Outstanding students, faculty, and staff were recognized for their contributions to global engagement and sustainable business during the Walker College of Business’s annual Global Good Conference.
The awards celebrated seven who exemplify the values of sustainability, equity, and global citizenship.
- Dr. Martin Meznar, Lifetime Achievement Award
- Dr. Ash Morgan, Triple E Sustainability Award
- Dr. Jacqueline Tilton, Triple E Sustainability Award
- Dr. David Marlett, Outstanding Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program Leader
- Dr. Jose Rivera Carrion, Inspiring International Leaders Award
- Kelsey Parpart, Faculty-Led Study Abroad MVP Award
- Milena Garcia-Carrillo, Global Citizen Award
Lifetime Achievement in Global Education
Dr. Martin Meznar received the second-ever Lifetime Achievement Award for his transformative leadership over 17 years, having led 25 faculty-led programs across the globe.
Dr. Marty Meznar recently retired from the role of Associate Dean for Global and Civic Engagement for the Walker College of Business. Known for his humility and humor, Meznar’s legacy includes fostering intercultural understanding and inspiring students to pursue international business.
“He has fostered broader perspectives so that students enter the job market with an understanding of the complexities of the world we live in and an openness to other cultures and experiences,” said Meredith Pipes, director of global engagement for the college, who presented the award. “Marty’s enthusiasm is contagious — both for his colleagues and for students.”
Triple E Sustainability Award
Dr. Ash Morgan, professor in the Department of Economics, and Dr. Jacqueline Tilton, assistant professor in the Department of Management, received Triple E Awards, which celebrate excellence in sustainable business across environment, equity, and economy.
Selected by a committee of past honorees, both faculty members were recognized for their impactful research, student-centered teaching, and community engagement.
View past Triple E recipients business.appstate.edu/about/events/business-good
Outstanding Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program Leader
Dr. David Marlett, professor in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance and managing director of the Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, was celebrated for over a decade of leading immersive insurance markets programs in London and Bermuda, integrating sustainability into course content and securing donor support to expand student access to these experiences.
“Students praise Dr. Marlett’s meticulous planning, unwavering support, and genuine care. By coordinating every detail and designing opportunities for students to network with professionals abroad—he’s equipped hundreds of participants with the skills, connections, and global outlook that define the best faculty-led experiences. We’re proud to celebrate his outstanding contributions today,” said Pipes.
Inspiring International Leaders Award
Dr. Jose Rivera Carrion earned the Inspiring International Leaders Award, which celebrates those who ignite students’ passion for meaningful international experiences and a global mindset through mentorship, program leadership, or research.
Rivera Carrion is a professor and practitioner in residence for the management department on the Hickory campus. He was recognized for his mentorship of students through global business experiences, advocacy of the needs of international business majors on the satellite campus and his innovative leadership in co-creating the first Hickory-campus-centered business faculty-led study abroad program.
“Dr. Riera has served as an advocate for Hickory students exploring international business,” said Pipes. “He serves on the Management Department’s International Business Committee, ensuring that the needs and ambitions of our satellite-campus scholars are heard and addressed. As a mentor, he’s opened doors to his own global network, offering students guided introductions to professionals and organizations worldwide.”
Faculty-Led Study Abroad MVP Award
Kelsey Parpart, an MBA student and marketing manager at Century West Engineering, earned the Faculty-Led Study Abroad MVP Award.
She was selected for her empathetic leadership and cross-cultural competence during the Estonia-Finland program, where she voluntarily organized cultural excursions during her free day, supported classmates new to traveling abroad, and engaged deeply with local culture.
“Kelsey’s adventurous spirit, compassion, and cultural fluency truly embody this award,” said Pipes.
Global Citizen Award
Milena Garcia-Carrillo, a senior student majoring in advertising and minoring in hospitality & tourism management, sustainable development and non-profit organizations earned the Global Citizen Award, which honors a student who steps beyond the classroom to build genuine connections abroad.
Garcia-Carrillo, a Chancellor’s Scholar, was recognized for her global leadership as evidenced by her service, travel and scholarship abroad in over 30 countries and her ongoing work with a nonprofit in South Africa. Inspired by her experiences in Camp Town as an exchange student, she plans to focus her honors thesis on challenging stereotypes about Africa.
Global Good Photo Awards
The luncheon also featured the winners of the Walker Abroad Photo Competition, with winning photos selected from over 50 submissions.
First Place: Asher Fazal – Cow Overlooking the City of Bilbao
Second Place: Sophie Stoller – An Afternoon in Anping Village, China
Third Place: Alyssa Smith – Morocco: Tea and Time
Sophie Stoller’s photo also earned the People's Choice award with the most votes tallied on the Walker College of Business International Programs Instagram page.
Looking Ahead
The luncheon, which concluded the Global Good conference, left attendees with a call to action: to shift from talking about responsibility to owning it.
“True sustainability demands that we step outside our own experience and reckon with how different communities live, work, and solve problems,” Pipes said.
Pipes encouraged students to explore upcoming opportunities, including the Global Symposium, the Holland Fellowship for Business Study in Asia, and faculty-led study abroad programs in Costa Rica, Amsterdam, and Portugal—all focused on sustainable business.
