Melanie Benyadi, a current M.B.A. student with a concentration in Finance, participated in the International Emory Global Health Care Competition. This competition “is a unique opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students from multiple universities and disciplines to come together to learn, develop, and recommend innovative solutions for a 21^st century global health problem” (“2018 International Emory Global Health Competition”). This year, the students were given the task of planning and implementing a strategy for how to manage an outbreak in Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Melanie and her team members, Hinali Syed (School of Architecture and Design), Ajlan Okram (School of Engineering and Computing Sciences), Justin Morris, Stanley Kailath, and Evan Walsh (NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine), developed a solution to this problem with 50 million dollars and limited
vaccinations. They then presented their plan at Emory University in Atlanta in March.

Although their team did not win the competition, Melanie believes the experience has been instrumental to her growth as a student. The School of Management has helped her get involved in diverse and enriching experiences so far. Melanie explains that she got involved in this competition by talking to Dr. Diamando Afxentiou. Dr. Afxentiou told Melanie about this opportunity and contacted Dr. Lillian Butungi Niwagaba, Director and Associate Professor in the Center for Global Health, to suggest Melanie as a participant. Due to the help of Dr. Afxentiou and Dr. Niwagaba, Melanie states, “I was given the opportunity to meet and work with an amazing and diverse group of people.”

Melanie has consistently pushed herself to take on challenging opportunities throughout her time at NYIT. She believes that it is important to take on challenges because it allows you to learn. She states, “If you make it, you make it. If you don’t, you learn from it and get better for the next time.” Melanie
recently participated and came in first place in the School of Management’s 2018 Corporate Challenge with her student team members, Ajlan Okman and Pooja Patel, and faculty advisor, Dr. Afxentiou. She credits her experience in Atlanta for strengthening her presentation skills and helping her win this competition. Melanie plans to continue participating in competitions and getting involved in other opportunities offered by the School of Management. She is also ready to take on the 2019 International Emory Global Health Care Competition, but this time, she plans to win!

By Konstance Teleisha