College of Charleston School of Business launches Young Alumni Council
October 23, 2025
The College of Charleston School of Business announced the launch of its revived Young Alumni Council, bringing together 15 outstanding graduates to strengthen the school’s legacy of relationship-based education.
The Young Alumni Council is designed to ignite opportunities for engagement between young alumni and current business students. Through mentorship, networking, and shared experiences, council members will help create transformative connections — what the school refers to as “powerful moments” — when undergraduates recognize new career paths, gain access to professional opportunities, and expand their networks.
“Relationships are the heart of what we do in the School of Business,” said Carrie Blair Messal, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Charleston School of Business. “Our new Young Alumni Council embodies this commitment, ensuring that our alumni remain actively connected to the student experience and continue to shape the future of business education at the College of Charleston.”
“As an alumnus, I know firsthand how meaningful it is when students connect with graduates who’ve walked the same halls and faced the same decisions,” shares the Young Alumni Council’s Co-Chair, Hayden Smith, director of student success in the School of Business. “The Young Alumni Council is a powerful way to give back, and I’m excited to see how our members will inspire students, open doors, and help them envision their own paths to success.”
The council’s first meeting, held in September, emphasized the role of young alumni in shaping student success and introduced a new mentor engagement platform, the CSB Network. This platform will help foster meaningful, scalable connections between alumni, mentors, community members, and the next generation of business leaders.
By formalizing the council, the School of Business aims to create an enduring pipeline of support that will benefit students, alumni, and the broader Charleston business community.
Council members include:
- Eric Bannerot ’14
- Billy Barlia ’24
- Rex Bingham ’23
- Ben Carew ’16
- Cameron Dankel ’23
- Lauren Duffy ’21
- Emily Fralinger ’10
- Justin Herp ’15 (MSA ’16)
- Jack Hoel ’22
- Morgan Iovine ’13
- Mary Massalon Bevans ’13
- Naomie Olindo ’14 (MBA ’17)
- Jake Pimental ’14
- Makenna Stone ’25
- Grace Tinsley ’10
