AAMBAA Co-Chairs

The GSB's African American MBA Association Co-Chairs were selected based on their involvement and passion during their first year at the GSB. Each The 2007-2008 Co-Chairs and their specific roles/positions are listed below in alphabetical order. Feel free to contact any of the co-chairs with questions in regards to their specific area of responsibility, expertise, or experience (each name listed is also a link to an email address).

Ayanna Louis Charles - Corporate Relations Co-Chair
Finance, Economics and International Business

Ayanna worked in Chicago at The Bank of New York as a Relationship Manager in the Municipal Division of the Corporate Trust Department. Her responsibilities included submitting bid proposals to new clients, client servicing and management of a portfolio of Multifamily Housing Corporate Trust accounts. Additional responsibilities included trades, investments, and account reconciliations.

At the GSB in addition to being an AAMBAA co-chair, Ayanna is also a member of the Investment Banking Group, Chicago Global Citizens Group and Chicago Women in Business Group.

Ayanna graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Economics. She is originally from Trinidad and Tobago but has lived in the U.S. for the last nine years.

Chima Joseph - Membership/Technology/Alumni Relations Co-Chair
Analytic Finance and Strategic Management

In addition being a co-chair of the African American MBA Association, Chima is an active member of the Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital and Private Equity Group as well as the Turnaround and Restructuring Group.

Prior to coming to the GSB, Chima received a BS and a BA respectively in Financial Economics and Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Most recently, he worked at AllianceBernstein in New York as an Associate Fixed Income Portfolio Manager. He received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2004 and has extensive experience in quantitative analysis, derivatives, and risk management.

Chima is originally from Brooklyn, NY and is of Trinidad descent. Chima enjoys volunteering with youth and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - a community service organization.

Erica Qualls - Social Co-Chair
Marketing Management, Entrepreneurship, and Strategic Management/p>

Erica graduated from South Carolina State University with a degree in marketing. She then began her sales career which includes experience in the pharmaceutical industry and real estate. In her most recent role in advertising sales at The Chicago Tribune, she was able to utilize her creative side and marketing knowledge to help businesses develop media plans and imaginative ad campaigns. She came to the GSB to transition into a career in brand management and will intern at the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company this summer.

In addition to her role as an AAMBAA co-chair, Erica is also an active member of the Marketing Group. Outside of the GSB, she works closely with the Chicago Area Alumni chapter of her alma mater, SCSU. Erica is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Peter Washington - DuSable Co-Chair
Finance, Accounting, Entrepreneurship

Peter has the direct responsibility of coordinating the annual DuSable Conference, AAMBAA's signature event. The DuSable Conference is one of the most anticipated events for many current and former AAMBAA members. In addition to Peter's AABMAA responsibilities, he also serves as a co-chair of the Turnaround & Restructuring Group ("TRG"), which is an organization founded to promote career opportunities within the turnaround and restructuring industries.

Prior to attending the Chicago GSB, Peter served as a commercial banker at the Northern Trust Company in Chicago, IL. Peter's key responsibilities were analyzing companies and underwriting commercial banking transactions. Peter plans to leverage his previous experience to pursue a career in investment banking upon graduation from the Chicago GSB.

Peter graduated magna cum laude from Florida A&M University with a bachelors of science in business administration. Peter is an active alumni and mentors several undergrad students who are pursuing careers in finance.

Mia Hillsman - Membership/Technology/Alumni Relations Co-Chair
Marketing Management, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurship

In addition to being a co-chair of the African American MBA Association, Mia is an active member of the Chicago Women in Business and Marketing Group.

Prior to coming to business school, Mia earned received her B.S. in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. While at Northeastern, Mia was a scholarship athlete on the women's swim team and led the Huskies to a conference championship in 2000. After graduation, Mia worked for a correctional facility providing reintegration services. Several years later, Mia switched careers to pharmaceutical sales for Pfizer, Inc. and later Johnson & Johnson. This summer, Mia will be an intern in the Assistant Brand Manager role at Kraft Foods.

Mia is originally from Evanston, IL, is married, and has a 16 month old son. She enjoys the riding her bike along Lake Michigan, and attending the neighborhood festivals and free concerts that Chicago has to offer in the spring and summer.