Rankings come in all shapes and sizes, but can any ranking truly capture social cachet? For a different perspective on the value of an MBA, we turn to the New York Times society pages, where the editors select and profile promising couples. Each month, we dedicate one B-School Chart of the Week to tallying how alumni from top-ranked business schools are advancing their social currency ranking.
More than a few lucky MBAs said “I do” to their valentines last month. Of the approximately 37 total wedding mentions in the New York Times for the month, 11 either held or were working toward an MBA. While Wharton may have dominated winter weddings for the month of January, cupid seems to have had the Midwest in his sights for February. Alumni from Eastern Michigan University’s College of Business, the University of Toledo’s College of Business and Innovation, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Business all had MBAs among the featured newlyweds.
But the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business topped the list in February. Gerald Ouderkirk Jr., a Ross alumnus and the retired co-founder and managing director of the hedge fund Bridgeworth Capital Management, was married to Carolyn Aishton, who retired as the vice president for corporate affairs at Avon Products. Priscilla Flores, a brand manager for Heineken, and Harry Dohnert Jr., the sales and marketing manager at YourEnergy, were also betrothed, and both are Ross MBAs.
