Thunderbird at ASU ushers in fall semester with record-breaking cohort
New students gather in the Haas Digital Global Forum during Foundations for a session on the global mindset, which is an assessment every Thunderbird student completes both at the beginning and end of their Thunderbird education, and is designed to measure the growth of an individual’s qualities and attributes that influence groups and organizations from other parts of the world. Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
Excitement filled Thunderbird Global Headquarters the morning of Aug. 16, which marked the first day of Foundations, Thunderbird School of Global Management (Thunderbird) at Arizona State University's new student orientation. As students buzzed around the building, dressed to impress in their professional attire and eager to step onto the global scale, the anticipation was palpable in many ways.
A new chapter begins at Thunderbird as the school welcomes a record-breaking cohort of Master of Global Management (MGM) and Accelerated Master of Global Management (accelerated MGM) candidates. With over 288 incoming students combined from both degree programs, the fall 2024 cohort is the largest in recent history.
“At Thunderbird, we seek students who are eager to embrace new challenges, who value diverse perspectives and who are committed to driving positive change in their communities and beyond,” said Charla Griffy-Brown, director general and dean of Thunderbird. “This record-breaking class of students is a testament to the Thunderbird difference — and how our mission of educating, empowering and influencing global leaders and managers increasingly resonates with this generation of future changemakers dedicated to making a difference.”
More than 42 countries are represented in the incoming class portfolio, including Zimbabwe, India, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. With 86% of the incoming students internationally based, many of these cultures and traditions were on full display throughout Foundations week, especially during the opening flag ceremony the first evening of Foundations, where students had the opportunity to carry a flag from their country of origin or residence and share some information about the region.
“It’s extremely eye-opening to see so many cultures and countries within arms reach at Thunderbird,” said Erik Alonso Lujan, an incoming MGM student from Glendale, Arizona. “As soon as you step into this building, you immediately meet an incoming student from Denmark, someone from Germany, from Zimbabwe. ... This is not an experience you get anywhere else.”
This trend of global growth at Thunderbird reflects the school’s continued ability to attract the world’s best and brightest. Students like Pamela Cieza Kangwa from Zimbabwe, a new MGM student studying global business and entrepreneurship, are immediately drawn to Thunderbird’s ability to deliver on promises, even in the first week.
“Thunderbird has already exceeded my expectations,” she said. “I’ve already met people from countries I have never heard of before, and for someone who loves working with people, it is amazing.”
Fall 2024 Foundations for the new Thunderbird students took place from Aug. 16–18 at the F. Francis and Dionne Najafi Thunderbird Global Headquarters on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. Highlights of the week included a session on the global mindset led by Najafi Chair Professor in Global Mindset and Digital Transformation Mansour Javidan. Students also participated in ThunderOlympics, where teams competed in various athletic contests and had the chance to mingle and connect with fellow T-birds in the Pub at Thunderbird, which recently reopened for the school year.
The semester also marks the first for Griffy-Brown in her new role as director general and dean of Thunderbird. Joining the school in August 2023 as vice dean and professor of global digital transformation, she officially began her tenure as dean this past July.
“As we embark on this semester — my first as director general and dean — I am incredibly honored to say that Thunderbird’s future is bright. During this exciting new era, we will continue to push the boundaries of global management education, nurture the potential of every student and create a better, more equitable future for us all,” Griffy-Brown said.
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Congratulations to team Coyotes, who took home the first-place trophy at this semester’s ThunderOlympics, a take on the Olympics for Thunderbird students to compete against each other in various activities.
Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
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New students participate in the opening flag ceremony, a long-cherished Thunderbird tradition celebrating the school’s diverse population.
Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
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Students, alumni, faculty and staff connected in the Pub at Thunderbird, which reopened last week in time for Foundations.
Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
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As part of Foundations, students had the opportunity to hear from past alumni and gain insights from their Thunderbird experiences.
Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
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This year’s Foundations leaders (from left) Jose Ravaly '25, Mashike Lumbama '24, Peyton Ament '25, Yuuki Sasao-Reuf '25 and Juan Camilo Quintana '24 pose together after the ThunderOlympics. These students spent the summer helping plan the orientation week and communicated with their designated groups of new students, playing an integral part in the new student experience.
Photo courtesy of Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU
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