The newly established Lori Holland Initiative for Women awarded its first scholarships this spring, part of its mission to elevate opportunities for DePaul women and their allies to advance in the fields of finance and investment management.
The multi-pronged initiative is funded by a generous gift honoring the late DePaul alumna Lorraine “Lori” Holland (BUS ’84) made by her husband, Robert A. Holland. Lori Holland was a first-generation business college graduate who rose to become managing director of investment management firm Neuberger Berman and serve as chair of DePaul’s Board of Trustees.
Students Nicole Juszczy, Molly Ball, Diego Villasenor and Faria Mobashar were awarded Lori Holland Memorial Scholarships and Grace Haucke, Julia Zuzinski, and Desna Shah received Lori Holland Scholarships for Emerging Leaders. Haucke, Zuzinski and Desna serve as president, treasurer and corporate relations chair, respectively, for Females in Finance (FIF), a student organization at the Driehaus College of Business.
“This initiative provides us with a platform to network, learn from industry leaders, and support each other in our journey towards becoming finance professionals,” Haucke says. “It reminds us that gender should never be a barrier to success, and that we have the power to break through glass ceilings and achieve our goals. Together, we are reshaping the landscape of finance and creating a more inclusive and diverse industry for future generations.”
The awardees were introduced at a summit of students and business leaders in finance hosted by the Holland initiative and FIF at the Union League Club on May 17.
In addition to scholarships, the initiative provides DePaul women students and alumni in finance access to career resources, workshops, group mentorships and other support services. In January 2024, DePaul will begin taking applications for another phase of the initiative, the Holland Scholars Program, which will offer a cohort of women undergraduates career education, experiential learning, mentorships and networking opportunities in investment management. The Lori Holland Initiative for Women is managed by the DePaul Career Center in collaboration with the Department of Finance & Real Estate at the Driehaus College of Business.
