By Johnny Sadler '20

Fourteen Martha and Spencer Love School of Business students graduated this May with degrees from Elon University as well as a second institution. 

The Elon Business Dual Degree program, directed by Associate Professor of Economics Mark Kurt, offers students the opportunity to earn two bachelor’s degrees from two universities in four years. Graduates earn an international business degree from Elon and a second degree from either ESB Business School in Reutlingen, Germany; NEOMA Business School in Reims, France; Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE in Madrid, Spain; or Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Italy.

The graduates spent two years studying at their home institution before moving to a partner institution abroad for two years, deepening their knowledge and experience of the global marketplace. While abroad, they grew as global citizens and learned to work in an international business setting, reaffirming course objectives from class. They also authored an original thesis.

“Having this opportunity to study abroad for two years was definitely one of the best decisions I made in my life so far,” said Yann Martail '19, a NEOMA/Elon student. “In two years, you really get to experience the country and culture in-depth (which I don't really think you can do in a semester or six months). Living abroad by myself also made me become more independent and mature.”

Business Dual Degree Class of 2019

NEOMA Business School

Clarence Mourot

Dual Degree gave me:  “International experience, independence”

Impactful moments: “Meeting friends”

Internship: Digital strategy, Merrill Lynch, San Francisco

Thesis: “The impact of venture capital funding patterns on innovation and success” (mentor: Assistant Professor Kate Upton)

Post-grad plans: “Move to San Francisco.”

Alice Perseval

Dual Degree gave me: “Bilingual proficiency, of course, but also being more independent, self-confident in speaking with and meeting new people, adapting to different situations which are completely new to me. Travel experiences around the U.S., living the ‘American life’ on a real American campus – learning more about myself, and others.”

Impactful moments: “Traveling in different parts of the United States with my friends – very specifically, a sunset I saw with friends on Sanibel Island (West Coast of Florida) during my internship, an empty beach and we could see dolphins in the water! At Elon, hearing so many different languages in the same room, meeting people from diverse cultures and realize we can get along very well even if we are all different!”

Internship: Marketing intern, DHL ecommerce Americas, Fort-Lauderdale, Florida

Thesis: “Country-of-Origin Effects: the Case of France” (mentor: Associate Professor Lawrence Garber)

Post-grad plans: “Road trip with a friend on the West Coast in June before going back to France. Then looking for a job/internship in London.”

Tiphaine Soller

Dual Degree gave me: “Confidence and academic English.”

Impactful moments: “My internship, and particularly being a producer of music videos with MTV.”

Internship: Event coordinator and executive producer, Maek, Chicago

Thesis: “Strategic Positioning of Creative Performances” (mentor: Assistant Professor Jay O'Toole)

Post-grad plans: “Find an internship in the entertainment industry to stay six more months in the U.S.”

Yann Martail

Dual Degree gave me: “A fully immersive experience in an American college; being exposed to a different culture.”

Impactful moments: “The beauty of the campus in general, the proximity with some teachers, the many trips over the U.S. I made.”

Internship: Marketing and communication intern, French Academy DC MD VA LLC, Washington D.C.

Thesis: “The Future of A.I. and its implications regarding people's behavior toward this emerging technology” (mentor: Assistant Professor Jay O'Toole)

Post-grad plans: “Earn a master's degree.”

ESB, Ruetlingen University

Annik Westerman

Dual Degree gave me: “International and intercultural experience and knowledge.”

Impactful moments: “Traveling with people that I met here and coaching by professors.”

Internship: Business development and marketing intern, Skydive Surfcity Inc., Santa Cruz, California

Thesis: “Learning From Machines: A Closer Look at Supply Chain Agility in the Era of the Internet of Things” (mentor: Associate Professor Haya Ajjan)

Post-grad plans: “Earn a master’s degree.”

Charlotte Jaecker

Dual Degree gave me: “Through the dual degree program I got to know a completely different country and school system. Nothing prepares you better for a career in international business than an abroad experience that allows you to acquire both business knowledge and a huge network of amazing individuals. The program holds numerous opportunities for academic, professional, and personal development.”

Impactful moments: “Events such as orientation week, spring convocation or homecoming showed how strongly students feel for their university and campus community.”

Internship: Business development & operations assistant, E-Voyages Group, London (U.K.)

Thesis: “Understanding Job-Hopping Motives Across Cultures and Personality Traits” (mentor: Professor Robert Moorman)

Post-grad plans: “I will work in business development for a tech startup called ThirdEye Labs that does intelligent computer vision software for retailers and is looking to expand to Germany and France.”

Sophie Scharrer

Dual Degree gave me: “Deeper knowledge about a different culture, broader knowledge in non-business related fields, improved English.”

Impactful moments: “Becoming the VP of Marketing for Limelight Records, being part of all the different organizations, completing my thesis.”

Internship: International marketing intern, Latitude Aero, Greensboro, N.C.

Thesis: “The Effect of a Dimorphic Response to a Cute Stimulus on Consumer Perception, Liking, and Purchase Intent” (mentor: Associate Professor Lawrence Garber)

Post-grad plans: “Travelling, then starting in a marketing-related position.”

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Sophia Galazzi

Dual Degree gave me: “Deep cross cultural knowledge, open mindedness, clearer and wider view on the business world, how to be competitive and what is required to have a successful career.”

Impactful moments: “The first months adapting to the new environment far from home. The people met. The internship experience. Professors’ recognition of excellent academic achievements and PKP induction.”

Internship: International operations intern, DHL eCommerce, Weston, Florida

Thesis: “Vertigo: The small Italian firm in the greater international cosmetics industry”

Post-grad plans: “Master’s program in luxury or look for jobs in Europe.”

Sebastiano Coperchini

Dual Degree gave me: “A different mindset, adaptation skills, interpersonal skills.”

Post-grad plans: “Look for a job and then maybe enroll in an MBA program.”

Martina Citroni

Dual Degree gave me: “I learned how to live with people from different countries and other cultures.”

Impactful moments: “Every student at Elon is willing to learn about my country and to help me.”

Internship: Merchandise intern, Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Thesis: “Internal analysis of Piacenza Expo SPA”

Post-grad plans: “Earn a master’s degree in hotel and resort management.”

ICADE Business School, Universidad Pontificica Comillas

Nicolás Resusta

Dual Degree gave me: “I have become a global citizen and I have learned more about the American culture.”

Impactful moments: “When we came second in the Elon Analytics Challenge.”

Internship: Business and sales summer intern, Aflac Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland

Thesis: “Possible Evolution of the Economic Relationships Between the EU and the U.S., Special Mention to its Impact in Spain”

Post-grad plans: “Find work in my field.”

Carlota Sanchez Guerrero

Dual Degree gave me: “Great experience, fluent English, amazing trips across the U.S. and a family (friends for life).”

Internship: Marketing intern, McDonald’s UK, London

Thesis: “Social Media Marketing Plan”

Alvaro Lopez

Chloe Dardenne

Thesis: Examining the influence of organizational cultural values on employees' organizational citizenship behaviors" (mentor: Assistant Professor Brittany Mercado)

The students were recognized in a ceremony in front of family, friends, faculty and staff on May 23.