George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics

06/10/2026

Working directly with a CEO as a college intern is rare. Adeline Rookstool, our Marketing senior, made it her spring semester.

Adeline interned with American Technology Venture Lab - ATVL, a Spartanburg mentoring program for tech and science venture founders. The sessions are held right at Johnson College of Business and Economics, every 8-9 weeks. Adeline coordinated them alongside Chairman and CEO Dennis Hayes. That meant emails, Zoom scheduling, presentations, and keeping full-day events on track from start to finish.

"Working with ATVL has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has been especially fulfilling to see the sessions we work so hard to facilitate become such a meaningful step in each venture participant's journey toward building and launching their own business. Seeing firsthand the resources and clarity we are able to provide, helping ventures identify their next steps toward hitting the market, has made all of the hard work feel truly worthwhile," she says.

She went in knowing little about startups. She's leaving with a real picture of what it takes to go from idea to market: defining a mission, building an elevator pitch, finding the right customers.

That's our Business Spartan!

06/03/2026

Some skills can't be taught in a classroom. For Olivia Bonilla, one of the most meaningful parts of her internship has been using hers.

The JCBE Accounting and Finance senior has been interning with Amanda Thompson - State Farm Agent Belton and her team in Roebuck since March, and one of her key responsibilities has been assisting Spanish-speaking clients, helping make communication clearer and the experience more comfortable for people who need it most. "[This responsibility] has been especially meaningful to me because I'm able to help make communication easier and create a more comfortable experience for clients," Olivia shares.

Beyond that, she's been part of marketing events, team meetings, and the day-to-day of running a thriving local business while working toward her Life & Health Insurance License on the side. With a December graduation on the horizon and goals that include her CPA and Series 6 and 7 licenses, Olivia is already building the career she came here for.

05/28/2026

JCBE Alumni — this one's for YOU!

South Carolina employers are heading to Greenville, and we want our Business Spartans in the room. The HireSouthCarolina Alumni Career Fair is the perfect opportunity to connect, explore, and take your next big step.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Greenville Convention Center | 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville, SC 29607

With 35+ employers hiring across business, healthcare, engineering, construction, education, and public service — there's something here for every JCBE grad.

Bring your résumé. Bring your drive. The rest will follow.

FREE for alumni | Registration required
Register Now: https://events.bizzabo.com/hiresc2026?promo=schoolfly&tr=true

05/27/2026

Katherine Lopez Morales walked across the stage in May, but she'd already proven herself in the real world.

As an Accounting major, Katherine spent her final spring semester inside BMW's Accounting Department, applying classroom knowledge to live financial operations at a global manufacturing company. ""This opportunity helped me strengthen my analytical, organizational, and communication skills while learning how accounting supports business decisions in a global company environment,"" Katherine says.

She also discovered something unexpected: the depth of BMW's impact on the Upstate community. That local connection, combined with real corporate experience, solidified her goal of building a career in manufacturing.

Congratulations on graduating this May, Katherine! Wishing you a brilliant future ahead!

05/19/2026

We're proud to share that Kim Land, our Senior Marketing Instructor at JCBE, was inducted into the Darla Moore School of Business Leadership Hall of Fame earlier this April.

She joined a remarkable class: former Governor Jim Hodges, Tommy Suggs, Gamecock quarterback and the voice of the Gamecocks for decades, and distinguished leaders from banking and finance across the state.

President Amiridis presented the pins at a ceremony in Columbia, and Kim was right there among them.

Congratulations, Kim. JCBE is lucky to have you!

05/16/2026

Beta Alpha Psi International Chapter wrapped up a great spring with its initiation and graduation ceremony at the Piedmont Club in late April.

It was a wonderful evening celebrating some of JCBE's best accounting students. Congratulations to everyone who was initiated or graduated! You've earned it!

A big thank you to Assistant Professor Rohit Agarwal for leading the chapter this year. And we were glad to have Senior Instructor of Accounting Michael Wooten and Department Chair and Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Cole there to celebrate these students.

05/12/2026

New generation of Business Spartans. Consider this your warning.

05/11/2026

05/08/2026

Yesterday, we proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of our students at the JCBE Spring 2026 Honors and Awards Ceremony! From dedicated service in student organizations to exceptional academic performance, these graduates have demonstrated the very best of what JCBE represents: integrity, passion, and resilience.

Congratulations to our award recipients:

Student Service Awards: Jake B. Ballew, Sarah E. Howard, Varsita L. Kerai, Maria Kirienko, Ana C. Fuentes Ortega, Marianna Simonian, John A. Grieshop, Anna L. Rivard

Cornerstone Award: Calee E. Smith

Major/Concentration Awards: Brooke Rhodes, John A. Grieshop, Kailee M. Register, Kaitlyn E. Eubanks, Kaleb A. Sok, Dhruvil H. Patel, Michael B. Durham, Ana C. Fuentes Ortega

Marion McMillan Academic Excellence Award: Marianna Simonian

May 2026 Honor Graduates:
Audrey R. Baer (CL), Kaitlyn E. Eubanks (MCL), John A. Grieshop (SCL), Kiley J. Hawkins (CL), Cameron R. Robinson (CL), Caroline G. Terrill (MCL), Caleb E. Williams (MCL), Natalie T. Yadlovskiy (SCL), Justin A. Turner (CL)

Your hard work and dedication have set a remarkable standard, and we cannot wait to see the incredible impact you'll make in your careers and communities. The future is bright!

A heartfelt thank you to the faculty and staff who presented awards and made the day so special: Dr. Jeffrey Stinson, Dr. Bennie L. Harris, Dr. Pamela Steinke, Mr. Michael Wooten, Dr. Sirajul Shibly, Dr. Chung-Yean Chiang, Ms. Kim Land, Ms. Victoria Lockhart, Dr. Elizabeth Cole, Dr. Daniel Davis, Dr. Thanh Nguyen, and Dr. Robert Berg.