Congratulations, 2025 OWLIE Winners!
Congratulations, 2025 OWLIE Winners!
By Jennifer Graciano
The Naveen Jindal School of Management hosted its 11th annual OWLIE Awards ceremony April 9 in the Davidson Auditorium. The OWLIE Awards — an acronym for Outstanding Worthy Leaders Involved Exceptionally — is an Oscars-style event that celebrates students, faculty, staff, mentors and alumni who have made significant contributions to the JSOM community. Established in 2015, this event, which also features live entertainers, has become a cherished tradition, recognizing individuals who exemplify leadership, service and excellence within the School.
Students, faculty, staff, program directors and Jindal School student organizations submitted their nominations and finalists were selected by a committee of Jindal School staff and faculty.
Alongside honoring outstanding students, faculty, and alumni, the event featured performances that showcased cultural diversity and talent. These included Asmita, which performed a Bharatanatyam dance that blends storytelling and tradition, a Fusion Folk & Hollywood act and Novis A Cappella, a singing group. Tomas Llano, a finance senior, and Jashank Kshirsagar, a Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (STEM) graduate student, served as masters of ceremony for the event. They called OWLIE finalists to stand at their seats and then announced the winners who came to the stage to receive their awards and be congratulated by Dr. Hasan Pirkul, Caruth Chair and Jindal School dean.

2025 Winners:
Jindal Selfless Service
This award recognizes either an undergraduate student, graduate student or community leader in JSOM who has won hearts through their selfless acts of service to others and/or their community.
Saanvi Dusa: Saanvi Dusa founded an organization — PGN (Phi Gamma Nu) — a professional development organization that believes in cultivating a diverse community investing in the professional and personal development of its members, driven individuals committed to one another’s success and creating leaders of tomorrow.

Jindal Student Mentor
This award recognizes both an undergraduate and graduate student who has demonstrated excellence in mentoring, encouraging and promoting the educational, professional and personal development of JSOM students.
Undergraduate: Naseem Akbary is known for her exceptional dedication to helping her peers succeed academically and personally. As a peer mentor for the DMHP and Road Warriors programs, she consistently facilitated connections and supported her mentees’ development.

Graduate: Rohit Kumar is known for his exceptional mentorship and support of students at JSOM. He has provided valuable guidance in resume building, interview preparation and networking strategies, helping students secure internships and jobs.

JSOM Most Likely to be a C-Suite Mentor
This award recognizes both an undergraduate and graduate student who demonstrate the qualities of a C-Suite Executive. This individual should also demonstrate the drive, determination and mindset of a C-Suite Executive, along with an excellent entrepreneurial spirit.
Undergraduate: Nishita Koneru is an exceptional student in JSOM, excelling academically as a dual major in Computer Information Systems & Technology and Marketing. She demonstrates strong leadership as president of the Association for Information Systems (AIS), expanding the organization through strategic initiatives.

Graduate: Carly Ammann is president of the National Association for Women MBAs at UT Dallas, a role in which she exemplifies outstanding leadership, dedication and compassion. She is a visionary leader who not only ensures tasks are completed with precision but also fosters a supportive and inspiring environment for those around her.

Jindal Ambassador
This award is presented to either an undergraduate student, graduate student, staff, faculty member OR community member who goes beyond the call of duty to support JSOM outside the School by being a spokesperson and representative for the School in the community and corporate world.
Audrey Rathgeb exemplifies the spirit of a Jindal Ambassador through her exceptional academic performance, leadership in organizations like 180 Degrees Consulting and ASCM, and unwavering dedication to the JSOM community. Her double major in Finance and Supply Chain Management and Analytics, coupled with her mentorship, research and student government involvement, reflect her ambition, analytical strength and commitment to student success.

JSOM Amazing Alum
This award is presented to a JSOM alum who has distinguished herself/himself through excellence in supporting JSOM students.
Tim Reazor graduated from UT Dallas in 2018 with an Executive MBA and in 2019 with a Master’s in Entrepreneurship, making him a double-alumnus. Since his graduation, he has contributed to the university in various ways, including making custom cutting boards for the Alumni Awards Gala, donating a $40,000 in-kind gift and serving as a Keynote Speaker for the Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance Annual Conference.

Jindal Employer of the Year
This award goes to an employer that has posted positions in the Jindal School, hired students for both internships and final placement positions, and helped to support the professional development of students. Employers meeting these criteria were identified by the Jindal School of Management Career Center and provided to the Nominations committee.
This year’s award went to GM Financial. Marjorie Miller, Talent Acquisition Manager, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

JSOM Student of the Year
This award is presented to current undergraduate, graduate and PhD students who are considered all-around excellent examples of excellence in JSOM. They are excellent students, confident leaders and actively engaged in the life of the school.
Undergraduate: Andrew Tran is a dedicated student at JSOM who exemplifies hard work, leadership, and community impact. His leadership extends beyond academics, as he has taken on major roles in Circle K International, including District Events Committee Chair and Historian, and founded Eye Care For Everyone at UT Dallas, where he and his team provided over 880 eyeglasses to people in developing nations.

Graduate: Chavi Singh is an exceptional student in the Information Technology and Management (ITM) program at JSOM, currently serving as president of the ITM Student Leadership Council. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership, working with over 55 individuals to strengthen the ITM community and mentoring more than 50 students as a Teaching Assistant for Professional Development.

PHD: Xiaowen Tan is a PhD candidate in Strategy at JSOM who has demonstrated exceptional academic and leadership qualities. Her research, including a study on corporate social responsibility and cyberattacks, has been submitted to top-tier journals like the Strategic Management Journal.

Jindal Faculty of the Year
This award is presented to a faculty member for excellence in teaching, advising, mentoring, and/or supporting students. This individual contributes to the enhancement of the learning experience for students in JSOM.
Undergraduate: Professor Tim Stephens is a dedicated mentor and leader who deeply invests in student success, making his teaching uniquely valuable by bridging industry experience with academia. His passion for IT and engaging teaching style ensures students retain information long after the semester ends, and he integrates real-world applications into his courses.

Graduate: Professor Kannan Srikanth is an exceptional educator, known for his interactive and engaging teaching methods in Database Management Systems. His hands-on approach and practical course projects enable students to apply concepts in real-world settings, fostering both technical and soft skills development.

PHD: Professor Lin stands out as an exceptional teacher, transforming lectures into engaging, thought-provoking discussions that push students to consider new viewpoints. As a PhD advisor, his dedication goes above and beyond, often dedicating his weekends to providing in-depth feedback, helping his students reach their highest academic potential.

JSOM Outstanding Staff Member
This award is presented to a JSOM staff member for excellence in advising, assisting and supporting students. This staff member contributes to the enhancement of the overall experience for the student in JSOM.
Sivya Leventhal plays a key role in the MSBA Flex program, managing both the program and certification initiatives while supporting the ITM program during staffing transitions. Despite pursuing her master’s degree, she remains dedicated to improving processes and supporting student success, demonstrating an exceptional work ethic and organizational skills.

JSOM Outstanding Student Organization Leader
This award is presented to a current undergraduate and graduate student who is a leader of a JSOM student organization and has provided exemplary leadership to the member students of that organization and had a positive impact on them, benefiting JSOM at large.
Undergraduate: Julia Moore has driven the organization to become a more active chapter in the region by building stronger partnerships and hosting impactful events. She has significantly boosted collaboration with DallasHR, doubling students’ opportunities for networking and career development.

Graduate: Aadya Shukla has been instrumental in expanding student opportunities through mentorship, skill development and networking initiatives. Aadya launched programs like the Student Success and Learn2Launch Program, connecting students with industry mentors for resume reviews and career advice.

JSOM Student Organization of the Year
This award recognizes the JSOM student organization that has made a significant contribution to the school and student body through service, programs and activities.
The nominations for the Student Organization will be submitted by the faculty advisor of that organization. If you think an organization deserves an award, please submit all the accomplishments and other details, as required, to the faculty advisor of that organization.
Undergraduate: Real Estate Club UT Dallas organized around 60 events, offering over 80 content hours, including case competitions, career panels, property tours and workshops. They built a network of 1,300 students and alumni, actively recruiting through 30 events and increasing membership by 210 students. REC facilitated numerous internship and job opportunities, distributed resume books to thousands of professionals, and provided financial support through scholarships.

Graduate: The Product Base Club at UTD aims to promote and encourage product management through speaker sessions, workshops, panel discussions, certifications, and networking opportunities. Over the past year, the club hosted 15 events featuring 22 speakers, with an average attendance of 75 students per event, including top PMs from Google, Amazon, Microsoft, AT&T, and Salesforce.

Dean’s Council Super OWL
Undergraduate: Esha Gupta is a kind, dedicated, hardworking individual. She is always one of the first to volunteer for events and goes above and beyond in all she does. This past year she has served as the Head of Communications for the Undergraduate Dean’s Council and has worked hard to enhance the UGDC’s visibility throughout JSOM. Esha’s excellent leadership and communication skills make her a valuable team member and an outstanding officer for the UGDC.

Graduate: Sayantan Dutta, a passionate and driven leader at UT Dallas, received the prestigious Super OWL award for his outstanding contributions to the JSOM community and his role as co-president of the Dean’s Council. Fueled by an unrelenting zeal for excellence, he is pursuing a master’s in Business Analytics, leveraging a robust skill set in programming, analytics and leadership to make a positive impact both academically and within his community.

Graduate: Jay Haresh Kukreja is a passionate leader, two-time OWLIEs Head, and co-president of the Dean’s Council who believes impact is built when people feel valued. Whether spearheading campus initiatives or pursuing his Master’s in Information Technology and Management, he leads with equal parts strategy and heart, turning teams into families and ideas into action.

Read more about the Owlies.