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“I love the sense of community at Mason,” says Lamar Crosby, BS ISOM ’18, who enjoys reminiscing whenever he meets fellow Patriots. “There’s an instant connection built around shared experiences,” he says. “To me, Mason is like a nest. We learn and grow there, fly away, but it’s always a welcoming place to return.”

When he was a student at the School of Business, the Black Alumni Chapter grabbed Crosby’s attention through their annual golf tournament, an event he enjoyed competing in during his junior and senior years. His participation and interaction during the tournaments was noticed by the Chapter and they contacted him shortly after he graduated, encouraging him to run for office on their board. Crosby dove right in, first as treasurer and now as secretary. He’s a natural fit in representing a population of Mason alumni he identifies with, listening to their experiences and bringing about positive change. “The alumni we cater to really cut across many different areas of people working in industries across the board, making it such an extraordinary networking opportunity,” he says. He’s excited for the return of in-person events, following the pandemic disruption, to continue meeting alumni and forging connections.

Without a doubt, his leadership experience in the Chapter enables Crosby to raise his game at his day job as a consultant at Deloitte. Combined with the knowledge and direction he took away from his school studies, he feels positioned to overcome anything his job may throw at him. “Consulting for the federal government can take so many forms and it requires flexibility,” he says. “My time spent studying ISOM at the ���ӽ紫ý School of Business gave me a well-rounded set of business and technical skills which enable me to learn and continuously adapt to the challenges I am presented with.” It instills great confidence in him to find that many of the projects he’s tasked with as a consultant were subjects he was exposed to as a student.

Information systems and operations management was an academic area seemingly tailor-made for Crosby. With parents both working in business, he had similar inclinations, but wanted a degree that related to his passion for technology. “I came in as business undeclared, and it was fascinating to see how Mason covered so many different areas of business,” he says. “ISOM was a match made in heaven.” Along with his parents’ guidance, he credits always having a mentor for helping him find the academic and career track right for him. Now, as a successful member of the workforce and alumni leader, he’s intent on opening doors for other Patriots.