Wade Rakes
President

PRESIDENT'S WELCOME

Welcome to the online home of the Black Business Students Association of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business (BBSA)!

The BBSA is a tight-knit community of nearly 100 current MBA, Masters of Accounting, and PhD students dedicated to the professional and academic development of its members. Through professional mentorship, academic counseling, community development and other key programs, we aim to foster lasting connections among our members.

On this site you can learn more about the organization, our events, and our members who are leaders throughout the Ross community and beyond.

In line with our goals, the BBSA takes a very active role in the recruitment of future Ross Students. With the Office of Admissions and other student organizations we host the UpClose diversity preview event where each fall, prospective MBA students are invited to the Ross campus to gain a closer look at Michigan.

The BBSA is also proud to co-sponsor programs with a variety of clubs at the University of Michigan. Our partnerships with other cultural organizations, professional organizations and campus-wide graduate clubs allow us to be an active member of the Ann Arbor community and one of the most recognized student organizations on campus.

The BBSA signature event for each year is the annual Alfred L. Edwards Conference (ALE). Now in its 35th year, this conference allows current students to connect with key alumni, faculty and corporate sponsors. In 2007 the BBSA conference was named in memory of Dr. Edwards who, through his 40-year career as a professor and administrator, played a pivotal role in establishing lasting diversity measures at Michigan as well as the creation of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management.

In the BBSA, we often use the word 'family' to describe the bond we all share, and through our mission we continuously hope to strengthen the bonds of our existing family while adding new members to the fold. So on behalf of the leadership team of the BBSA, I welcome you to our website, and to our family.

Wade Rakes
President, 2010-2011
Black Business Students Association (BBSA)

Stephen M. Ross School of Business
University of Michigan