There are two branches of the GCOM Council: an M.S. in Accounting branch and an M.S. in Commerce branch. Together, they sponsor educational, social, community, and cultural activities while building a sense of community among students, faculty, and staff. They also facilitate interactions between the students and greater Charlottesville community.
Jordan Beeker
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Undergrad Institution: University of Virginia
Undergraduate Majors: French and Anthropology
Council Goal: My goal is to foster community and camaraderie among program members while adhering to safety and health guidelines.
Career Goal: I’d love for my work to be in developing countries and/or have a humanitarian aspect.
Thoughts on M.S. in Commerce: I hope to develop my quantitative skills to supplement my qualitative background! I also hope to get to know other program members as often as possible!
Fun Fact: I do photography in my free time!
Bridget Beljan
Position: Chief Operating Officer, Section 1
Undergraduate Institution: Bucknell University
Undergraduate Major: Political Science and Spanish
Council Goal: As a member of the council, I hope to be able to facilitate community engagement and meaningful connections among students, which is especially important during these estranged times.
Career goal: Right now, I am interested in a career in consulting with a concentration in strategic communications.
Thoughts on M.S. in Commerce: I hope to gain a strong business acumen and a solid foundation in analytical technologies in order to be successful in my future endeavors.
Fun Fact: I was the Business Manager of the radio station at my undergraduate institution, and I co-hosted a weekly radio show.
Chapman Giles
Position: Chief Operating Officer, Section 2
Undergrad Institution: Auburn University
Undergraduate Major: Nutrition
Council Goal: My main goal is to establish unity among the McIntire community through planning fun social events with other council members.
Career Goal: I’d like to become a medical device sales rep and change the lives of many!
Thoughts on M.S. in Commerce: My take so far is building lifelong friendships, making good connections, and gaining a strong business foundation.
Fun Fact: My enneagram is 3w4.
Taylor Harvey
Position: Chief Operating Officer, Section 1
Undergrad Institution: University of Virginia
Undergraduate Major: Foreign Affairs
Council Goal: My goal as a member of the council is to help us achieve a little normalcy and have the opportunity to still get to know one another in ways that reflect our differing interests.
Career Goal: While I don’t have a specific career goal in mind, I hope to work in an industry that values having both a tangible impact and social impact, whether that’s globally, regionally, or locally. Coming from a small town in South Carolina, I also hope to end up in a city like Washington, D.C., for a little change of pace and new opportunities.
Thoughts on M.S. in Commerce: My hope is that I am able to push myself out of what has become my academic comfort zone by acquiring both knowledge and skills that differ from my undergraduate studies. In the program, I also hope to gain exposure to different industries and professionals in order to help me figure out the best career path.
Fun Fact: I still know all the words to “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift. Yes, I realize that I do not know if I should be proud or disappointed by this, but it is helpful for karaoke.
Patrick Phibbs
Position: Chief Operating Officer, Section 2
Undergraduate Institution: Clemson University
Undergraduate Major: Geology
Council Goal: My main goal is to ensure that the council enables everyone to make new relationships that will last for years to come.
Career Goal: As a geology major in undergrad, I would love to go into energy consulting.
Thoughts on M.S. in Commerce: I want to learn how successful companies maintain their competitive advantage.
Fun Fact: I won two national championships with the Clemson football team.
