SFA business students selected for UTIMCO Scholars program

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Three students from Stephen F. Austin State University's Rusche College of Business were selected for The University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company Scholars program this year.

Iris Cordova, finance junior from Nacogdoches; Julian Ieva, accounting junior from Houston; and Conner Stover, finance junior from Apple Springs, were the first three SFA students chosen for this opportunity, which was made possible by the university's affiliation with the UT System last year.

"SFA selected Iris, Julian and Conner to represent the university in this program because they have already shown high character, perseverance and a strong willingness to learn," said Dr. Mikhail Kouliavtsev, chair of the SFA Department of Economics and Finance and coordinator for the UTIMCO Scholars program nomination process at SFA.

UTIMCO, the first external investment corporation formed by a public university system, oversees investments for the UT and Texas A&M University systems. In addition, the company forms a cohort every year of up to five students from each institution in these systems for its scholars program.

To be eligible for the cohort, students must be Pell Grant recipients or first-generation college students who are about to enter their sophomore or junior year of college. They also must be interested in asset management careers.

"It feels amazing to be part of the program because you learn so much in such a short period," Cordova said. "I learned what to do and not to do in an interview. It actually helped me feel more confident about interviewing."

Ieva said being part of the cohort was a great opportunity because he "was able to learn about the many different areas of the asset management industry while obtaining valuable information on interviewing and résumé writing."

Stover said the program helped him learn about investment strategies, risk management and portfolio construction, as well as honed his professionalism and analytical skills.

"It has been an incredible experience," he said. "It has provided SFA's group with valuable networking opportunities and professional advice from some of the leading financial institutions - an opportunity most students can only dream of."

Since March, Cordova, Ieva and Stover have participated in professional development activities that not only introduced them to the investment management industry but also helped them build their peer networks and obtain early career advice from experts in the field. They met with professionals from such firms as BlackRock, PIMCO, Bridgewater, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Alliance Bernstein, Brevan Howard and JP Morgan.

In addition, the program included a trip to The University of Texas at Austin to work with cohort participants from other UT institutions.

"One piece of advice that hit home for me during my visit to Austin was the analogy that learning finance is like learning a new language," Stover said. "The experience emphasized the importance of hard work and studying before the concepts would begin to make sense and then could be applied to real scenarios."

Cordova highly recommends the program to other students.

"They are really trying to help you make connections and get you some experience," she said.

Ieva added, "This will continue to help me and all other scholars in our future career paths."

Stover confirmed that the program helped him pinpoint his true career interests.

"I learned that asset management and investment research are the things that interest me most," Stover said. "I can't wait to make a future career out of them."

The students completed the program in July, and UTIMCO began sharing their résumés with its recruiting partners who are filling internship positions for summer 2025. UTIMCO team members will work with program participants during the 2024-25 academic year to help them secure internships.

"The students' commitment to this rigorous program over the spring and summer has been impressive," Kouliavtsev said. "Being selected for one of the internships will be a well-earned honor."

For more information on the Rusche College of Business, visit sfasu.edu/cob.