Tepper School of Business Announces Inaugural Golub Capital Board Fellows Cohort

The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of the Golub Capital Board Fellows Program featuring 13 MBA students who will each serve as non-voting board members for 13 nonprofit organizations across the Pittsburgh region.

“These students exemplify the type of principled, forward-thinking leaders we strive to develop—individuals who understand that business leadership must be grounded in a deep sense of purpose and responsibility,” said Isabelle Bajeux, Dean and Richard P. Simmons Professor of Finance, Tepper School of Business. “Our fellows' board placements are a powerful catalyst: fueling their professional ascent and, crucially, injecting vital contributions into the very organizations that build a more resilient city. By contributing their skills to mission-driven organizations, our students gain invaluable boardroom experience while learning to lead with empathy and impact.”

The 2024-25 cohort of the Golub Capital Board Fellows represents a diverse and passionate group of first-year MBA students, each selected for their demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to social impact, and drive to apply their business acumen in service of the community.

The cohort includes: 

The program matches each fellow with a nonprofit partner in a one-to-one placement, offering a unique opportunity to engage directly with board governance, strategic decision-making, and high-impact projects. Students will work alongside their nonprofit’s board over the course of the academic year, contributing to key discussions, attending board and committee meetings, and leading a strategic project aligned with the organization’s mission and goals.

The Golub Capital Board Fellows Program is managed by the Accelerate Leadership Center at the Tepper School, which offers leadership training to students through coaching, immersive workshops, and customized programs.

The Tepper School will partner with a remarkable group of nonprofit organizations for the 2024-25 Golub Capital Board Fellows Program, including: 

• Allies for Health + Wellbeing
• Boys & Girls Club of Western PA
• Grounded Strategies
• Historical Society of Western PA
• New Sun Rising
• OpenUp
• Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
• Variety - Children’s Charity
• TiE (Technology & Innovation Entrepreneurs)
• PublicSource
• Steel City Squash
• The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI)
• The Forbes Funds

“We are excited to welcome this inaugural cohort of Board Fellows and grateful to our nonprofit partners for opening their boardrooms to the next generation of socially-conscious business leaders,” said Rebecca Joyce, Executive Director of the Accelerate Leadership Center at the Tepper School. “This experience is more than a professional development opportunity—it’s a chance to make a lasting contribution to organizations that are vital to our region’s well-being.”

The Golub Capital Board Fellows Program is part of a national initiative supported by Golub Capital’s Philanthropy program. The Tepper School is among a select group of top business schools invited to join this prestigious network, which includes programs at Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, Stern, Haas, and Yale.

For more information about the program, visit our website or contact boardfellows@andrew.cmu.edu.