College of Arts and Letters
International Business Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, The International Business (IB) program at SDSU is among the most academically rigorous in the nation. Students complete a comprehensive business curriculum in finance, management, marketing, and supply chain/logistics, while also pursuing advanced study in a foreign language and a regional emphasis that includes culture and politics coursework. A semester-long internship and at least one semester of study abroad are required, reflecting the program’s strong commitment to global engagement. Given these high expectations, providing students with the resources needed to succeed is essential. Support from donors has played a vital role in enhancing the student experience. Philanthropy has helped students participate in unpaid internships, offset study abroad expenses, and expand experiential learning opportunities. As well supported initiatives such as the annual case competition, professional development for staff, and meaningful connections between students and alumni. This generosity remains one of the program’s greatest strengths and helps ensure student success.
Hisham Foad, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the International Business Program
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Paul Yett International Business Internship Endowment This year, the Yett Endowment supported seven students completing internships by December 2026. Six of the seven recipients are first-generation college students, five are Pell Grant eligible, three are interning internationally, and all internships are unpaid. Opportunities span fields including nonprofit arts, immigration law, and wealth management, experiences many students could not pursue without financial support. The endowment also funded three students to attend the CUIBE Global Student Leadership Conference in Medellín, Colombia, in May 2026. This week-long program brings together international business students from around the world for site visits, lectures, and collaborative learning experiences. The Yett Endowment covered each student’s registration fee, including lodging, meals, and conference activities, expanding access to valuable global leadership and professional development opportunities.
Alumni and donor Paul Yett meets with some of the awardees from the inaugural year of the Paul Yett International Business Endowment. Pictured left to right are Giselle Pacheco, Aldo Torres, Polette Duarte, Paul Yett, Heno Girma, and Journey Taylor.
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Erik Jacobson, Class of 2027 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Arts and Letters Major: International Business This was one of the best experiences of my life. Universidad EAFIT did an exceptional job of immersing us in Colombian culture while helping us connect those experiences to our studies in international business. Through classroom discussions, lectures, company visits, and cultural activities, I gained a deeper understanding of how business operates in a global environment. One of the highlights of the program was our visit to Guatapé. The landscape was beautiful, and learning about the region’s history and culture gave me a greater appreciation for Colombia and its people. Another memorable experience was the “AI and Innovation” lecture at EAFIT. It provided valuable insight into how artificial intelligence can be used to improve efficiency, support decision-making, identify errors, and drive innovation in the business world. The EAFIT ambassadors were welcoming, supportive, and eager to share their culture with us. Their kindness made the experience even more meaningful, and I am grateful for the friendships we built. I cannot speak highly enough about this program and the personal, academic, and professional growth it provided.
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I cannot speak highly enough about this program and the personal, academic, and professional growth it provided.
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Student Spotlight
Aldo Torres, Class of 2027 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Arts and Letters Major: International Business This trip was one of the best experiences of my life. I got to meet so many amazing people and learned so much! Throughout the week, we had a mix of company visits and lectures. Our academic session concluded with group presentations. My group and I presented how we would implement UN SDG 11 to build a rehabilitation compound that focused on getting the inhabitants back into society with the tools they needed in order to succeed. Most of my key takeaways from this whole experience were learned outside of the academic setting. I learned to take every opportunity that is available and to be open to new ideas and perspectives. Being open-minded allowed me to learn a vast amount of information in such a short time. Hearing others’ stories of success and failure almost felt like they were passing some of their experience on to me. Overall, I will take the lessons and memories with me for the rest of my life. I was a bit nervous before going on this trip to Colombia, but rest assured, that feeling went away quickly. Medellín is a breathtaking city; I strongly recommend that everyone visit it.
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I will take the lessons and memories with me for the rest of my life.
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Student Spotlight
Saba Ceccarini, Class of 2027 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Arts and Letters Major: International Business It is a true honor to be selected as a recipient of the Yett Scholarship. Since January, I have been interning as a program operations and management intern at Bridge for Billions in Madrid, Spain. This experience has been incredibly valuable to my professional and personal growth as an International Business major with a concentration in Spanish and Western Europe. The support provided by this award has been instrumental in making my internship abroad possible, helping to offset the additional costs associated with living and working in a foreign city.
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The support provided by [the Yvett Scholarship] has been instrumental in making my internship abroad possible, helping to offset the additional costs associated with living and working in a foreign city.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings Ranked 19th in the country in 2026, tied with Indiana University and ahead of programs from institutions such as BYU, Michigan State, and Arizona State. Statistics of Interest The IB program grew by more than 20% over the past year, reaching a record 510 majors in fall 2025. More than 100 students graduated with an average GPA of 3.3, reflecting success in one of SDSU’s most rigorous programs. Four-year graduation rates have risen from 50-60% for students entering between 2014 and 2016 to more than 70% for those entering in 2020 and later. The program’s graduation rate now exceeds those of both CAL and the Fowler College of Business. Recent Highlights Study Abroad Expansion: All IB students are required to spend at least one semester studying abroad at a university in their region of emphasis. By far, our most popular destination is Spain, with demand exceeding available spaces in recent years. To address this, we prioritized creating new exchange partnerships and strengthening existing agreements in Spain this year, resulting in two new exchange partnerships. Our study abroad advisor, Rachel Nahlen, then spent two weeks in Spain this past April conducting site visits with both new partners and two existing programs that were long overdue for visits. Rachel was able to ensure these institutions had the necessary resources our students need to be successful abroad. With this increased capacity, we are confident we can meet the study abroad needs of our growing program. Case Competition: Our annual IB Case Competition has become the premier event for undergraduate international business students. In October, we welcomed teams of four students each from nine universities across the U.S. and Mexico, including the return of an SDSU team. Students were presented with a case study and given 24 hours to come up with solutions and a 20-minute presentation. Teams made their presentations to judges drawn from faculty and local business leaders, with the top three teams advancing to the finals, where they competed for cash prizes.
Top 20
International Business ranked No. 19 nationally in 2026, extending its run among the country’s top programs.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Elena Salsitz, M.B.A. Title: Lecturer in International Business College: College of Arts and Letters Achievement: Selected as Most Influential Professor for the International Business (IB) Department three times and was awarded honorary membership in the Golden Key International Honour Society at SDSU, one of four faculty members selected annually by student honor society members. She shared the following: How lucky am I? Having the privilege to teach for nearly 20 years in one of SDSU’s most nationally and internationally recognized programs, with students who are not only of high intellect but also among the most engaged, globally curious, thoughtful, and honestly delightful in the university? The students are truly the shining stars of IB, reflecting the clearly rigorous selection process, and they are supported by a dedicated, caring, and compassionate IB team— unparalleled in my work experience—who, behind the scenes, work tirelessly to advance the academic and postgraduate career paths of our students. I’m obviously biased, but I can’t think of a discipline more important or more tailored to our current uncertain and fraught world situation than international business. It’s more than a subject—it’s a mindset of keeping up to date and informed on global issues and developments, which seem to be changing at a dizzying pace, and, for my students, an effort to understand and influence these changes for the better. I’ve been consistently impressed by so many whose semesters abroad and even experiences here locally have imbued them with a heartfelt desire to contribute, benefit, and make a positive difference.
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The students are truly the shining stars of IB, reflecting the clearly rigorous selection process, and they are supported by a dedicated, caring, and compassionate IB team ...
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Thank you for your generous support.
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