Mark Metryoos
University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business
“A faith-driven leader, sports fanatic, family-loving foodie, and fan of top-tier TV.”
Fun fact about yourself: One fun fact about myself is that my face has been up in Times Square!
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
High School: Timber Creek High School
Major: Finance
Minor: History
Favorite Business Course: My favorite business course at Notre Dame has been Applied Investment Management (AIM), a 6-credit, student-led course that provides hands-on experience in live portfolio management and fundamental equity research. Founded in 1995, AIM selects 25 students per semester through a competitive application process, entrusting them with managing a $30 million portfolio. Analysts conduct in-depth financial analysis and present investment recommendations on both an existing portfolio stock and a new stock candidate, covering business fundamentals, competitive positioning, financial forecasts, and valuation, culminating in a final buy/sell decision through a class vote. The semester concludes with presentations to the AIM Advisory Board, composed of Notre Dame alumni and investment professionals, and includes a class trip to major financial hubs like New York and San Francisco to engage with top investors.
AIM has been a defining experience in my college career, allowing me to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world setting while further developing my financial analysis, valuation, and portfolio management skills alongside highly motivated peers. The leadership of professors Shane Corwin and Jason Reed has been instrumental, as their passion for finance, investing, and student development is evident in every class meeting. The returns generated by our class directly contributed to a faculty line in the Finance Department and supported additional university funding needs. It has been an honor to be part of this selective program, learning from Notre Dame’s best resources while contributing to the inner workings of both the university and the Mendoza College of Business.
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: During my time at Notre Dame, I have had the opportunity to pursue and contribute to many incredible experiences.
I am a QuestBridge National Match Scholar, receiving a full-ride to the University of Notre Dame. As a Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar, I engage with a select cohort of like-minded peers. As a McInerney Fellow and Dorm Ambassador, I connect students to financial assistance for essentials like winter clothing, emergency travel, and football tickets while aiding program development. As an International Business Fellow, I participated in small-group discussions with faculty and business leaders, culminating in an immersion in Poland. As a Diplomacy Fellow, I developed diplomatic skills through coursework and a hands-on immersion in Europe. My leadership has earned me a Student Leadership Award, while my academics have placed me as a member in the Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society and on the Dean’s List every semester.
I tutor local high school students in financial literacy through First-Generation Investors and lead a campus organization focused on breaking cycles of poverty. As Co-President of the Wall Street Club, I oversee an 18-member board for a 2,000+ member organization, organizing workshops, networking events, and career treks. As Student Union Treasurer and Financial Management Board Chair, I help manage a budget that serves the entire undergraduate body of the university, as well as multiple organizations across campus, while also supporting the Shirt Charity Fund application process, an initiative that provides swift medical assistance to students in need of financial support. As a Dean’s Ambassador for Mendoza, I collaborate with deans and leadership to implement policies aligned with Mendoza’s slogan of growing the good in business. I also serve on multiple Career Center executive boards, developing programming and events to expose students to industries and careers. As one of the lead Peer Mentors for Building Bridges, I have guided 100+ students through academic and career discernment via group and one-on-one mentorship opportunities.
One of my proudest accomplishments is founding the Equity in Business Initiative (EBI), which provides professional development and financial education to students unfamiliar with business. EBI fosters career preparedness through treks, presentations, and mentorship. To expand this impact, I created the Irish in Business Scholars (IIB) program, selecting 20 students from 100+ applicants for a structured curriculum, hands-on training, and a Mendoza-backed digital badge. I secured tens of thousands in annual funding with the support of Patty Brady (Managing Director, NDIGI) and Mark Dumich (Associate Director, NDIGI), whose guidance made this possible. Andrew Wendelborn (Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies) and Kristen Collett-Schmitt (Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Specialized Master’s Programs) provided the critical institutional backing and leadership needed to get EBI off the ground and fully operational. Our programming has ranged from golf and dinner socials to immersive career experiences, and I’m incredibly grateful for the supportive community that made it all possible.
While Notre Dame has offered me countless opportunities beyond even those listed here, the most valuable takeaway from my campus involvement has been the ability to grow in a well-rounded, interdisciplinary way, deepening my understanding of faith, ethics, and personal passions while also developing technical expertise, learning new concepts independently, and mentoring others.
Where have you interned during your college career? During my freshman summer, I interned through the Greenwood Project, a Chicago-based program that provides technical finance training for students underrepresented in the industry and connects them with partner firms. After completing a multi-week training program that included firm visits and guest lectures from esteemed speakers, I interned at Readystate Asset Management, a multi-strategy investment firm that seeks opportunities across credit, equities, and volatility. For my sophomore and junior summers, I interned in New York City at Morgan Stanley in the Investment Banking Division, Mergers & Acquisitions group, where I worked on live deals, participated in group projects, and completed Morgan Stanley’s formal training programs.
Where will you be working after graduation? After graduation, I will be returning to Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division as an Analyst in their Mergers & Acquisitions group.
Who is your favorite business professor? My favorite business professor is Professor Kristen Collett-Schmitt, Associate Dean for the Undergraduate and Specialized Master’s Programs and a Teaching Professor of Finance. I have had the wonderful opportunity to learn from her both as a professor and as an advisor, guiding me in many of the goals and initiatives I hold dear. She is a true champion of financial literacy, dedicated to expanding opportunities for others, fostering case competitions that tackle meaningful and difficult questions, and creating platforms where people’s voices are heard and appreciated. Despite balancing countless responsibilities, she always makes time for her students.
What sets her apart is that she embodies the essentials of a great professor such as delivering engaging lectures, holding office hours, and responding to late-night emails. At the same time, she holds the qualities of an extraordinary mentor. She has taught me that being a good human and an advocate for others takes you very far in life. She is a friend to all, someone who finds it hard to turn away a student in need. In many ways, I model aspects of myself after her. No matter how many questions, ideas, or rants I’ve brought her way, she has never turned me away. Instead, she has always opened doors for me where it made the most sense. I am incredibly proud to have had her as a professor and grateful to call her a lifelong mentor and friend.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The most important lesson I have learned from studying business aligns with Mendoza’s slogan: “Grow the Good in Business.” But what does this truly mean? It suggests that business is inherently good, and its impact depends on how we cultivate it. When we apply the principles we hold most dear, champion initiatives that matter, and extend opportunities with generosity and integrity, we shape an economy that serves all. A true business leader is not only decisive and technically skilled, but also ethical, compassionate, and committed to something greater than themselves. The greatest impact in business comes from those who can seamlessly blend strategy with morality, ambition with empathy, and success with responsibility. Whether working with communities, corporations, or the environment, leadership is about ensuring that every transaction contributes to a more just, sustainable, and thriving world.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Despite growing up exposed to small retail and restaurant businesses, I never fully appreciated their operations, development, or impact on local communities because my understanding of career paths was largely limited to STEM fields. When I first arrived at Notre Dame, I was primarily familiar with careers in medicine and engineering, so that’s where I initially focused. However, after exploring different career opportunities, I discovered that business was the right path for me. This journey has given me the opportunity to engage with many students who are also navigating career discernment, not just in business but across various fields.
My biggest piece of advice to students looking to major in a business-related field is to seek opportunities in everyday life to learn more about businesses and corporations. Almost every organization, whether in technology, healthcare, or other sectors, functions in some capacity as a business or enterprise. I always encourage people to follow their passions, and I believe that complementing any field of study with a business understanding enhances one’s perspective on how the world works. Since I have discovered an extremely moral, cooperative, and encouraging group in business, a big part of my experience has also involved dispelling popular misconceptions about it. Fundamentally, business is about ethics and problem-solving, and people should grow to appreciate the ways in which it impacts them every day.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? In all honesty, I wouldn’t change much about my business school experience, as it has been incredibly fulfilling. However, if there’s one thing I would have done differently, especially at Notre Dame, it would be to ask “Why?” earlier in my journey. Taking the time to reflect on why I was joining a particular club, pursuing an opportunity, or engaging in an activity would have allowed me to fully appreciate each experience and make even more intentional choices. While I developed this mindset over time, I wish I had started freshman year with that approach. That being said, I have very few regrets. I feel like I am engaged to the best of my ability, but I also recognize that there is always room to do more. I believe anyone who has the opportunity to be deeply involved in their college community and town likely feels the same. I would encourage any college student to fully immerse themselves in campus activities, but also to step outside their immediate academic environment, explore their local communities, and find meaningful ways to contribute. All while consistently reflecting on why they are doing something and fully appreciating its purpose.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? I believe that, like many universities, Notre Dame has integrated AI into its programming in ways that enhance both learning and real-world application. In the business school, AI is particularly leveraged for efficiency in business analysis and as a tool to develop structured, analytical thinking. The method taken by my institution is particularly distinctive, in my opinion. That’s because it places a strong focus on critical thinking regarding AI’s effects on human development outside of academic and professional contexts as well as how it increases productivity. The institution has approached the ethical ramifications of AI with consideration, investigating unanswered queries regarding its constraints, obligations, and societal impacts. Notre Dame makes sure AI is not only a tool for efficiency but also a topic of significant inquiry by bringing in speakers and promoting conversations, which challenges us to think about the aspects of the human experience that AI should never replace.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? I would say my greatest personal achievement, although relatively simple, is getting into Notre Dame. Growing up, I never knew if I would even pursue a college education, let alone attend an elite university that has opened so many doors for me. I still remember the day I was accepted; it was the first time in my life that I was truly shaking with excitement and left completely speechless out of pure shock. My greatest achievement will always remain Notre Dame as an institution and the honor of attending its business school, as it has sparked a series of events that will influence my future professional and personal life. Only at Notre Dame have I been able to develop such strong bonds with my family, friends, and faith. I have also been blessed with the opportunity to pursue numerous chances to make a significant difference in the lives of others, whether via employment, mentoring, or other means. Notre Dame has given me the foundation and self-assurance I need to create my future and, more significantly, to help others.
Which classmate do you most admire? The classmate I most admire is Father Arsany Paul. He has helped me develop both spiritually and academically as I’ve navigated college. He exemplifies what it means to be a Notre Dame student, seeing snowfall as a blessing rather than an inconvenience, finding love in every interaction, and always encouraging forgiveness. In addition to helping me see the value and significance of grace in my day-to-day life, he has taught me to find serenity in adversity. He is not just someone I look up to, but also someone I want to become like so that I can handle life’s obstacles with more enthusiasm and resiliency.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? The person I would thank most for my success is my older sister, Monica Metryoos. Monica is a speech pathologist, a mother, and, above all, my dearest friend. There are countless reasons I would thank her, her sacrifices for our family, the love she extends to everyone she meets, the way she constantly checks in on me, and the invaluable lessons she has always taught me. The extent to which she has shown me unconditional love during my time in college must be acknowledged in order to fully comprehend her influence. What that meant to me on my worst days, darkest moments, and most uncertain times cannot be measured. Her encouragement provided me with the self-assurance and groundwork I needed to develop into the person I am now. She not only gave me the gift of sibling love and the amazing thrill of being an uncle, but also, alongside my parents and family, enabled me to succeed in college through love, affection, and patience. She is my closest friend and has influenced my entire life.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I am already grateful for so much in my career, but there are two things I will always strive for in my work:
- To love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind while dedicating my work to serving this love
- To love my neighbor as myself, always seeking to fulfill my professional responsibilities in the most ethical and loving way possible
What made Mark such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?
“Early in his sophomore year, Mark Metryoos approached our now associate dean and me with an observation and an idea: many of our first-generation and low-income (FGLI) business students face challenges not shared by their peers and that the Mendoza College of Business should do something to level the playing field for them. He shared that many FGLI students and students from under-resourced high schools often lack the financial literacy, certain technical skills, and a basic understanding of employer recruiting processes that most of their peers already enjoy. Thus, the Equity in Business Initiative (EBI) was launched. Largely because of Mark’s efforts, EBI provides programming and other resources to students who seek to fill in the gaps in their business comprehension. From résumé preparation and money management workshops to career treks and graduate school visits, EBI serves to break down barriers for both business and non-business students while creating a strong community among them.
If EBI was his only legacy, it would be noteworthy enough. Yet Mark has reserves of energy that even the Energizer Bunny would envy. In addition to his time founding and curating EBI, Mark served in numerous other capacities both inside and outside Mendoza. As a member of the first cohort of our Dean’s Ambassadors program, Mark served as a point of contact for prospective students, as a Mendoza student representative at public-facing events, and as a student advisor to college undergraduate leaders. Additionally, Mark was a co-president of the student Wall Street Club and a key collaborator with Mendoza’s Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing. For the University at large, Mark mentored other students through the Building Bridges program, supported the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services as a Senior Fellow, and served in several Student Government roles. Lastly, whenever I needed last-minute assistance from a student (to, for example, help host a group of visitors), I could count on Mark to answer the call.
Anyone who knows Mark has witnessed his deep passion for helping others and for fulfilling Mendoza’s mission to Grow the Good in Business. His courage in seeking out partners among Mendoza and University leaders has changed the trajectory for many of his classmates by exposing them to experiences and opportunities they may not have had without his proactive engagement. I’m very proud of everything that Mark has taken advantage of while a student at Notre Dame, and I’m confident that we’ll see plenty of amazing endeavors in his future.”
Andrew Wendelborn
Assistant Advising Professor
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies
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