Katz School Student Life

Hometown: Gwangju, South Korea 
Undergraduate University: Chonnam National University 
Undergraduate Major: Chinese Literature and Language 

Jeeho Bae grew up in Gwangju, South Korea, and graduated from Chonnam National University with a degree in Chinese literature and language. A former Korean military officer and fashion model in New York City, Jeeho said he has a passion for data-driven analysis and wants to become a data analyst. He is working on a project to develop an Ethiopian business in the United States, specifically how we can bring ancient grain from Africa into a global marketplace and establish a successful business model. "My team and I are providing solutions and methodologies to build that business model and achieve our ultimate goal of connecting local Ethiopian farmers to a global network," he said. Three factors influenced his decision on where to attend graduate school: location, program quality and program length. "I liked the Katz School’s midtown Manhattan location," he said. "I’m confident it will be a huge advantage when networking with professionals in the data analysis and data science fields. This program also has a far more practical approach to learning than other schools." When he has the time, he enjoys listening to a podcast called The Super Data Science, which he said is a "great resource" for people who aren’t professional data scientists but are interested in the topic or want to make a career change.

Hometown: Markham, Canada 
Undergraduate University: University of Toronto 
Undergraduate Major: Honors/Research-Intensive Specialization in Psychology and Linguistics 

Marsha Pinto specializes in child language development and disorders. She’s passionate about giving a voice to young people who would normally be dismissed in the classroom and is excited to realize her dreams with a degree from the Katz School. “I grew up as a timid student and was often misunderstood and bullied by teachers and peers,” she said. “So I decided to do something about it – for myself and for other quiet students who face obstacles every day. During my senior year in high school, I launched my own nonprofit organization called Softest Voices, with the aim of changing how society views quiet students.” Her cause resonated with many around the world. She was featured on The Today Show and Huffington Post. She chose Katz after meeting the faculty and experiencing the "engaging environment and close-knit community." She said she'd like to combine her skills with the mission of her nonprofit organization and change the way schools evaluate and treat students with communicative disorders. “The ability to communicate is something we often take for granted,” said Marsha. “My goal is to amplify every voice because we all deserve to be heard.”

Hometown: Henan, China 
Undergraduate University: Henan Agricultural University, China 
Undergraduate Major: Business Administration 

Xipeng Chen grew up in Henan, China, and joined the Katz School with the goal of being taught by world-class professors in the financial and cultural center of the world--New York. He said it was ingrained in him early on that pursuing higher education meant a higher salary and, therefore, a better, more secure life and future. He said that in his economics classes, the curriculum is advanced and interesting. "I believe they are on-par with or exceed that of the more well-known universities," he said. His favorite class is Mathematics Methods. "I love math. I am learning so much about math and microeconomics from Professor Ran Shao–his teaching style resonates with me." He said he loves New York City. "The culture is great. Shopping is very convenient. The weather is sunny and the air quality is greater than Beijing’s!"