Broad College builds community in Los Angeles with Dean David Souder

On Thursday, Sept. 18, Broad College alumni, donors and friends gathered in Marina del Rey for an evening of connection and conversation with Dean David Souder. The event was part of the Broad College’s Community Conversations series, which brings Spartans together across the country to engage with college leadership and strengthen alumni ties.

“David has been with the Broad College for one year now, and so we were really excited to highlight his vision and have him share what he sees as the future for the Broad College of Business with our LA-based alumni,” said Ashley Durham, director of alumni engagement. “The evening felt personal and impactful with the alumni that were in the room.”

Dean David Souder shared his vision for the Broad College during the Community Conversation in Los Angeles.

Held on the waterfront as the sun set over the marina, the event was designed to curate a relaxed and scenic atmosphere for Spartans to connect and network with one another. One of the most memorable moments of the evening came from meeting Anthony Samaniego, an MS in Supply Chain Management graduate who completed his degree online. For Anthony, this was the first time he had ever interacted with the Broad College in person. He traveled to the event to meet Dean Souder and fellow alumni, a powerful gesture that reflected just how meaningful his Broad experience had been, even from a distance. Seeing the college’s leadership and community up close, he shared how proud he was to be part of such a prestigious institution and how deeply connected he felt to the Spartan network despite never having set foot on campus before.

The evening’s conversation also featured Megan Gleason, a 2014 Hospitality Business graduate and president of the MSU Los Angeles Spartans alumni group. Gleason is an entrepreneur and founder of the newly launched event planning company, Fete and Bestow.

Dean Souder asked her, “Looking back on your time at Broad, what experiences best prepared you for starting and running your own business, and what advice would you share with students and fellow alumni who are thinking about pursuing an entrepreneurial path?” 

Megan noted that her Broad education helped her learn to think creatively, work through challenges, and trust her instincts, lessons that have guided her as a business owner.

The turnout in Los Angeles reflected the strength and enthusiasm of the Broad alumni network. Spartans from across the region came together to reconnect, share ideas and hear directly from college leadership. The energy in the room underscored the importance of these gatherings in fostering a sense of community and pride among Broad graduates.

“These Community Conversations are essential,” Durham said. “They give our alumni a chance to hear directly from college leadership, and they help us showcase the incredible things Spartans are doing in every corner of the country.”

The event was also timed to coincide with a weekend full of Spartan pride, as MSU alumni and fans gathered in Los Angeles to watch MSU play USC in football, creating even more opportunities for Dean Souder to connect with LA-based Spartans. As the evening wrapped up, the sense of pride and connection was unmistakable, a reflection of the thoughtful planning and intentionality behind each event in the series.

“It was a real labor of love,” Durham said.

For more information about upcoming alumni events, visit the Broad College events page.