From the moment you express interest in the SMU Cox School of Business, we are here for you. While your application, essays, and professional recommendations are all very important to us, we want to get to know you and support your goal of achieving a world-class education. Our admissions team is a group of dedicated directors, officers, and advisors passionate about connecting students to opportunities for personal and professional growth. Please reach out to us with your questions or concerns. Studying at SMU Cox is an intimate experience and connections matter – starting now.
Assistant Dean, Working Professional MBA Programs
Jillian Melton is the Assistant Dean of Working Professional Admissions which include Professional MBA, Executive MBA, Online MBA, and MBA Direct programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Jill also sits on the Dean’s Diversity Advisory Committee and has been an adjunct instructor for Business Presentation Techniques teaching both part-time and full-time MBA students. Jill started her career working on a US Senate campaign which she found fascinating, but ultimately diminished her desire to work in politics over the long-term. Over the next 13 years, Jill held various marketing roles in the non-profit and real estate sectors as well as at major corporations such as Honeywell, 3M, and Sabre Holdings working on brands such as Post-it, Scotch, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, and Travelocity. In 2015, Jill made a career transition to SMU Cox in order to spend more time helping MBA students on their own paths to success.
Originally from Minneapolis, Jill holds an MBA from Emory University and a B.A. from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA.
Director of Admissions, Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs
Hannah Nousain is the Director of Admissions for the MBA Direct and Online MBA programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Hannah has been at Cox since 2016 and during that time has worked across all the MBA program formats. Hannah started her career working in the non-profit sector but transitioned into higher education in 2012. She has worked for the University of Minnesota, the University of North Carolina, and now SMU. She has experience in both medical school admissions as well as undergraduate and graduate business school admissions. She is passionate about helping candidates find the right program to meet their needs of an MBA program.
Originally from Minneapolis, Hannah holds B.A. from the University of Minnesota.
Director of Admissions, Operations and Working Professional MBA Programs
Gail Saegert is the Director of Admissions Operations and works closely with the Working Professional MBA programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Gail has been at Cox since 2019 and during that time has worked across multiple MBA and MS programs. Gail started her career working in the insurance industry but transitioned into higher education in 2015. She has worked at London Business School, the University of Michigan, and now SMU. She enjoys working closely with candidates and seeing their professional and personal growth during business school.
Originally from Illinois, Gail holds a B.A from Illinois Wesleyan University.
Associate Director of Admissions, Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs
Nichole Baillargeon is the Associate Director of Admissions for the MBA Direct and Online MBA programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Nichole has been at Southern Methodist University since March 2021 and during that time has worked across university career services and graduate admissions. Nichole started her career in higher education beginning in 2016, serving institutions including the University of Oklahoma, Texas Tech University and Emory University before transitioning to SMU. Nichole is passionate about supporting individuals as they navigate their professional journeys in career and educational advancement.
Nichole holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from Texas Christian University and a M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma.
Prospective Online MBA and MBA Direct students benefit from the support of a dedicated enrollment advisor throughout the application process. Your enrollment advisor is available to answer your questions, offer application guidance and provide you with the resources you need to prepare for your first semester of graduate school.
Assistant Director of Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs
Amel Weaver is an Assistant Director for the MBA Direct and Online MBA programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Amel is a recent college graduate from the University of Texas at Austin. During college, she completed numerous internships in public policy and education/labor policy. After interning in Washington, D.C, she decided to not start her career in public service and went to work for Amazon as an Apprenticeships Recruiter. She specialized in helping veterans from underrepresented backgrounds transition into technology roles. Amel is extremely passionate about diversity, equity and creating inclusive environments that allow all people to thrive. Amel loves helping others navigate their careers and is thrilled to assist candidates in finding the right program placement here at Cox School of Business.
Originally from Louisiana, raised in Houston, Texas. Amel holds a B.A from UT Austin and looks forward to furthering her education in the legal field some day.
Assistant Director of Admissions, Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs
Anita Albritton is a native of Miami, FL and has recently relocated to Dallas from Atlanta, GA where she has lived since 2012 (she also lived in Dallas, TX for one year in 2015). Since 2013, Anita has worked primarily in higher education. Some of her roles most influential in her career include serving in the AmeriCorps VISTA program at Morehouse College, working as a Development Associate for KIPP Dallas-Fort Worth, and most recently being the Program Manager for the Pediatric Residency Training program at Morehouse School of Medicine. She is excited to be working at SMU and looks forward to assisting applicants achieve their goal of earning their MBA. Anita received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration at Florida A&M University. In her spare time, Anita enjoys volunteering with Girl Scouts, reading, and traveling.
Assistant Director of Admissions, Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs
Gabriella Zuniga-Jairala is the Assistant Director for the MBA Direct and Online MBA programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Gabriella started her career in higher education as a researcher and later transitioned into a recruitment role within student services. Since 2013, she has worked for institutions including UT Southwestern, Dallas College, and SMU. She has experience in undergraduate healthcare program admissions, career management, and now graduate business school admissions. Gabriella is enthusiastic about helping students build leaderships skills and succeed in their pursuit of higher education through an MBA as they further their careers.
Originally from Dallas, Gabriella holds an MBA from the University of Essex and a B.S. from Florida State University.
Assistant Director of Admissions, Online MBA and MBA Direct Programs
Saquoya Fentress is the Assistant Director of Admissions for the MBA Direct and Online MBA programs at SMU Cox School of Business. Saquoya joined the Cox family in February of 2023. Saquoya started her career working in sales and then later moved into recruitment and human resources. She has worked in multiple industries including Adult Beverage, Staffing, Pharmaceuticals and Tech, gaining experience from Fortune 500 companies like MillerCoors, Wells Fargo, Walgreens, Aerotek, and Verizon. Saquoya earned her undergraduate degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and is a proud alumna of The School of Business and Industry. She is also a Life Loyal member of Alpha Kappa Psi, Professional Business Fraternity, Incorporated. She is passionate about professional development and lifelong learning and works passionately to help candidates reach their goals by obtaining their MBA.
Email our team: cox.mbaonline@smu.edu
Speak with an advisor: 214-768-1214