Student Managed Investment Fund
2022-2023 Students
Emirson Abdullaj grew up Clearwater, Florida and is pursuing a degree in finance with a concentration
in investment analysis. He played soccer his entire life and credits his leadership
skills and competitiveness to it. He started investing and actively trading the markets
before he turned 18 years old, and since then he has been very passionate about finance
and how the markets facilitate. Over the summer, Abdullaj interned at Raymond James
in the Private Client Group as a finance intern and will continue there until the
end of this year. He has obtained the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam prerequisite
and plans to pursue future license designations once he works for a firm. Abdullaj
plans to leverage the skills he learns in the Applied Securities Analysis program
to pursue a career in sales and trading or investment banking. He graduates in 2023.
Alain Carrazana is a senior pursuing a degree in finance with a concentration in investment analysis
and is set to graduate in the fall of 2023. Born and raised in Cuba, Carrazana came
to the United States at the age of 12 with the mindset of becoming a successful individual.
His interest in finance and equity markets started in high school due to his economics
class and professor. After transferring from HCC in 2021, Carrazana in got involved
in student organizations such as the investment club at USF, where he is an equity
research analyst, and the Student Finance Association, while maintaining a cumulative
GPA of 3.85. In the summer of 2023, he will be a CIB Credit Delivery summer analyst
for Truist Securities. Carrazana believes the Applied Securities Analysis program
will help him develop the skills necessary to succeed in the industry and after graduation
he will be pursuing a career in investment banking.
Jorge Garces is a senior majoring in finance with a cumulative GPA of 3.89. He will graduate in
2023. Garces was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. with his parents at the age of
9 in search of a better future. Jorge’s strong work ethic derives from the motivation
to making his parents proud after they sacrificed everything to give him a better
life and because he had to start working at the age of 15 to help support his single
mom. Garces transferred to USF from HCC in the fall of 2021 while also working full
time. Garces joined the Applied Securities Analysis program because it will prepare
him for future internships and job opportunities. In the summer of 2023, he will be
a CIB Credit Delivery summer analyst for Truist Securities.
Jacob Hagan is a senior pursuing a degree in finance with a concentration in investment analysis.
His passion for finance and securities started when he was 16, when he placed his
first ever trade. He then learned extensively about investing and how capital markets
operate along with patterns for trading strategies. He transferred from SPC to USF
in 2021 and is now a transfer student mentor helping finance and accounting students
succeed in their academic and professional careers. Hagan believes investing as early
as possible can facilitate financial comfort and compounded returns long-term. In
2022, Hagan was a part of the investment banking and OCFO team at Dynasty Financial
Partners, where he learned extensive knowledge of M&A and accounting techniques. He
believes the Applied Securities Analysis program will help further his knowledge and
drive for equity markets. Hagan will graduate in 2023 and hopes to work in equity
research.
Hiep Nguyen is an international student who has earned a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance;
he is working on his second major of econometrics and quantitative economics. Nguyen
was born in Vietnam and came to the U.S by himself at the age of 18 in search of a
better future. When Nguyen arrived in America, he began working to support himself
while at the same time attending college to pursue a better education. At USF, Nguyen
became involved in school clubs and programs by joining the Investment Club and the
Student Managed Investment Fund program. Nguyen became one of the founding members
of the quantitative team and is now a senior leader. Nguyen plans to develop the skills
necessary to succeed at his dream career job of quantitative trading.
Alicia Sullivan is a senior pursuing concurrent degrees in finance and business analytics and information
systems. She is from Jacksonville, Florida, and swam competitively for ten years before
college. Sullivan is a member of the business professional fraternity, Delta Sigma
Pi, and serves as vice president of the Student Finance Association. She worked at
an accounting firm in St. Petersburg for 10 months where she was able to gain first-hand
experience analyzing financial data. She is currently studying to take the SIE exam
after receiving a scholarship sponsored by Franklin Templeton. She hopes the Applied
Securities Analysis program will help strengthen her analytical skills and deepen
her knowledge of equity markets. Sullivan aspires to pursue a career in equity research
after graduating in 2023.
Jean Thomas is a first-generation Haitian college student. He is a senior majoring in finance
with a concentration in investment analysis. Thomas is involved in the Black Leadership
Network, Caribbean Cultural Exchange and holds executive positions in the Investment
Club, NABA Inc., and Corporate Mentor Program. Thomas is currently a private equity
intern at Star Mountain Capital in Tampa. This past summer, he interned at JPMorgan
& Cause in Wilmington, Delaware. Thomas is also passionate about giving back to underserved
communities by creating scholarships and providing financial literacy resources to
help build the community. After graduation in 2023, he plans to pursue a Master of
Science in Finance and CFA Level 1 certification.
Thiago Vieira is a senior pursuing a degree in finance with a concentration in asset management. He was born in Bolivia and bought his first stock certificate in his family’s incorporated business at the age of 11. Vieira’s ambition and work ethic led him to start his professional career by becoming a Florida-Licensed Realtor his freshman year. He has worked full-time and used his savings to trade stock options for most of his college years. He gained leadership experience by serving as vice president of the Real Estate Society and senior financial officer and treasurer of the American Red Cross at USF. He interned at Citi as a financial analyst, at Clarion Partners as an acquisitions and asset management summer analyst, and is currently interning at the Securities Exchange Commission as an examinations analyst. Vieira will take the CFA Level 1 exam in May and is grateful to have received an SIE scholarship as well as a Bank of Tampa Scholarship. Vieira believes that the Applied Securities Analysis program will give him valuable financial and corporate experience.