University of La Verne Online MBA Student to be Awarded by Senator Ed Hernandez

University of La Verne MBA student Katie Barboza will receive a Women of Achievement Award in Business from State Senator Ed Hernandez on March 24.

Hernandez will present Barboza with the award during a ceremony in Covina. She called the recognition an honor and a humbling experience.

“It’s encouraging to win such a prestigious award as I can now mentor and motivate other women to never stop dreaming and to never stop trying to reach their goals,” the Covina resident said. “Anything is possible with perseverance, faith, hard work, dedication, and the passion to serve others, especially when in a leadership role. “

Rick Hasse, senior adjunct instructor in the College of Business and Public Management, described Barboza as an engaged online student who brings professional experience and energy to the courses she takes.

“Her dedication to learning and becoming a better scholar is truly a reward to me in teaching at the University of La Verne,” Hasse said. “I was not surprised when I learned Katie was being recognized as a Women of Achievement (honoree) in business.”

Barboza, who expects to graduate with her MBA in May, works as a payroll administrator for Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. She came to the University of La Verne to because of the university’s partnership with Western University, she said. She plans to work toward a doctorate in business at La Verne after earning her MBA.

She hopes to eventually become a part of an executive team and to work her way toward becoming a CEO or COO of a large corporation.

Tanisha Hampton, director of operations at Western University, nominated Barboza because she considers her an inspirational leader.

Barboza previously worked for the human resources company ADP, managing a budget of more than $1 million, serving as project manager, and leading business acquisitions before she came to Western U.

“She consistently obtained results, demonstrated the true meaning of a good team member, and focused on the most important component of all in business, the people,” Hampton wrote.

Barboza is working to create a “Business Day” at her church, which will provide people in the community with professional clothing, haircuts, resume writing, and other services to get jobs.

Photo: University of La Verne MBA student Katie Barboza poses with Rick Hasse, senior adjunct instructor in the College of Business and Public Management.