The Consortium is pleased to welcome to its ranks Holly Jurgensen, Renee Foster and Gabriella Bianchi. Meet and get to know the newest members of our team, including the critical role they play in advancing The Consortium’s mission. 

Holly B. Jurgensen
Director, Conferences & Events

What do you do in your role?

As the director of conferences and events, I am responsible for planning and executing all meetings and events, specifically the annual Orientation Program & Career Forum (OP), regional corporate events and receptions and internal meetings. The OP is the organization’s cornerstone event with a budget of more than $1 million.

What are you most looking forward to about working for The Consortium?

Meeting, working with and learning from the team.

What is your favorite way to waste time?

Live music, eating cheese and spending relaxed time with friends and family.

Do you have any pets? If so, what are they, and what are their names?

Lots! My dogs include my Labradoodle, “The Lil,” and my Great Pyrenees puppy, Bud. My cat is a Maine Coon named Sunny, and my lizard, a Bearded Dragon, is named Ox.

If you had a theme song, what would it be, and why?

“Good Feeling” by Flo Rida; I go into things with positivity and that it’s going to have a good feeling. Also, I hope I spread good feelings!

What is your biggest pet peeve, and why?

When a server touches the rim of my glass — YUCK!

Renee Foster
Manager, Student & Alumni Relations

What do you do in your role?

As manager of student and alumni relations, my job is to identify opportunities for current Consortium students and alumni to engage with the organization in a variety of ways, to increase participation in events, activities and philanthropy through volunteerism.

What are you most looking forward to about working for The Consortium?

I’m looking forward to connecting with all of the brilliant individuals who are or were Consortium students and hearing about their experiences, as well as keeping them connected to the organization.

Do you have any pets? If so, what are they, and what are their names?

I do! I have a 9-month old Chinese Shar-Pei puppy named Percy who I absolutely adore!!! 

What is the best vacation you’ve ever been on, and why?

The best vacation I’ve been on, to date, would have to be a family cruise to the Bahamas. The trip was my favorite and so special because I had the opportunity to swim with dolphins (my favorite animal). 

If you had a theme song, what would it be, and why?

“Southern Girl” by Frankie Beverly & Maze would hands-down be my theme song. The lyrics describe me to a T! “Southern Girl, you’re the one, lots of lovin, lots of fun, the tenderness you give me, I wanna take it everywhere … ” It’s a selection dedicated to celebrating my heritage and the region that molded me into the person I am today.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

The most adventurous thing I’ve done to date was completing a ropes course. Although I’m not afraid of heights, the ropes made me very apprehensive. I’m glad I was able to complete the course in a team-building environment because I had other people encouraging me and rooting me on with every challenge.

Gabriella Bianchi
Manager of Recruiting

What do you do in your role?

I manage the day-to-day operations of recruitment efforts. I’m the person of contact for prospective MBAs and our member schools, so I send a lot of emails and make quite a few phone calls. I also help plan and manage our recruitment events.

What are you most looking forward to about working for The Consortium?

I am passionate about education, as well as diversity and inclusion efforts, so having the privilege to talk and work with people who have shared passions is something I’m looking forward to. I’m also eager to establish relationships with students and our member schools.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

Moving to Anchorage, Ala., in the middle of a pandemic to do service work in a homeless shelter.

What is your favorite way to waste time?

I don’t know if I’d consider these things as “wasting time,” but I love scrolling through Pinterest and watching the sun set.

What is one trend that you wish would come back, and what do you like about it?

Gaucho pants. They were incredibly comfortable and breezy.

If you had a theme song, what would it be, and why?

I took a BuzzFeed quiz to get this answer — “Love On Top” by Beyoncé! I think everyone deserves to find someone and/or something that makes them happy and, ultimately, a better person. Plus, this song embodies the kind of energy I like to have in my life.