Gies College of Business · University of Illinois
One Voice for iDegrees
Graduate Students
iGBA is your community, your advocate, and your launchpad — connecting iMBA, iMSA, and iMSM students across the globe.
⚡ iConverge 2026 Countdown
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Who We Are
Your Graduate
Community at Gies
The iDegrees Graduate Business Association (iGBA) is the student-run organization representing all iMBA, iMSA, and iMSM students at the Gies College of Business, University of Illinois.
Founded in 2018, we are a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to enhancing the iDegrees student experience through events, professional development, community, and advocacy.
Stay in the Loop
Get the latest iGBA news, event announcements, and member updates delivered to your inbox.
About iGBA
Mission, People & Committees
Get to know the iDegrees Graduate Business Association — who we are, what we stand for, and the people behind it.
Mission & Vision
What We Stand For
🎯 Our Mission
The iDegrees Graduate Business Association (iGBA) exists to serve as the collective voice of iMBA, iMSA, and iMSM students at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business. We advocate for our members, foster a vibrant community, and create opportunities for professional development, leadership growth, and meaningful connection across the iDegrees network.
🔭 Our Vision
To build the world's most connected, impactful, and empowered online graduate business student community — one that amplifies every member's voice, accelerates their career, and creates lifelong bonds across the iDegrees network. We envision a future where every iDegrees student has the resources, relationships, and representation to thrive.
Board of Directors
2026–2027 Executive Board
Troy Von Gillern
President
iMBA · May 2028 · Kenosha, WI
Various engineering roles at Smalley. Outdoors enthusiast and proud cat dad. Focused on streamlining digital platforms, increasing iGBA awareness, and expanding the Gies community.
Valery Karpiyevich
Executive VP
iMBA · May 2028 · Bay Area, CA
Data Product Manager at Store No. 8 (Walmart). Legal Studies undergrad who has visited 49/50 states. Basketball fan — and spent 3 years as a professional snake feeder.
Priya Omron
VP, Marketing & Comms
iMSM · May 2027 · San Jose, CA
10+ years in digital marketing and lifecycle marketing strategy. Passionate about community and belonging in an online environment. Twin sister, EDM enthusiast, and aspiring pilot.
Jim Sullivan
VP, Membership
iMBA · May 2028 · San Diego, CA
Paramedic → Project Manager → Founder. Ensuring the iMBA experience matches its world-class reputation. Jiu-jitsu competitor and dog dad to Bodhi.
Francoise Le
VP, Social Engagement
iMBA · May 2027 · Chicago, IL
International business background with a passion for connecting people across diverse communities. Fluent in French, mom of two, loves exploring new places with her family.
Francis Yuen
VP, International Outreach
iMBA · Dec 2027 · Chicago, IL → Japan
Semiconductor → Education → Translation. Living in Japan for 13 years, father of three, speaks three languages. Avid gardener with "absolutely no luck with vegetables."
Imran Mudassar
VP, Professional Dev.
iMBA · Franklin, TN
Principal Business Data Steward at Discover. 15+ years in data architecture, enterprise applications, and product management. Gies College of Business, UIUC.
Chris Weatherspoon
VP, Access & Community
iMBA · May 2027 · Seoul, South Korea
Entrepreneur and filmmaker based in Seoul for 17 years. MFA in Film Producing from Chung-Ang University. Committed to genuine inclusion for every iDegrees student. ~75 films/year.
Ali BenAyed
VP, Technology
iMBA · May 2028 · Maryland/DC
Enterprise IT & Systems Integration. Maryland/DC-based. Lived on 3 continents, speaks 3 languages. Driving website modernization and tech tool consolidation for iGBA.
Nicole Kyle
VP, iMSM Affairs
iMSM · May 2027 · Champaign-Urbana, IL
Business & Finance Specialist at University of Illinois Systems. Theatre, music, and cat mom. Has flown in a hot air balloon 20+ times. Passionate about non-traditional student journeys.
Diane Rink
VP, iMBA Affairs
iMBA · Dec 2026 · Palos Hills, IL
Director, Regional Field Operations at Nicor Gas. Electrical Engineering, PMP, Six Sigma. First-gen university student and US/Poland dual citizen.
Get Involved
Our Committees
Join a committee to gain leadership experience, make a real impact, and strengthen your resume. iGBA committees are open to all iDegrees students.
Events & Experience
Signature Events
- iConverge
- Winter Takeover
Program Development
Academic Programs
- iMBA Program Development
- iMSA Program Development
- iMSM Program Development
Community & Outreach
Community Building
- iGBA Membership
- iDegrees Student Recognition
- Access & Community
- International Chapter Leadership
Operations
Core Operations
- Professional Development
- Tech & MarComm
Student Engagement
Events, Calendar & Leadership
Amplify your leadership skills through iGBA's dynamic opportunities — events, committees, and more designed just for iDegrees students.
Events & Calendar
Upcoming Events
iConverge 2026 is almost here — two nights you won't want to miss. Grab your tickets below, and see everything else on our live calendar. Learn more about iConverge →
iGBA Trolley Mixer @ iConverge 2026
Kick off iConverge weekend with a night of networking and local fun as we tour the Champaign-Urbana bar scene aboard the iGBA Trolley. Space is limited — don't miss out!
Thu, Sept 17 · 8:00 PM
📍 Alice Campbell Alumni Center
Get Tickets →
iGBA After Party @ Cowboy Monkey
Keep the celebration going with live music, great energy, and a night of dancing with fellow iDegrees students and alumni. Blue Members get an exclusive discount — get yours now!
Fri, Sept 18 · 9:00 PM
📍 Cowboy Monkey, Champaign
Get Tickets →
Event Archive
Past Events
A look back at some of our favorite iGBA gatherings. Updated manually as we wrap events.
Winter Takeover 2026
iGBA's annual student-run event in Champaign, IL. Trivia, social hours, Illinois vs. Minnesota basketball, ice skating, and axe throwing.
📍 Champaign, IL
Take Me Out with iGBA — Illini Night at Wrigley Field
Cubs vs. Athletics at Wrigley Field. A night at the ballpark with fellow iDegrees students.
📍 Wrigley Field, Chicago
iMBoat End of Term Celebration
An end-of-term celebration aboard the Wendella Chicago Sunset Cruise — classmates, friends, and alumni toasting the year's accomplishments with the skyline as a backdrop.
📍 Wendella Docks, Chicago
Leadership Opportunities
Join the iGBA Team
Get ready to roll up your sleeves. Executive board and committee member roles give you hands-on experience and real impact on the iDegrees community.
🏆
Executive Board
Lead iGBA as a VP or Director. Requires a 1-year commitment and at least 1 year remaining in your program.
🤝
Committee Member
Join one of 11 active committees across Events, Programs, Community, and Operations.
🌐
Regional Chapter
Lead or join your regional chapter in North America or internationally to connect local iDegrees students.
Student Resources
Your iDegree Toolkit
Recordings, guides, and tools to help you get the most out of your iDegrees experience.
Meeting Recordings
Past iGBA Sessions
iGBA event recordings are hosted on our Illinois Media Space channel — UIUC's official video platform, free for Gies students.
🎬
Watch on
Illinois Media Space
→
More Resources
Coming Soon
📚
Coming Soon
Course Guides & Reviews
Peer-reviewed guides for every iDegrees course — what to expect, how to succeed, and hidden gems.
🛠️
Coming Soon
UIUC Tool Access
Everything you can access as a Gies student — LinkedIn Learning, software licenses, library databases, and more.
💰
Coming Soon
Student Discounts
A curated list of discounts available exclusively to iDegrees students — tech, travel, and professional tools.
🤝
Coming Soon
Alumni Network
Connect with iDegrees alumni for mentorship, referrals, and career advice.
Join iGBA
Membership is how you unlock the full iGBA experience — events, discounts, community, and more. Choose the tier that fits your goals.
Membership Tiers
Find Your Fit
- Access to iGBA newsletters & announcements
- Invite to iGBA community events
- Voting rights on iGBA initiatives
- Access to WhatsApp community
Join for Free
- Everything in General Membership
- Discounted tickets to iGBA signature events
- Priority registration for sold-out events
- iConverge networking priority access
Join Blue Tier →
Already a member?
Manage your membership, view billing history, or update your payment method.
Member Login →
Get Involved
Want to Help Build iGBA?
Membership gets you in the door. Committees are how you help shape what iGBA becomes. We're looking for members interested in marketing, technology, events, and more — no extra cost, just initiative.
📣
Marketing & Comms
Social media, event promotion, newsletters, and iGBA's public presence.
💻
Technology
Website development, tooling, analytics, and member-facing digital products.
🎟️
Events
Plan and run iGBA events — speaker series, mixers, and iConverge programming.
🤝
Membership
Member outreach, partnerships, and growing the iGBA community.
Express Interest →
Support iGBA
Make a Donation
iGBA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Your donation helps fund events, programming, and community initiatives for iDegrees students.
Donate to iGBA
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest iGBA news and updates.
