2024-2025 Academic Year inducts 123 students into Beta Gamma Sigma

by Elizabeth Eldredge |  March 27, 2025

The Raymond A. Mason School of Business is pleased to announce the recent induction of 123 students into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. The ceremony, held on March 21, recognized the top-performing students for the 2024-2025 academic year. This prestigious honor celebrates their academic excellence and leadership potential. The event took place at 5:30 pm in the Music Arts Center Concert Hall, followed by a brief reception to mark the occasion.

The inductees included undergraduate and graduate students representing various academic programs this year. The 123 students inducted were spread across the following programs:

Additionally, seven Masters students received a second induction into Beta Gamma Sigma, a special recognition for their continued excellence in business scholarship.

Pamela G. Schlosser, Clinical Associate Professor of Business Analytics and Beta Gamma Sigma Faculty Advisor, opened the ceremony and welcomed Dean Todd Mooradian, Elizabeth Clark Professor of Business Administration, who congratulated the attendees. Professor Guillermo Rodriguez-Abitia introduced Christer Johnson as the keynote speaker after the Dean's remarks.

The ceremony featured remarks from Christer Johnson ('92, P '24), the Chief Analytics Officer at Healthfirst, who served as the chapter honoree and guest speaker. Johnson, a passionate advocate for talent development, spoke on his extensive experience leading teams across industries, including government, healthcare, financial services, and telecommunications. He shared his insights on the transformative power of machine learning and analytics and how these fields can drive value for organizations and society. Johnson, who also chairs the Business Analytics Advisory Board at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, was presented with an Honorary Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma for his contributions to the field.

In addition to Johnson's honorary membership, Ken White, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs, was honored with an Honorary Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma for his leadership and contributions to the graduate programs at the Mason School. Both individuals were presented with certificates, and the ceremony captured memorable photos to mark the special occasion.

Throughout the event, faculty members highlighted the significance of the Greek letters that form the name of Beta Gamma Sigma. Professor Marc Moyers (Beta), Professor Dawn Edmiston (Gamma), and Professor Scott Gibson (Sigma) took turns explaining the principles that these letters represent: honor, wisdom, and earnestness.

Professor Marc Moyers shared that Beta, derived from the Greek word Bebaeos, signifies honor. He emphasized that honor is about personal integrity and excellence of character, qualities found in those who lead with ethical responsibility and courage. "Honor is a guiding star," he noted, "encouraging altruism, social responsibility, and service."

Professor Dawn Edmiston then spoke on Gamma, which comes from the Greek word Gnosis, meaning wisdom. She described wisdom as knowledge tempered by experience and judgment, encouraging students to continue their quest for deeper understanding and application of what they know. "Wisdom insists upon freedom of thought and expression," she said, urging students to remain open-minded and grateful for the contributions of those who have paved the way.

Finally, Professor Scott Gibson addressed Sigma, derived from the Greek word Spoude, which symbolizes earnestness. He explained that earnestness is essential for great achievement, driven by enthusiasm, discipline, and sincerity. "Earnestness provides the perseverance to overcome obstacles and the resilience to rebound from setbacks," he said, urging the inductees to carry this spirit forward in their personal and professional lives.

Beta Gamma Sigma is the international honor society for AACSB-accredited schools, which are the top 5% of business schools around the world. BGS was founded in 1913, and has over 600 chapters across 190 countries, Beta Gamma Sigma offers its members access to a global network. Membership is extended to the top 10% of undergraduate students and the top 20% of graduate students in their respective programs.

The William & Mary chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma was established in 1973 and has since honored the most academically accomplished students, embodying the society's core values of honor, wisdom, and earnestness. Membership is by invitation only, making it one of the highest distinctions a business student can achieve.

We look forward to celebrating the bright futures of our outstanding students on this special evening and continue to be proud of their accomplishments.