The Elon Business Dual Degree Class of 2020 received degrees from Elon in addition to degrees from a European partner institution.
Eleven members of Elon’s Class of 2020 graduated in May with two bachelor’s degrees – the BSBA in International Business from Elon and a second degree from a European partner institution.
The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business holds dual-degree partnerships with the ESB Business School in Reutlingen, Germany; NEOMA Business School in Reims, France; Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE in Madrid, Spain; and Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore in Piacenza, Italy.
As part of the four-year dual-degree program, students spend their first two years studying at their home institution and their last two years studying abroad at the partner institution. While abroad, they deepen their international business experience by completing a full-time, semester-long work experience and a research portfolio.
“The dual-degree program taught me how to work with people from different countries and cultures, and obviously, helped me improving my English skills,” said Alina Prengel ’20, who completed her studies at Elon after spending two years at ESB Business School.
“I increased my intercultural competence and wonderment,” added Umberto Canali ’20, who spent his first two years at Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore and the last two at Elon. “I improved my overall skills, such as organization and professionalism, and reached a great knowledge of the language. I became more open to diversity and grew my ambitions for the future.”
“I am particularly proud of this year’s class of graduating Business Dual-Degree students,” said Mark Kurt, associate professor of economics and director of the business dual-degree program. “They have been tested like no other in recent memory with COVID-19 while living, studying and working in another country and language. They have emerged as resilient leaders with their own set unique set of values and competencies capable of persevering through uncertain situations including our current circumstances.”
Business Dual Degree Class of 2020
Elon University | NEOMA Business School
Abigail Mathews
Hometown: Waxhaw, N.C.
Internship: Program coordinator, VivaTechnology, Paris
Thesis: How strategic corporate social responsibility strategies provide companies with a competitive advantage
Post-graduation plans: Global technology analyst at Bank of America
ESB Business School | Elon University
Rebecca Ellrich
Hometown: Erlangen, Bayern, Germany
Internship: Sales support, XPO Logistics, High Point, N.C.
Thesis: Production decisions for multi-firms considering consumer preference in the car industry (mentor: Assistant Professor of Marketing Xin Liu)
Post-graduation plans: “Moving to D.C. and working there full-time. Hopefully in the area of supply chain.”
Alina Prengel
Hometown: Weilheim, BW, Germany
Internship: Business unit controlling, Bosch, Chicago
Thesis: Antecedents and Contextual Influences of Reneging Behavior (mentor: Associate Professor of Management Brian Lyons)
Post-graduation plans: “I want to get my master’s degree in Finance/BI, preferably in Munich or Mannheim.”
Carsten Raum
Hometown: Bonn, Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany
Internship: International operations, DHL eCommerce, Weston, Fla.
Thesis: Examining Factors that Influence Entrepreneurship across the 50 US States (mentor: Assistant Professor of Strategic Management Mark Mallon)
Post-graduation plans: “They are a bit up in the air right now. I would like to do another internship in consulting and then reapply to the top firms once recruiting goes back to normal next year.”
NEOMA Business School | Elon University
Pauline Escande
Hometown: Strasbourg, Alsace, France
Internships: Sales operations, DHLeCommerce, Weston, Fla., and HR assistant, Kayentis, Grenoble, France
Thesis: Does Instagram lead to conspicuous consumption? The mediating roles of envy, narcissism and self-promotion (mentor: Associate Professor of Marketing Lawrence Garber)
Post-graduation plans: “My plan is to explore more the professional world with additional internships and jobs (first in finance I think). Then, if needed, I will apply for a master’s program.”
Cecile Ferreira
Hometown: Porto, Portugal
Internships: Marketing, DHL, Weston, Fla., and sales assistant, Speaking Agency, Paris
Thesis: The Relative Effect of Small vs. Large SMI’s on Consumer Behavior: An Empirical Study (mentor: Associate Professor of Marketing Lawrence Garber)
Post-graduation plans: “I will be getting a Marketing Masters at The University of Manchester.”
Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE | Elon University
Enrique Quemada
Hometown: Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain
Internship: DCM, BBVA, London
Thesis: The effect of technological advances in the financial system and sustainable growth in the long term
Maria Valero Gonzalez
Hometown: Madrid, Spain
Internship: Marketing and sales, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, London
Thesis: Lovebrands: How the Luxury World Connects Emotionally with its Clients
Post-graduation plans: Junior auditor at PwC Madrid
Universita Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore | Elon University
Umberto Canali
Hometown: Parma, Italy
Internship: Business analyst, DHL eCommerce Americas, Weston, Fla.
Post-graduation plans: “I planned to intern in Spain for the summer and start grad school at Cattolica in September. Unfortunately, I had to give up on having an internship abroad, but I will be helping my dad with his work and, hopefully, find a job in my area.”
Sveva Saggia
Hometown: Robbio, PV, Italy
Internship: Planning and pricing, Mercedes-Benz USA, Atlanta
Thesis: L’amministrazione e il controllo di gestione in una PMI: il caso S.V. s.r.l. (Accounting and Controlling in an SME: the case of S.V. s.r.l.)
Post-graduation plans: “Work for a few years and then do a master’s or MBA. Hopefully travel both for work and pleasure.”
Giovanni Valdata
Hometown: Silvano Pietra, Pavia, Italy
Internship: Financial planning and analysis, Lenovo, Morrisville, N.C.
Post-graduation plans: “Completing a co-op at Wayfair and then going to grad school for the master’s degree in International Management offered by Università Cattolica.”