Gies News Articles
October 30, 2026
Build your MBA return while you learn
Gies Business’ online iMBA offers flexible pacing that lets students keep working and apply what they learn on the job. 94% of alumni applying their learning at work and 65% of students receiving a promotion, job offer or new position while enrolled.
Oct 19
New access point monitor provides Beacon of hope for dialysis patients
Physician and Gies Business iMBA graduate Kevin Volkema partnered with vascular surgery resident Richie Li to develop Beacon, a wearable ultrasound device that helps dialysis patients monitor their fistulas and detect failures early.
Sep 14
Gies Business alumnus Ibeabuchi named to Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40
Chidozie Ibeabuchi, a Gies Business iMBA alumnus, leads programs supporting more than 5,000 active and former professional soccer players
Aug 24
How Yang teaches students to verify AI and trust their gut
Through live app building, gamified assignments, and real-world marketing exercises, Gies Business professor Nathan Yang emphasizes verifying AI outputs, recognizing hallucinations, data poisoning, and other AI limitations.
Aug 20
Changing the game: Gies MSM grad Sam Phillips advocates for LGBTQ+ athletes
Sam Phillips (MSM '26) transformed his experiences as a collegiate gymnast and LGBTQ+ advocate into a career with Athlete Ally, where he promotes inclusion in sports while applying the business skills he gained at Gies College of Business.
Aug 10
Two Gies Business iMBA Graduates Named Poets&Quants’ 2026 ‘Best & Brightest’
Melissa Cummings and Patrick Surrett earned their spots by translating business theory into immediate results. Both used their studies to tackle complex operational challenges – Cummings in nonprofit workforce development and Surrett in defense healthcare systems.
May 28
Agritourism hub Agrivoy claims Voitik Prize at Cozad New Venture Competition
Jeff and Forough Haskel, two University of Illinois iMBA students from Texas, turned a frustrating search for a Wyoming ranch vacation into a startup idea called Agrivoy — an “Airbnb for agritourism.” After developing the idea through the Cozad New Venture Competition, Agrivoy won the $3,000 Voitik Prize for online MBA-led teams.
May 27
Healthcare Innovation: How one iMBA student is improving the birthing experience
Galina Mihalkina, a Gies iMBA student, helped develop PeriAssist, a medical device aimed at reducing trauma during difficult childbirths by filling a gap between existing tools. As the project’s business lead, she handled strategy, stakeholder mapping, and commercialization, helping the team win awards and move toward funding and patents.
May 26
What the MBA "Fire Sale" conversation is missing – and what we've learned from doing this differently
What we hope is that affordability becomes a permanent feature of more programs, not a temporary response to enrollment pressure.
May 12
How Ibeabuchi (iMBA ’19) is building scalable legacy at Major League Soccer
Chidozie Ibeabuchi’s career has evolved from supporting individual athlete transitions in the NFL to leading large-scale, proactive player engagement initiatives as Vice President at MLS, guided by his “Human First” philosophy.
May 01
Gies Business launches AI-native, human-centered Master’s in Business Analytics
Gies Business' newest fully online program builds AI into every course so students learn to use emerging technology throughout real analytics workflows. The program is project-based, with each course contributing to a portfolio of practical work.
Apr 02
From Sales Rep to Strategist: How Gies iMBA helped Roberto Martinez make career pivot
Roberto Martinez has navigated a series of pivots, restarts, and a moment of reckoning on his way to earning an MBA from Gies College of Business and a 40% return on investment.
Apr 01
Life in Parallel: How Gies Business iMBA program helps women lead without putting life on hold
Gies Business' fully online iMBA program enables women to advance their careers while balancing family and personal responsibilities, allowing them to learn and apply skills in real time.
Mar 18
Gies Business pioneers future of healthcare with new iMBA specialization
Developed in partnership with the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Illinois’ Siebel Center for Design, this collaborative effort is designed to equip the next generation of leaders with the skills to transform healthcare delivery.
Mar 03
How Aric Rindfleisch is helping shape digital marketing education through Gies Business iMBA program
Professor Aric Rindfleisch explains how digital marketing, online learning, and human insight power Gies Business’ globally recognized iMBA program.