Professor Spotlight: Dr. Steven Gray

Steven M Gray | Assistant Professor of Management

Even in an online setting, Dr. Steven Gray has experienced lively debate, insightful questions, and endless curiosity in his classes. As a new MAN 336H professor whose research is rooted in analyzing relationships within new venture teams, Dr. Gray seeks to use the already-founded relationships within Canfield BHP students to enrich the (virtual) learning experience. 

Dr. Gray is in his fourth year as a professor within McCombs, but this is his first year teaching Canfield BHP students. Prior to UT, he earned his B.A. in Psychology from Yale, Master’s in Organizational Psychology from Columbia, and Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from Washington University. In between degrees, Dr. Gray worked at IMB as a consultant, advising Fortune 100 pharmaceutical and telecommunications clients. He was drawn to McCombs and Austin because of the unique nature of the city, research opportunities, and students. 

“(In my research) I study startup teams, so being in an ecosystem as vibrant as Austin is a big draw for me and a unique chance to go out and see entrepreneurs and hear their stories and learn about what they’re doing. That was kind of what initially drew me here,” Dr. Gray said. “I study how new venture teams come together. What are the traps that founders fall into as they’re trying to assemble their team and then what can they do to make that better? I try to incorporate teams into my teaching– teams in general, not just the formation process. I do take the perspective of introducing team selection and team formation and to some of the classwork.” Continue reading

Professor Spotlight: Dr. Bukky Akinsanmi (MAN 374H)

A new professor at the Univerity of Texas at Austin, Dr. Bukky Akinsanmi has had a constant stream of new experiences thrown at her since stepping foot on the Forty Acres. Dr. Akinsanmi, who asks that her students call her Bukky, began her time in July of last year and now teaches the Canfield BHP capstone course, MAN 374H. 

Self-proclaimed architect-turned-scholar, Bukky has earned a Ph.D in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship, a Master of Architecture, a Master of Environmental Design since 2002. With all this experience under her belt, Bukky is an incredible asset to the Canfield BHP faculty. 

“Prior to coming to (UT) I got my Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin Madison and before that, I had substantial experience in the architecture and construction industry,” Bukky said. “Texas has a very special place in my heart because when I finished my graduate degree in architecture, I worked in Dallas first and had a younger sister who worked with Dell in Austin. I used to come to Austin for the weekend and go dancing and it was always really fun– I’m really glad to be back in Texas and I hope it becomes my hometown in the U.S.” Continue reading

Canfield BHPers Look Back on a Fun, COVID-safe Spring Break

After over a full year of the coronavirus pandemic and the winter weather that recently hit Texans hard, students across campus are eager for a break. It’s been a long year and a mental health break is needed, but students had to keep public health guidelines in mind when enjoying their time off. All things considered, Canfield BHPers were able to make the best of their spring break– a small group of roommates spent a few days at the beach, students involved in Texas 4000 for Cancer went on a camping trip, and another tight-knit friend group took a visit to Miami.

Roommates Nivva Emmi, Lexi Thorson, Amy Cox, and Andrea Ocañas traveled to Port Aransas for the majority of the week where they’ve been enjoying the beach and quality time together. As seniors ready to graduate, they wanted to do something outside of Austin but stay COVID-safe in the process. 

Continue reading

Student Spotlight: Kisara Dang

Written By: Celesia Smith

Name: Kisara Dang

Major: Canfield BHP, Sustainability Studies, Geography, Humanities 

Topics of Interest: social impact, sustainability, agriculture, economic development

In addition to her traditional studies and organizations, Canfield Business Honors sophomore Kisara Dang has spent hours upon hours working on a project with the President’s Award for Global Learning, an accolade that prepares UT Austin students to conduct research and innovate internationally. As a Canfield BHP, Sustainability Studies, Geography, and Humanities quadruple major, Kisara has made a point to devote her time towards impact initiatives on and outside the Forty Acres.

When Kisara came to UT, she wanted to explore opportunities in social justice and equity, the campus community, and environmentalism. She joined the Sustainability Investment Group (SIG), The Daily Texan, Liberal Arts Council, SELL Fellowship, and more in an attempt to find her home at UT. 

“My freshman year was like more of an exploratory experience. (I was) trying to better understand myself and what I wanted to do, because I always knew I wanted to do something that was intersectional and that was connected to environmentalism,” Kisara said. “Saying yes to so many different things freshman year just really benefited me because it allowed me to meet so many people and pursue many different things.” Continue reading

Student Spotlight: Diavione Williams

Written by Celesia Smith

Name: Diavione Williams

Major: Canfield BHP, Finance + Minor in Sociology

Previous Internship: Texas Education Agency

Position: Grant Compliance and Administration Intern

Topics of Interest: social impact, early childhood education, studying to lofi beats

While some students searched Recruit McCombs for internships in supply chain management, investment banking, consulting, and more, Canfield BHP junior Diavione Williams searched for opportunities in education, whether it be social enterprise or government-related. Diavione ended up interning at the Texas Education Agency as a Grant Compliance and Administration Intern. In addition, Diavione is currently building her own education-based nonprofit, working to help close the opportunity gap throughout her time at UT. 

Diavione’s passion for education stems from her own classroom experiences as being labeled a “gifted student” from an early age, something she says in-part is simply due to her parents’ high expectations. As she got older, Diavione said she realized that intelligence didn’t set her apart from non-gifted students, but rather environmental factors and opportunity. 

“When I was super young, like in preschool, my family instilled in me the importance of education. My parents weren’t really involved in my academic life. It was simply an expectation that I was going to work hard– and I did,” Diavione said. “When you approach education from that standpoint, especially being really young, you’re seen as a gifted student, and then the myth of the gifted student (is formed). As I got older and older I started thinking, ‘What about the kids that aren’t considered gifted students? What makes them so different from me?’ and I realized there’s no difference at all. I realized that there’s just a really big disparity in the amount of education, opportunity, and classroom attention that lower-income or underprivileged students are given compared to their counterparts, so I’ve always made it a personal mission to do something about that.” Continue reading