU Stern

• Matthew Moll – Director, MBA Admissions | Linkedin

SMU Cox

• Debbie Macedonia – Assistant Dean, Full-Time MBA and Masters Admissions | Linkedin

• Shelly Heinrich – Sr. Assistant Dean, Career Management Center and Graduate Admissions | Linkedin

Stanford GSB

• Paul Mannie – Assistant Director of Global Admissions | Linkedin

UNC Kenan-Flagler

• Katy Radoll – Director of Full-time MBA Admissions | Linkedin
• Antonia Matthews – Director of Marketing, MBA Programs | Linkedin

UT Austin McCombs

• Stacey Batas – Director, Full-Time MBA Recruiting & Admissions | Linkedin

UVA Darden

• Whitney Kestner – Managing Director of Admissions | Linkedin

Vanderbilt Owen

• Amanda Fend – Director, MBA Recruiting | Linkedin

• Gabriela Luis – Director, MBA Recruiting | Linkedin

Washington Foster

• Brent Nagamine – Director of Full-time MBA Admissions | Linkedin

Wharton UPenn

• Park Watson – Sr. Associate Director of Admissions | Linkedin

Yale SOM

• Amber Walsh – Sr. Associate Director of Admissions | Linkedin

• Laurel Grodman – Assistant Dean for Admissions | Linkedin

Our MBA Fair Partners

Juno

• Andrew Foti Pagan – Head of Growth and Partnerships | Linkedin
• Nikhil Agrawal – Co-Founder | Linkedin

Leland

• Rob Rohrbaugh – Client Success Lead | Linkedin
• Erika Mahterian – Co-Founder | Linkedin

Consortium

• Michelle Pava – VP, Admissions and Recruitment | Linkedin
• Tracey Guinyard – Admissions and Recruiting Manager | Linkedin

GMAC

• Jonathan Clay – Manager, Field Marketing, Americas | Linkedin

Forté

• Ashley Lautzenheiser – Director, New Business at Forté | Linkedin

Our GMERA Meeting Partners

Juno

• Andrew Foti Pagan – Head of Growth and Partnerships | Linkedin
• Nikhil Agrawal – Co-Founder | Linkedin

DuoLingo English Test

• Lindsay Addington – Senior Strategic Engagement Executive | Linkedin

Special thank you to our venue partners:

Contact Information

Join the GMERA Event WhatsApp Group (School Members Only): Clear Admit GMERA & MBA Fair Atlanta – WhatsApp

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out:

• General Inquiries: [email protected]
• Event & School Coordination: [email protected], [email protected]
• Content & Marketing: [email protected]