����ɬ’s student investment group provides students with practical, hands-on experience in finance, managing a simulated portfolio of $100,000, with the ambitious goal of outperforming the S&P 500 each year.

Comprising five to 10 business students selected through a competitive application process, the group relaunched in the spring semester and meets weekly to analyze stock selections, discuss recent and review the performance of their investment portfolio. Decisions regarding buy and sell actions are made collectively, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

This fall, the student investment group will partner with TradingView, a leading platform known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive toolset. This partnership will equip students with advanced technical analysis capabilities, enhancing their investment strategies.

“A company and tool like TradingView is going to be vital to the student investment group to make educated predictions and decisions with accurate tools for technical analysis and charting data,” said Jared Pemberton, visiting assistant professor of finance. “TradingView provides highly customizable charts with various time frames, indicators and drawing tools that will help further the investment group’s skillset with investing.”

The group is already seeing positive results, having outperformed the S&P 500 returns year-to-date in their short time together. The current plan is to manage the simulated portfolio for several years before presenting their performance to the finance committee, with the aim of eventually managing a portion of the university’s endowed funds, a practice that was in place prior to 2020.

����ɬ has introduced five specialized MBA concentrations to launch in fall 2025 that address critical leadership shortages in high-demand fields, combining cutting-edge technical skills with Christian ethical frameworks. These new specializations build on Houghton’s recent efforts to make the program more affordable for working professionals and recent graduates.

“Today’s businesses need leaders who can navigate complex technologies like AI and cybersecurity while maintaining strong ethical foundations,” said Dr. Alex Wright, director of the MBA program and assistant professor of management and business administration. “As part of the online MBA program at Houghton, these concentrations will allow students to develop into leaders who can implement AI governance responsibly, practice financial stewardship with integrity, and bring the technical competency and moral compass needed to lead effectively in high-stakes environments.”

The new concentrations include Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Finance, Cybersecurity and Healthcare Administration, and are designed to equip graduate students with specialized expertise needed to fill the with a deep understanding of both technology and business strategy. Each concentration emphasizes hands-on, real-world project-based learning, allowing MBA students to apply their knowledge while balancing work and study in a fully online format. To deliver this specialized curriculum, Houghton has partnered with Rize Education, bringing leading scholars and industry practitioners to augment the expertise of Houghton faculty with cutting-edge insights directly from the field.

“Our faculty are continuously evaluating and updating our programs to ensure we’re preparing students for the realities of today’s marketplace,” said Dr. David Davies, provost. “This collaboration seamlessly blends market intelligence and innovation with Houghton’s enduring commitment to Christ-centered graduate-level education.”

��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s MBA program is offered fully online and can be completed in as few as 12 months. Tuition was also recently reduced by 30%, making a Houghton MBA more affordable for students. With start dates in the fall, spring and summer, students can begin taking courses according to their schedule. The combination of academic excellence, servant leadership and practical application has resonated with current students.

“I am really enjoying this MBA program,” said Sara Moore Gruver ’04, ’26 (MBA). “I have a master’s degree in education from another university, and the quality of education at Houghton is (as always) above and beyond other graduate programs and classes I have done. I loved my undergrad years at Houghton, and it is a delight to return for this degree.”

This proven track record of excellence continues to attract new students seeking career advancement in business through a Christian perspective. Prospective students can apply now for the fall semester. For more information, please contact �ѵ�������dzܲ���ٴDz�.������

����ɬ’s business students are once again providing free income tax preparation services to qualifying residents of Allegany County. This initiative is part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which aims to assist individuals with low to moderate incomes in preparing their federal and applicable New York State tax returns.

Eligible participants generally have a return income of less than $67,000. The student volunteers, who must pass IRS online tests to become certified, will prepare and file returns electronically, significantly reducing the wait time for refunds. They are also equipped to help clients access special credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, for those who qualify.

This year, ����ɬ students will be preparing tax returns in person on Monday evenings from February 3 through April 7, with the exception of March 3. Sessions will take place in Room 303 on the third floor of the ����ɬ Library. Clients can schedule appointments at either 5:30 PM or 7:30 PM and will work directly with the students to prepare their returns.

To ensure that your return fits the scope of the program and to schedule appointments, please contact Professor Elianna McHenry at elianna.mchenry@houghton.edu or 585-567-9447.

����ɬ has announced a 30% tuition reduction for its fully online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, effective January 2025. This move, along with a streamlined admissions process, reinforces the University’s commitment to making graduate business education a possibility for more professionals from a variety of disciplines.

“Houghton is serious about graduate business education. Current and emerging leaders in the for-profit and non-profit sectors interested in pursuing an MBA at a Christian university should give us fresh consideration,” said Houghton President, Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. “Our affordability, flexibility and dynamic faculty make the Houghton MBA a great option for working professionals. Houghton MBA graduates complete their programs well-prepared to have even greater positive impact and influence in their professions. This tuition reduction is about empowering professionals to transform their careers, their industries, and ultimately, the world.”

����ɬ will host a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) tax prep session for residents of Allegany County. This initiative aims to make the tax filing process easier and faster for community members who take advantage of this opportunity.

Under the guidance of Assistant Professor of Accounting, Elianna McHenry, Houghton students will offer free tax return preparation and e-filing services to eligible community members. To qualify, community members must be United States citizens with low to moderate income, generally around $54,000 or less.

This program excites me for many reasons. Just one of the reasons is the ability to serve some underserved residents of our community by helping them work through this often complicated process. Our expertise gives us a unique set of gifts that we ultimately get to share with our community for their benefit!

Elianna McHenry, Assistant Professor of Accounting

 

This tax prep session not only benefits the community by providing a much-needed service, but it also offers Houghton students a valuable hands-on learning experience. Each student has passed three IRS certification exams and is certified through the IRS VITA program to prepare tax returns within the program’s scope. By participating in the VITA program, students gain practical skills and contribute to the well-being of their fellow community members.

Appointments are being scheduled for Monday evenings from February 12th to April 8th, with time slots available at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM. For more information about the VITA tax prep session or to schedule an appointment, please contact Professor Elianna McHenry at 585-567-9447 or by email at Elianna.McHenry@Houghton.edu.

In the Summer of 2022, Nathan Versari ‘23 earned an accounting position at KPMG after excelling in a tax internship over the same summer.

During his internship, Versari filed taxes for major corporations and partnerships. With each client came the opportunity to work with professionals in the field as he analyzed tax forms and created a list of questions in case his clients needed to provide any additional information.

“It’s detective work to figure out what you need to ask the client to provide … You have to work with numbers to figure that out … It’s interesting.”

Nathan Versari ’23

 

Director of Vocation and Calling, Rachel Wright, helped Versari identify the internship and conducted mock interviews to practice for his KPMG interview.  Wright stated, “I was excited to learn that he had the opportunity to be a tax intern at KPMG. Other students have had the opportunity to complete internships at other Big Four firms as well.”

Houghton is connected to KPMG through the Handshake career services platform. With Handshake as a resource, students of various majors have found the experiences they need to prepare for their future careers. “I would’ve never have tried to apply to somewhere like [KPMG] if it wasn’t for Houghton,” said Nathan Versari.

Handshake is only one of ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s numerous resources available to its students. At the Center for Student Success, students have the opportunity to receive a broad range of support, including extensive peer-tutoring, counseling, career guidance and more.

����ɬ, New York’s leading evangelical Christian university, is proud to announce its partnership with Rize Education to offer two new programs: Cybersecurity and Certified Financial Planning. These programs are designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in these rapidly growing fields.

The Cybersecurity concentration within ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Computer Science major offers a project-based curriculum that prepares students to tackle the challenges posed by modern cybersecurity threats. With a focus on privacy, security, and safety, students will gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on technical skills to protect digital assets from cyber criminals. This program requires only a small amount of basic programming, making it accessible to students from various backgrounds.

In addition, ����ɬ now offers a Certified Financial Planning® minor, which is a CFP® Board Registered Program. This program provides students with the courses required to be eligible for the Certified Financial Planning® exam. By pursuing this certification, students can gain a competitive advantage in the financial advisory industry. CFP® professionals are trained in 72 areas of financial expertise and take a holistic approach to help clients manage their financial lives effectively.

David Davies ’01, Provost and Dean of the Faculty at ����ɬ, expressed his enthusiasm about the new partnership,

One of ����ɬ’s founding principles was the belief that young people equipped with a Christ-centered education in the liberal arts and sciences could make a lasting, positive impact on their communities and the world. This new partnership with Rize Education demonstrates Houghton’s commitment to ensuring that our students are equipped to lead as scholar-servants in today’s rapidly changing world.

 

����ɬ remains dedicated to academic excellence and recognizes the importance of keeping its curriculum relevant to meet the needs of employers today. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a 17% growth in financial management roles over the next decade and 33% for cyber security, these programs at ����ɬ provide students with a promising career path. The new Cyber Security and Certified Financial Planning programs are a testament to Houghton’s commitment to preparing students for success in these high-demand fields.

Last summer, Dr. Torrance Jones, assistant professor of business and criminal justice, published his debut book, titled, .

In his book, Jones suggests five leadership strategies for all aspiring leaders to consider for optimal public engagement in the modern world. Through these strategies, Jones highlights the significance of social identities in professional fields, and how the identities of Black Christians in particular have played a prominent role in their pursuit of executive positions.

����ɬ is so fortunate to have a faculty member with the sensitivity, skill, and insight to explore difficult questions involving leadership, race, and faith. I’m pleased to say that whether he is teaching our MBA students or undergraduates, Dr. Jones brings the same level of depth and understanding that he demonstrates in this recent book.

Mark Borchert, Professor of Business and Communication, Dean of Management and Creative Arts

Students in ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) met on campus for their annual residency last week. This two-day program introduces new students to their fellow online MBA classmates and professors, and serves as the culmination of the program for graduating students as they present their final Personal Integrative Projects. These projects may take the form of a business plan for a new entrepreneurial venture or a significant change initiative for an existing organization.

The range and creativity of these projects showcased not only the knowledge gained through the program but also the passion and innovation of each of the graduates. The MBA program emphasizes transformational leadership through Christ-centered principles and the triple bottom line of Profit, People and Planet, and these elements were evident in the excellent ideas and presentations put forth by our graduates. We look forward to seeing how these individuals will go forth to lead and labor in the world!

Alex G. Wright, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management & Business Administration; MBA Program Director; Hoselton Chair of Private Enterprise and Ethics

Emmanuella “Ella” Osuzoka ’23 has wanted to study accounting since the ninth grade, but what brought her to ����ɬ’s Accounting major has more to do with two unexpected factors: the city of London and a snowstorm.

“When I came over for the Honors in London interview weekend, everything just worked out perfectly,” Osuzoka shared. “There was a snowstorm that weekend. I guess it worked out for the better because that meant my dad and I were stuck in Houghton for two extra days, so I really got to have the full experience of what life would be like here. I just fell in love with the people.”

People have continued to be what has drawn Osuzoka even further into the Accounting Major at Houghton. Elianna McHenry ’18 MBA ’20, an Assistant Professor in ��dzܲ���ٴDz�’s Business program, has been the essential highlight for Osuzoka with the way she brings her classroom to life, including a final exam centered around the game of Monopoly.

Osuzoka shared that, after a visitor from KPMG (Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler) came into one of her Houghton classrooms, she leapt at an opportunity to work for Deloitte. KPMG and Deloitte are two of the “Big Four” accounting firms that spread their services to over 150 countries worldwide. Osuzoka was able to use the insights gained from people like McHenry at Houghton to participate in an internship with Deloitte this past summer. She believes Houghton has had a profound impact on her work there.

“Before Houghton, I had never done any group projects,” Osuzoka said. “So it was really good getting that experience and then spending this past summer working with new people to do research and present it in front of professionals.”

The networking Osuzoka was able to do at Deloitte led her to solidify her post-graduation goals. She intends to earn her Master of Accounting degree and prepare to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam. “I’m excited to intern with Deloitte again and apply the knowledge I’ve learned,” Osuzoka stated, “and continue to make my parents proud, by the grace of God!”

Houghton team, “Swift Solar”, won third place at the second annual Startup Allegany Collegiate Competition on April 9th.  The team, made up of students Evan Tsai ’22, Dawit Hutter ’22, and Sofia Gildemeister ’22, and mentored by Lionel Legry of Cuba Restorations LLC and Alex Wright, assistant professor of business administration, presented their idea of a solar consulting company that would help connect homeowners with installers. They specifically emphasized the opportunity to Allegany County homeowners on energy consumption, solar tax credits, and the opportunity to generate clean energy.

“This competition was a great way to directly apply our business classroom learning. We were especially challenged in developing the proposed company’s value proposition, as well as evaluating the financial implications of doing business in New York,” said Evan Tsai.

The competition, titled “AHA” because it involved students from Allegany County’s three institutions of higher education—Alfred University, ����ɬ, and Alfred State College—was based on solving problems faced by businesses, with a goal of promoting sustainability through entrepreneurship.  Multiple teams from all three institutions participated in the competition.  The top three teams were awarded prizes totaling $6,500.

The event was hosted by the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology at Alfred University and was organized by IncubatorWorks. Startup Allegany is a county-wide stakeholder group that meets regularly to promote entrepreneurship in Allegany County. Members include Allegany County, Alfred State College, Alfred University, ����ɬ, IncubatorWorks, ACCORD Corp., and the Western New York Incubator Network. 

I am very proud of the work that Dawit, Sofia, and Evan put into this project in a relatively short period of time. Not only did they come up with the great business idea of being a solar brokerage firm, but they researched geographic and industry factors, analyzed projected financial outcomes, thought through opportunities and challenges, and then distilled all of this into a five-minute pitch video for the competition. After the pitch video was shown at the competition, the team was asked several questions by the judges to which they responded knowledgeably and articulately. They represented themselves and ����ɬ extremely well.  -Alex Wright, Assistant Professor of Business Administration