Thunderbird News

Celebrating Thunderbird's spring 2022 graduates

On Tuesday, May 10, Thunderbird proudly celebrated its spring 2022 graduates, a record-breaking class of 305 in total, during its convocation ceremony at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, just blocks from Thunderbird's new global headquarters building.

"This is our largest graduating class in the last decade and is a testament to the incredible work of so many of our staff and faculty," Dean Khagram said. "I continue to be inspired by our graduates and their dedication to helping build a more peaceful and prosperous global community."

Congratulations graduates and welcome to the alumni family! View photo gallery here and the full convocation ceremony video below.

Support a future graduate here.

Embark on a virtual reality tour of Thunderbird's new global headquarters

We wanted to give every student the resources to change the world so we built the most technologically-advanced educational headquarters on the planet. The newly opened F. Francis and Dionne Najafi Thunderbird Global Headquarters spans over 110,000 square feet and features the latest in immersive and virtual communications throughout its five floors. Students can learn a new language in our immersive virtual reality (VR) language lab, visualize and interpret data using artificial intelligence (AI) in our global decision theater, and so much more.

Take a virtual tour using your browser or VR headset and explore One Global Place as if you were there in person. When viewing on a mobile device, please rotate your screen to landscape view (horizontal) to view the tour.

Lifelong Learning

100 Million Learners Global Initiative next course now available

Earlier this year, Thunderbird announced plans to educate 100 million learners by 2030, thanks to a historic $25 million donation from Phoenix philanthropists Francis and Dionne Najafi. The Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative aims to offer online, global education courses in 40 different languages to learners across the globe, at absolutely no cost to the learner. Women and young women will account for 70% of the 100 million learners that the program will reach worldwide.

The Global Initiative will further advance Thunderbird’s mission to empower and influence global leaders and managers who maximize the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to advance equitable and sustainable prosperity worldwide.

Three learning pathways are available:

• Advanced program: For advanced undergraduate learners and above.
• Intermediate program: For advanced high school learners to current undergraduate learners.
• Bootcamp: For learners without a high school diploma.

Register today for modules 1-8 of the next Advanced Program course, Global Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Business, now available in English.

Strategic Communication for Uncertain Times Executive Certificate

September 15 and 16, 2022 | Phoenix, AZ

Powered by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Thunderbird School of Global Management, this two-day program helps public relations, marketing and emerging and seasoned professionals examine how media influences global culture and society.

Network with other marketing and public relations professionals, administrators and company leaders as you study the foundations of crisis planning and response, and explore the complexity of brand communication in the modern world.

Cost: $1,995 | Save 20% with discount code: Alumni20

Student Spotlight

Sonia Elizondo '22

Featured excerpt from Das Tor's "Voices of Thunderbird" series

"I'm the seventh (and potentially the last) Thunderbird in my family, and my grandfather, the first Thunderbird out of all of us, passed away before he could watch me make that walk [across the stage at convocation]. For that, part of me walked for him.

If I thought the Thunderbird network was strong as a student, it’s nothing compared to what I’ve experienced since becoming one of the alumni."

Ashley Hernandez '22

Spring 2022 Outstanding Undergraduate Student

Meet Thunderbird's Ashley Hernandez, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Global Management.

"Growing up in a small town, I never got to experience other cultures besides my own, so by being a part of Thunderbird...I was able to expand my mindset and expand my understanding of different cultures and different perspectives." Congratulations to you, Ashley!

Jai Choi '22

Thunderbird Alumni Scholarship and BKY Award recipient

"The global mindset that Thunderbird aspires for, drew me to the program and its people. I wanted to learn from others who had success in creating economic engines in different global contexts and challenges. I wanted to be part of where Thunderbird is going."

Erin Azuma '22

Spring 2022 Outstanding Undergraduate Student

In January, Azuma and a team of her classmates went to Brussels, Belgium as part of their Global Challenge Lab consulting project. GCL's serve as Thunderbird's capstone course that engages students with organizations to solve real challenges around the world.

Donor Spotlight

Thunderbird alumnus Eric Bing inspires spring 2022 graduates

Thunderbird welcomed alumnus Eric Bing '94 as the spring 2022 convocation ceremony keynote speaker. As the Chancellor at the College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), Bing has devoted his career to expanding healthcare education, quality healthcare and workforce development opportunities around the world. Bing has also generously supported Thunderbird for more than 20 years, including naming a space in the new Global Headquarters: the Hague & Eric Bing ’94 Breakout Room.

"Eric Bing is one of Thunderbird's many esteemed and accomplished alumni," said Sanjeev Khagram, director general and dean of the Thunderbird School of Global Management. "He has worked extensively in higher education, public health and global impact, and I believe he demonstrates a remarkable set of values that empower global leaders and managers to advance inclusive and sustainable prosperity worldwide. Thank you, Eric, my friend, for being an exemplar of a global mindset, maximizing the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and continuing to push Thunderbird forward.”

Stay Connected

Submit a class note for the next T-bird publication

Have a special shout out to a fellow T-bird? Making an exciting career move? Class notes celebrate updates and accomplishments from the alumni community. Submit and share a class note for the next Thunderbird publication below.

Update your contact information

Be sure to update your preferred contact information on T-bird Connect to receive the latest communications from Thunderbird and your local alumni chapter. Need assistance with activating or accessing your T-bird Connect account? Contact the Thunderbird Office of Alumni Engagement by email or phone at 602-496-7125.

Request your Thunderbird alumni email address

All alumni have access to a Thunderbird alumni email account. If you haven't received one or need assistance logging in, please contact the Thunderbird IT Department by email below. To log into your Thunderbird alumni email account, visit mail.global.t-bird.edu.

Recruit a T-bird

Thunderbird produces leaders and professionals across sectors and industries who are equipped with future-ready skills and experience that position them to seize on the immense opportunities in this era of technological disruption. Bring value to your company by hiring a Thunderbird graduate for internship or full-time employment opportunities.