MacKenzie T. Brown
Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business
“Fierce force: running on caffeine, deeply allergic to sugarcoating… despite growing up in Chocolatetown, USA.”
Fun fact about yourself: I am a bibliophile. Since 2022, I have read as many as 41 books each year, and I plan to keep that streak going in 2026.
Hometown: Hershey, Pennsylvania
High School: Hershey High School
Major: Business Administration, Concentration in Consulting, on the IT track.
Minor: Public and Professional Writing
Favorite Business Course: Ethics of Data Analytics and AI
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work, and Leadership Roles During College:
Manresa Scholar
Student Engagement Collective – Director
Gabelli School Dean’s Council – Committee Head
First-year Advising Mentors – Mentor
Net-Impact – Events Coordinator
Urban Plunge – Operations and Logistics Captain
Where have you interned during your college career?
Volvo – Middletown, Pennsylvania – Business Control Intern
Fordham IT – Bronx, New York – CIO Research Assistant
AArete – Chicago, Illinois – Consulting Intern
Where will you be working after graduation? I will be an analyst for AArete Global Consulting at their Chicago headquarters.
Who is your favorite business professor? Dennis Hanno is my favorite business professor at the Gabelli School. His course, Principles of Management, was one that I genuinely looked forward to every week throughout the fall of my sophomore year. Professor Hanno has a rare and unmatched ability to make dull, yet foundational, management concepts feel alive and engaging. He created an environment in which I felt both challenged to go outside my comfort zone and supported to achieve success.
Professor Hanno genuinely cares about his students’ growth: he learned our names, encouraged discussion, and treated every question with serious thought and meaningful engagement. Even outside the classroom, he continues to be unbelievably friendly—whenever I see him on campus, he goes out of his way to seek me out and stop to talk to me—and it speaks to how invested he is in his students long after class adjourns. This feeling of being noticed and cared for encouraged me to become more engaged, participate more actively, and think more thoughtfully about what it means to be a leader of an organization. His teaching did not only make me better understand the material covered in class—it made me excited about studying business in the first place.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? You have to be open to change: normalize the idea that it’s okay not to have everything figured out right away. I came into college with no idea what I wanted to do until I took The Ground Floor, an introduction to business course that opened my eyes to the plethora of opportunities in the business world. That class taught me a lot—particularly, that exploration is not a setback; rather, it is integral to the growth process. Those who succeed in their transition from student to professional are the ones who are willing to pivot, ask questions, and lean into uncertainty. That’s because they trust that curiosity and effort will lead them down the right path. I still don’t really know what I want to do, but I’m excited to see where I’m going.
Looking back over your experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently in business school and why? At the Gabelli School, nearly every professor brings extensive industry experience into the classroom. Not only that, but they are genuinely eager to discuss their work and career paths with students. Looking back at my time at the Gabelli School, I wish I had engaged with my professors sooner. Since I began engaging with these relationships in my junior year, I’ve gained invaluable insights into their industries, career choices, and personal decision-making processes. These conversations not only deepened my academic experience, they also helped shape my professional direction with confidence and clarity.
What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What is one insight you gained from using AI? I am very grateful that nearly every aspect of the Gabelli School’s core curriculum incorporates discussions about AI and its growing impact across the business world. With my Consulting Concentration on the IT track, my exposure has further deepened with dedicated Information Systems courses that explore how emerging technologies shape organizations and decision-making.
Ethics of Data Analytics and AI was one of the more relevant classes I’ve taken. Every week, we analyzed case studies and discussed the real-world implications of AI. These conversations challenged me to think beyond technical capabilities to consider bigger questions of responsibility and the long-term consequences for both companies and society.
My most significant insight from using and studying AI is that its value lies not just in efficiency or automation, but in how it is thoughtfully implemented. Only when AI is paired with a strong ethical framework and human judgment can it truly become a powerful strategic tool rather than a simple technical shortcut.
Which academic, extracurricular, or personal achievement are you most proud of? Serving as the director of the Student Engagement Collective for the Gabelli School made me most proud. This organization is committed to improving admissions yield, strengthening student engagement, and fostering long-term connections with young alums. What makes this experience truly meaningful is that this year is our first official year in operation. Working closely with Dean Villani and my Co-Director, Dean, we have been able to launch the initiative from the ground up to develop its mission, build programming, and plan events for the spring semester.
Seeing an idea transform into a functioning organization that impacts the community has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. It has truly reinforced my passion for leadership, collaboration, and creating lasting change.
Which classmate do you most admire? Daniel Vadon is one of the people I admire the most. He is a fantastic student and devoted leader in both his academic and extracurricular pursuits. Daniel pushes each of us to be a more active and engaged member of our community. Throughout our time at Fordham, he has encouraged me to be a better person, and I am lucky to call him my friend.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? I can’t attribute my success to a singular person; I have always been a big believer in the idea that it takes a village, because no person is an island unto themselves. A central part of that village is my parents, because they are my biggest supporters and my most formidable challengers, constantly pushing me to become the best version of myself. My brother has also played a hugely defining role in my life, setting the bar high and serving as my first and most enduring role model. Finally, my grandparents have shaped me in quieter but equally powerful ways, always offering endless wisdom, perspective, and love. They have given me a foundation for which I am deeply grateful and continue to grow from every day.
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I have always wanted to have the opportunity to travel abroad to experience different professional cultures.
I would love to mentor a young professional the way that faculty and alums have mentored me.
What made MacKenzie such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?
“I have had the honor of knowing MacKenzie Brown since Spring of 2024. MacKenzie, or “Mac,” became an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026 not only because of her leadership and involvement, but because of the person she is. From the moment she transferred into the Gabelli School, she consistently raised her hand—in the classroom as a student in my Career Exploration class to volunteer her insight, saying yes to serving on panels for admitted students’ days or virtual sessions, contributing thoughtfully through the Dean’s Council, and representing the student voice with insight and integrity.
In her time as BRIDGE Subcommittee Co-Chair for the Gabelli School’s Rose Hill Dean’s Council, Mac has hosted nearly a dozen events that promote community, engagement, and belonging. She has worked on holiday tabling, culturally centered events, and worked cross divisionally to support our international students through workshops. In addition, she has also visited classrooms and spoken with underclass and prospective students to showcase the work of the Dean’s Council.
Beyond her impressive engagement, she is an incredible person: thoughtful, reliable, and deeply committed to her community. She brings kindness, professionalism, and genuine care into every space she enters, leaving a lasting impact on both her peers and the faculty who work with her.”
Jenna L. Cook, PhD
Assistant Dean for Seniors
Adjunct Professor for Communications & Media Management
Adjunct Professor for The Ground Floor
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