The Bill Munday School of Business delivers an impactful education that connects students with the marketplace and prepares them for today’s dynamic business environment.
Austin, our home city, drives our model for engagement. So everything we do — from curriculum to research to community events — reflects five pillars in the local business scene:
In each of our degree programs, students gain the skills to think critically and engage locally. And thanks to partnerships we’ve developed in Austin’s business community, students can use the capital city as their laboratory to experience, learn and grow as business professionals.
Doing business in Austin means reaching well beyond central Texas. Students in our programs are shaped by the city’s culturally diverse business community. They can also take advantage of opportunities to experience business abroad.
A vibrant city and a business school contributing to its growth create the perfect partnership. The Bill Munday School of Business partners with Austin organizations, including Capital Factory, Impact Hub Austin and more.
We are excited to have you join our thriving, student-centered community. In The Bill Munday School of Business, faculty and staff are dedicated to fostering student success and lifelong learning.
We invite you to actively participate in this community by engaging in your coursework, connecting with fellow students, and immersing yourself in the Austin business environment.
In an era of rapid technological change, the proliferation of information, and increasing access to data, each day brings new challenges and opportunities. The pace of change, however, can be both exhilarating and overwhelming.
In The Bill Munday School of Business, we work alongside you as you develop the tools to identify key issues and ask important questions, in order to make sound business decisions that rest firmly on ethical foundations.
Businesses today seek employees with critical thinking and analytical skills, as well as the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively.
We are proud to offer a curriculum grounded in the dynamic business ecosystem of Austin. You will work alongside faculty to apply business principles to real issues, leverage technology, and harness creativity. With a holistic approach to education, the coursework at St. Edward’s also provides exposure to multiple disciplines that prepare you for a professional life of impact.
Your hilltop community is enhanced by immersion in the local and global communities. From joining a culturally diverse student body to engaging in Austin’s thriving urban environment, opportunities abound. You can take advantage of entrepreneurial boot camps, pitch and business plan competitions, capstone projects (on campus and around the world), and service learning in the hub for innovation.
Our Holy Cross tradition is centered on education for all, and it is my privilege to be a part of this community – and to warmly welcome you home to the hilltop.
Sincerely,
Alexis Stokes, JD
Dean, The Bill Munday School of Business
The Bill Munday School of Business has incorporated a model of business education that seeks to integrate all of the core school functions with the Austin business ecosystem and works to drive its mission to the marketplace.
The Bill Munday School of Business delivers an experiential, values-based education in the liberal arts and the Holy Cross traditions of learning and service. The school educates students to excel professionally in the dynamic 21st century business environment by emphasizing creative thinking, critical analysis, global collaboration, lifelong learning, adaptation to change and ethical behavior. The school promotes relationships on our campus, with our global partners and across the rich business ecosystem of Austin, focusing on technology, creativity, social enterprise and emerging trends.
The model aims to provide the most relevant and impactful student experience and prepare our graduates for the challenges of a connected, digital world. Our business education is built on five pillars, which reflect Austin's business environment: entrepreneurial thinking, social enterprise, innovation management, global collaboration and business analytics.
Service is an important component of the St. Edward’s University mission, and at The Bill Munday School of Business, both students and faculty members give their time and talents to the campus and local communities, the region and the state.
Service learning is incorporated into several business school courses including the Business and Social Responsibility course. Service projects allow students to serve the needs of businesses, non-profits and community members while accomplishing course objectives.
Business students honor the university’s Holy Cross heritage by participating in university-sponsored service projects throughout the year. In January, students join Austin community members to volunteer at the MLK Day of Service at Huston-Tillotson University, one of the nation’s historically black universities. In April, students, faculty and staff members help clean and repair homes, churches, parks and schools in the community for the BIG Event. In October, students connect with peers and give back to the city at the Founder’s Day Service Project, a partnership with non-profit organizations throughout the region. Overall, St. Edward’s University students volunteer nearly 80,000 hours of their time through service each year.
Our faculty members are actively engaged in local, national and international initiatives. Faculty volunteers at local non-profits, provides pro bono services and offers continuing professional education to non-profit and government entities across Texas. They serve as reviewers for professional journals and conference papers and as officers in professional organizations. The Bill Munday School of Business is proud of a tradition in service and service learning.
Our faculty members are dedicated teachers, experienced industry professionals and committed scholars. They empower students to become skilled and confident business professionals for the 21st century.
Faculty provide personalized attention in small classes, where students can be creative and collaborative. Their research efforts deepen our engagement with the community and inform their teaching.
Collaborating with faculty and university leadership, Dean Alexis Stokes continues to structure the school’s model for business education to reflect Austin’s robust business landscape. Our business students graduate motivated, adaptable and ready to contribute.
The Accounting, Finance and Economics Department provides students with varied career options in high demand. Students can leverage faculty connections with local business and national CPA firms. Students learn how monetary systems and large-scale economies apply to a variety of areas, including investment banking and global business.
Students gain technical expertise, develop critical thinking skills and graduate ready for positions as auditors, budget analysts or staff accountants.
This unique, 150-hour degree program offers a combined bachelor’s in Accounting and Computer Information Technology, both extremely marketable to employers.
Students develop a solid foundation of economics and business principles. With targeted case studies, students see direct examples of economic issues and understand global implications.
Students in this degree program learn about financial management. They study corporate finance and global markets and often pursue careers in banking and investment.
Faculty in the Management Department help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to manage people effectively and collaboratively in local or global organizations. Students learn a holistic view of organizations, focused on social responsibility, individual development, and integrity.
Emphasizing leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, this degree program empowers students to become confident and capable professionals across multiple industries.
The Digital Media Management degree explores the convergence of digital media in business and entertainment and prepares graduates for work in social media, digital marketing, and the web.
Students explore business on the global stage and examine their roles and responsibilities in the global community. Topics include international markets, culture, social responsibility, and communication.
In addition to studying management theory and organizational behavior, students examine real-time management issues and develop skills for making a difference in a variety of organizations.
Through experiences in the classroom and community, students develop entrepreneurial skills around three focus areas: small business, family business, and social entrepreneurship.
Students completing a degree in the Marketing, Operations, and Analytics Department are challenged with enhanced curricula in line with the digital demands of a 21st-century business landscape.
With a strong focus on digital marketing, the Marketing degree program prepares students to succeed in the modern digital landscape. Students learn marketing analytics, content creation, conversion rate optimization, and social media.
We host multiple business events through the school year that:
Students pursuing the 30-hour Master of Accounting degree develop technical expertise and graduate ready to complete the CPA exam and advance in their careers.
Students in the MBA program take courses in a flexible, low-residency structure, so they can balance their careers and personal lives with classes that reflect five pillars in Austin’s business scene.
Prepare for a career as a business analyst or business leader through practical real-world cases.
In a 16-month online program, students develop knowledge to manage and apply big data, analytics, marketing automation, user interface design and mobile marketing.
Our students and alumni have impressive resumes. They engage in internships, research opportunities and volunteer work and serve as leaders in student organizations and on-campus employment. Their stories of ingenuity, determination, failure and success provide important lessons on personal growth and discovering one’s vocation.
The school of business provides undergraduate advising and graduate advising to students looking for the guidance and resources to stay on track, take advantage of opportunities and graduate career-ready.
Our students, faculty and alumni make headlines, as both subjects and contributors of relevant and impactful business news. They appear in the Huff Post, Austin Business Journal, Texas CEO Magazine and Austin Chronicle, to name a few.
To stay informed on school news, success stories and events, follow us on social media.
As an alum, you join a network of fellow Hilltoppers and business professionals that support your growth.
Our alumni have founded venture capital and private equity firms, photography studios and social justice organizations. They have accepted full-time jobs with Apple, Deloitte, Facebook, Whole Foods, Dell and National Instruments. Some have continued to graduate school and law school at prestigious institutions such as Villanova University, UC Berkeley and the University of Rochester.
The Bill Munday School of Business recognizes the support of its Advisory Board. Through member efforts and continued contributions, our school has been able to actualize visions of academic excellence and integrity.
Investment Partner, GPG Ventures
A seasoned investor and executive, Claire England is Investment Partner with GPG Ventures, a healthcare venture capital firm with more than 100 portfolio companies nationally. GPG opens venture-quality investing opportunities in the $4.3 trillion U.S. healthcare market to family offices and individuals, who invest in companies directly alongside the firm's partners. The firm is built on more than 60 years of healthcare, operational, and financial experience with an extensive syndicate investor network and offices in Dallas, Houston, and Austin.
In addition to GPG, she's a partner in two Portfolia funds, Food & AgTech and FemTech I, where she made 22 investments, and a partner in an impact investing advisory firm, LOHAS. She's also a Kauffman Fellow, a leading innovation post-graduate program and global network of 880+ values-based VCs and LPs, and a member of Private Equity Women Investor Network, or PEWIN.
Previously, Claire grew a Texas LP network, Central Texas Angel Network, into a nationally recognized early stage investing community with 200 individual and family office investors and the #1 ranking in the U.S. Under her leadership, LPs deployed $75M into 95 new startups and dozens of portfolio companies in five years, while far exceeding VC return averages.
Prior to that, she directed a large-scale founder and investor conference that was pivotal to evolving Austin’s entrepreneur ecosystem into what it is today. She developed her passion for entrepreneurship as the first full-time employee of a social media services startup. Before startups, she spent a decade leading marketing, communications, and fundraising in the nonprofit sector.
Claire has extensive public speaking experience, is a skilled panel moderator, and has taught university undergraduate and postgraduate business school classes as a guest lecturer. She graduated college with honors and Dean's List recognition and was a national journalism honor society inductee.
She serves on St. Edward’s University’s Business School Board of Advisors and mentors founders at accelerators, including Capital Factory and Techstars. Claire’s work has been recognized with the Kauffman Fellows Leadership Award and Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power Finalist Award.
CEO of Ragland Capital
For over twenty years Chris has served as a partner or principal in dozens of companies providing various levels of leadership and support. He possesses a diverse set of strategic management skills and continues to sharpen and demonstrate his uncanny ability to successfully grow businesses through the creation of loyal teams, fanatic culture, and personal growth of those around him.
Chris has a broad base of industry experience including real estate, private equity and high-tech, among others. In addition to domestic engagements, Chris possesses a background in international business having worked on several projects in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
He has worked with businesses at all levels ranging from enterprise clients such as Adobe, Bosch, BMW, and American Express, to locally owned and operated small businesses. He has held leadership positions in Capital Markets, Operations, Finance, and Executive Office, while participating in multiple merger and acquisitions.
Active in his local and global community, Chris has volunteered for dozens of mission-oriented and professional non-profit organizations. He has served as a Board member or Committee member for many organizations such as Ballet Austin Guild, The Trail Conservancy, Seton Cove, Soccer Assist, American Association of Private Lenders, and many others. In 2019 Chris was appointed to the Board of Trustees for St. Edward’s University where he is a member of the fiduciary, trustee, and institutional oversight for student affairs committees. In 2022 Chris was nominated and appointed to the Board of Directors for The Trail Conservancy where he serves on the Endowment Committee. Chris is a two-time nominee for the Austin 40 Under 40 Award for his work in the community. In 2019 he was awarded the prestigious Member of the Year Award, by the American Association of Private Lenders, for his contribution to the association and the
industry.
In 2020 Chris realized a lifelong dream and founded his “forever company”, an alternative investment management company simply known as “Ragland” where he works closely with family offices and high net worth individuals on their capital deployment strategy in various markets, foreign and domestic. In 2021 Ragland launched its first private investment fund, allowing accredited investors to participate in the same strategy as family offices. Since that time, Ragland has added additional offerings in diverse sectors including Real Estate, Aviation, Banking, Hospitality, and International Private Equity.
Chris serves as the Americas Region lead consultant for the German based organizational development and management consultancy, Synnecta, and as the controlling Principal of Ragland Holdings LLC, his family investment firm with more than two dozen interests in its portfolio.
Chris holds a BA in Entrepreneurship as well as an MBA in Global Entrepreneurship from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and is “all but dissertation” for the Doctoral program in Economics and Business from Universitat Jaume Primero in Castello, Spain.
Founder & Executive Director, HBCU Battle of the Brains
Gregory earned his BBA and his MBA in the Bill Munday School of Business. Early in his career, he worked in the corporate tech sector at AMD and Dell. Frustrated with the lack of diversity in the tech industry, he sought to make change by working in higher education and founding his own nonprofit organization.
Gregory is the Founder & Executive Director of the HBCU Battle of the Brains, a business and tech invitational competition held annually for HBCUs. Sixty HBCUs from around the country send their best and brightest to compete representing various areas – Business, Communications, Engineering, Mathematics, Marketing, Public Policy, Science, and Technology. Teams are required to provide a comprehensive solution to the designated issue. HBCU Battle of the Brains has been wildly successful at highlighting diverse talent and creating opportunities for underserved students. Tech and business firms big and small come to the Battle every year to mentor competitors, judge the competition, and recruit for their businesses. He is expanding these opportunities to Hispanic serving institutions with the founding of HSI Battle of the Brains in 2020.
In 2012 Gregory founded Dashingfoot, a brand strategy consulting firm that combines technological know-how with branding expertise to help their clients evolve from a logo to fully formed corporate identities. From 2013-2018 he served as president of the Austin Chapter for the National Black MBA Association.
For four years, Gregory served at Huston-Tillotson University, a local HBCU. He participated on the advisory board for Huston-Tillotson’s School of Business and was an adjunct professor for small business management. He is passionate about developing business opportunities for members of underserved communities and about creating diversity within the technology sphere.
Founder & CEO, Falkon Ventures
Kyle is the founder and CEO of Falkon Ventures, an innovative venture capital fund designed to catalyze innovation in the new entrepreneurial landscape for companies that have the mission to positively change industry and the world. Prior to Falkon Ventures, Kyle was a member of the initial team at LifeProof, a San Diego-based consumer electronics company that grew its force from three people to over 250 employees on three continents in three years. LifeProof’s meteoric growth led to its successful acquisition by Otterbox in 2013.
He is also the co-founder of Syndicap, a venture capital network that is changing the attitude of the industry by incentivizing venture funds to collaborate across different stages and verticals to match the convergence of industry. Kyle’s creative curiosity and passion for collaboration that innovates drives him to work with initiatives in the impact space, including The Hispanic Alliance, A Reason to Survive, The Andy Roddick Foundation and The Bill Munday School of Business at St. Edward’s University. His work with non-profits, foundations and social enterprises focuses on creating sustainable and scalable impact by implementing social enterprise models and pioneering new venture funding models.
Tax and Business Advisory Partner, RSM US LLP
Kevin Fincher now leads the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association (ARMA) as its Chief Executive Officer, bringing his extensive experience to advocate for, develop, and connect the central Texas manufacturing community. In this role since January 2024, Kevin collaborates with a dedicated team to tackle pressing industry challenges, including skilled labor shortages and regulatory impacts, through advocacy, workforce development, and networking.
Kevin also had more than 7 years as a Tax and Business Advisory Partner at RSM US LLP, where he steers the Austin office's technology and life sciences industry practice. With over 20 years in public accounting, Kevin’s expertise spans corporate taxation, mergers and acquisitions, international tax structuring, and more, positioning him as a valuable resource for a wide range of tax and industry topics.
Kevin’s commitment to the community is further demonstrated through his founding involvement and ongoing service as Treasurer for ARMA. He also serves as President of the University of Arizona AustinCats Alumni Chapter, showcasing his dedication to both professional and community engagement.
Holding dual BSBAs in Accounting and Finance from the University of Arizona and licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Arizona and Texas, Kevin is a distinguished member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Senior Vice President, Comerica Bank
As senior vice president of Comerica Bank’s Technology and Life Sciences Division, Paul is responsible for the technology lending practices and portfolio management for the central and south Texas regions. Paul earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from St. Edward’s University.
Advisor, Fleeting
With extensive experience in operations, finance, and growth strategy, Paul serves as a valuable advisor to early-stage founders and business owners. He is dedicated to working with companies across various stages and sizes, focusing on simplifying challenges, enhancing operations, and crafting a clear path for growth.
Paul is known for his ability to offer insightful perspectives that get to the heart of issues, ensuring a strong foundation for future success. His commitment to practical solutions and strategic development makes him an indispensable asset to our board and the broader community we serve.
Human Centered Business Advisor and Speaker
Ruoyun Xu Killian, Human-Centered business advisor and speaker, is on a mission to put the human experience back into marketing and business. For the last 15+ years, Ruoyun has advised brands to get out of the marketing fluff and back into building relationships and impact in their communities. She believes that by humanizing the way we do business, in turn society can lean into humanity.
She loves solving puzzles for brands as they continue to scale sustainably. She has helped create sustainable marketing systems with brands such as BigCommerce, Serenity Kids, Slow North, University of Texas Center for Sports Communication and Media & others through her individual work and at C3nami, the digital marketing agency she founded in 2015.
Her passion for empowering the humans behind the brand to be the human beings that they are has given Ruoyun a platform to speak at a variety of organizations and events including Bumble Bizz, St Edward’s University, University of Texas, Concordia University, ACC Fashion Incubator, Texas Women in Business Conference, to name a few.
The Bill Munday School of Business has worked diligently throughout its history to connect with the Austin community and with our students to assure we meet their needs. We do this by providing a challenging curriculum taught by faculty with real-world experience who help students understand and prepare to respond to developments in the evolving global economy.
St. Edward’s University offers a two-year “Short Program in Commerce or Business Administration.”
St. Edward’s inaugurates a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
St. Edward’s receives its university charter.
Model Q replaces the four divisions of business administration, social sciences, humanities, and physical and biological sciences with the Centers for Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, and Teaching and Learning.
Dr. Edgar Roy, president of St. Edward’s University, launches an MBA program to provide working members of the local community with an evening degree program. The first class comprises 35 students.
A total of 11 students are the first MBA graduates.
Dr. Boyd Collier becomes chair of the Business Center and serves through 1982.
George Dawkins serves as chair of the Center for Business Administration.
The Centers for Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, and Teaching and Learning become the Schools of Business, Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Education.
Hadi Oveisi serves as interim dean of the business school.
Frank Krafka serves as interim dean of the business school.
Lewis Myers serves as interim dean of the business school.
David Kendall serves as dean of the business school.
Marsha Kelliher serves as interim dean of the MBA program.
Frank Krafka serves as interim dean of the undergraduate business program.
Dr. Frank Krafka becomes the dean of the School of Management and Business. He initiates the SEUganda Project to assist Holy Cross Sisters in rural Uganda with raising funds by selling handcrafted goods.
Trustee Hall, a 33,000-square-foot academic facility, opens and becomes the home of the School of Management and Business. It contains 15 classrooms and a 24-hour computer lab, as well as administrative and faculty offices. The facility was featured in Architectural Digest for its award-winning design.
Marsha Kelliher becomes dean of the graduate business program.
First daytime MBA course of study in Digital Media Management is offered.
Marsha Kelliher becomes dean of the School of Management and Business for the combined undergraduate and graduate business programs and serves through June 2013.
The Business Plan Competition, an annual event, is implemented to provide students a forum for presenting their ideas for new businesses, products and services to university faculty, area business leaders and entrepreneurs.
The Master of Accounting program is implemented as a 30-hour program that qualifies students to sit for the CPA exam in Texas. The MBA degree with a concentration in Accounting continues to be offered.
The Global Business and Social Justice Institute is founded with a grant from the RGK Foundation.
Tom Sechrest serves as interim dean of the School of Management and Business.
A South by Southwest® Conferences & Festivals (SXSW®) event is sponsored by the business school and held on the St. Edward’s University campus.
The school takes a new name as The Bill Munday School of Business after Austin-area business leader Bill Munday.
Nancy Schreiber serves as dean of the business school.
David Altounian serves as interim dean.
Marianne Ward-Peradoza becomes dean of The Bill Munday School of Business.
Dr. Louise Single becomes Interim-Dean of The Bill Munday School of Business.
July 2023
Alexis Stokes, JD becomes the Dean of The Bill Munday School of Business.
Photos Courtesy of the St. Edward's University Archives and Special Collections
The Bill Munday School of Business is guided by the educational philosophy of the Congregation of Holy Cross. We engage all members of our community in experiences that challenge and inspire us to make a positive difference.
The Holy Cross and Catholic heritage at St. Edward’s University is a living tradition that seeks to inform and transform lives of students, staff and faculty.
The Bill Munday School of Business takes pride in implementing Holy Cross teachings, educational principles and charisms and following these guiding principles:
We encourage students to discover faith in practice through volunteer opportunities and coursework.