Harvard Taps ASU Senior for Management Program

Harvard Business School Selects ASU COBA Student for Summer Management Program

By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU

The Harvard University Business School recently selected a rising senior from Alabama State University's Percy J. Vaughn College of Business Administration (COBA) to be a member of its highly competitive Harvard Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP).

Tre'von Conner, also a member of ASU's Honor Finance Program, was among a handful of students chosen nationwide for SVMP, located on Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Mass. The program allows selected students to participate in courses geared to the level of the University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) classes. The intensive course of study is geared toward college seniors (Class of 2023) and juniors (Class of 2024).  

"I received this appointment by being one among literally thousands who applied for the program, and I feel blessed and fortunate enough to be among those selected to be invited to attend the Ivy League school's management program," Conner said. "This program was good for me in several ways but most importantly, in being the leading factor in helping me to decide that I now desire to attend graduate school and obtain an MBA. It would be wonderful to be accepted into Harvard's MBA program, but regardless, obtaining an MBA is next on my educational priority list."

ABOUT HARVARD'S SVMP PROGRAM

The SVMP is a one-week residential educational program at Harvard for college juniors and seniors. It is designed to increase diversity at the university, introduce the students to what an MBA program entails, and present outstanding opportunities in business education and career advancement for the participants. 

During SVMP, Conner and the other students were treated as if they were enrolled in Harvard's full-time MBA program. To make the students’ experience as realistic as possible, they lived in the university's residence halls, were taught by Harvard faculty and studied in the university’s acclaimed case study classes.

As part of the program, Harvard Business School took care of all of the students’ expenses, including room and board. Harvard also provided funds for those selected students who needed assistance with travel expenses.  

ASU'S COBA DEAN PROUD OF CONNER

Dr. Kamal Hingorani, COBA's dean, said Conner is among several of the college's outstanding students.

"We are quite fortunate in our business school to have a large cadre of outstanding student-scholars, and Mr. Conner ranks among them. He has a sharp intellect, a strong work ethic and a can-do attitude. I expect big things from him in his future."

PREPARED FOR GREATNESS

Conner, who serves as the Student Government Association (SGA) treasurer at ASU, said that attending Alabama State University helped him to be well prepared for the rigorous educational experience at Harvard and to be highly motivated to succeed.

"Attending ASU has helped prepare me for greatness in so many ways, which includes a firm foundation in all aspects of educational curriculum, amazing extracurricular programs such as my time with the SGA, and having small classes with faculty members, as well as academic advisors who truly care about your success on campus and in your career field once you graduate," Conner quipped. "I recommend Alabama State to all the soon-to-graduate high school students that I know."

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.

###ASU###