M.B. Zale Leadership Scholars

Why Apply?

Selection as an M.B. Zale Leadership Scholar is highly competitive. Five to ten students are chosen each semester based on their academic achievement, leadership potential, and above all, their commitment to pursue a retailing career.

Through hands-on learning experiences, such as luncheons with executives, travel to retail stores and HQ offices, networking opportunities, mentoring opportunities and reflective writing, students will:

• Build greater confidence in professional communication and personal branding
• Gain first-hand industry knowledge by engaging with visiting Executive Professors
• Practice and receive education in business etiquette
• Interact with CEO level retailers when they are executive professors for a day and/or during the  M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Lecture Series
• Travel to New York City and other Metro cities and participate in appointments with multiple retail headquarters, buying offices and flagship stores
• Receive an opportunity to interview with Signet Jewelers – owner and operator of Zales who has rotational talent development programs in merchandising, finance, strategy, and supply chain.

*Students will receive 100 points per semester towards their professional distinction for the two semesters they are M.B. Zale Leadership Scholars. Learn more about Professional Distinction in Retailing points.

Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 M.B. Zale Leadership Scholar program. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 11:59pm. Students accepted into the program will be enrolled in a MKTG 299 course for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters (0 hours) and student will receive 100 points towards their Professional Distinction of Retailing.

Eligibility:

1. Any Business Major with interest in retailing careers
2. May 2026 graduate or later
3. Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
4. Must be willing to commit to two semesters in the program. (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026).

Applications will require a current resume and a one-page essay on your career aspirations and how being a M.B. Zale Leadership Scholar will support those goals. A select group of applications will be selected to move to a final round of interviews with the program director that must be completed by April 22, 2025.

2025 Zale Scholars

Isabel Acevedo, Junior, MKTG

Gwendolyn Bailey, Junior, MKTG

Allie Bowers, Junior, MKTG

Rae Cha, Junior, MKTG

Lauren Garza-Mischer, Senior, MKTG

Zachary Guillen, Senior, MKTG

Regan Hannigan, Junior, MKTG

Keerthana Hari, Sophomore, MIS

Veronika Hyska, Senior, MKTG

Rachel Roznovsky, Senior, MKTG

Teresa So, Sophomore, BUSN H & MKTG

Faye Turner, Junior, MKTG

Jamie Whitley, Junior, MKTG