Celebrating Quinlan's Black leaders
Black Excellence Awards winners (from left) Catilin Osei (BA ’23), Martha Pierre-Louis (BBA '27), Tracey Patterson (BBA '96), and Steven Shaw stand with Dean Michael Behnam (middle).
The Quinlan School of Business celebrated its third annual Black Excellence Awards Dinner, where four outstanding Black leaders were recognized for their contributions to Quinlan and beyond.
"Black students and professionals have always been an important part of our Quinlan community," said Michael Behnam, dean of the Quinlan School of Business. "You belong here, and we support you. We seek to walk with you, to advocate with you, and to celebrate you."
See the festivities in the event photo album and watch highlights.
2025 Black Excellence Awards
Congratulations to the 2025 Black Excellence Award recipients:
Undergraduate Student Leadership Award
Martha Pierre-Louis is a sophomore accounting major and the founder and president of Loyola’s chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA). Her nominators describe her as a dedicated and committed student who has successfully planned numerous events for Black business students and credit her for growing Loyola’s NABA chapter.
Pierre-Louis also shines outside Quinlan. She has been chosen for such programs as the Forvis Mazars Leadership Program, Illinois CPA Society's Mary T. Washington Wyle Scholars Program, and the AICPA's Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop.
"Founding Loyola's NABA chapter was not just about an organization. It was about ensuring that Black students in business had a strong, supportive network, resources, opportunities to grow, and a space to freely be themselves," Pierre-Louis said.
Graduate Student Leadership Award
Caitlin Osei (BA ’23) earned an English degree at Loyola with minors in marketing and entrepreneurship and is now pursuing an MBA, MS in Marketing, and Environmental, Social, and Governance certificate. Osei has been instrumental in communication and organization for Quinlan’s social impact initiative to strengthen minority-owned businesses and for Loyola’s Institute for Racial Justice. She also serves as the director of graduate student relations for the Black Business Student Association, which she helped found as an undergraduate.
In summer 2024, she travelled to Ghana, West Africa, where she presented self-led research called "Unlocking African E-Commerce: Understanding Consumer Experiences and Systemic Barriers." Using third-party resources such as customer reviews, the research addresses barriers to African e-commerce and to foster change.
"I want to thank the leaders who paved the way: LaShawn Holiday (MBA’ 23) and Amber Townsend (MBA ’24), as well as a high exaltation to God Almighty, deepest gratitude to my family, friends, the Aramark team, and the Quinlan faculty and staff who have been invaluable mentors," Osei said.
Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award
Tracey Patterson (BBA ’96) is a leader in human resources and talent acquisition, leading Accenture's Leadership Global Talent and Intelligent HR team. Previously, she served as the chief human resources officer at AAR, a global aviation service provider, and spent 17 years at Accenture as a senior human resources services manager and a managing director.
Patterson elevated Accenture's workforce by recruiting 150,000 annually. She's passionate about the company's inclusion and diversity initiatives, and she is working to achieve the company's goal of achieving a gender-balanced workforce by 2025. She was recognized as a Business Leader of Color by Chicago United and as one of Today's Chicago Woman's 100 Women to Watch.
"Tonight is a celebration of excellence, but more importantly, it is a reminder of the responsibility that comes with it," Patterson said. "As Black professionals, we know that success is never achieved in isolation. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and it is our duty to lift as we climb."
Community Leadership Award
Steven Shaw was recognized for his impactful contributions to the Black community and his dedication to digital equity and economic mobility. Shaw serves as the community engagement director at Verizon. He's developed influential partnerships, like TechRise and P33 Chicago, which provides early-stage funding and support to diverse tech founders and provides economic opportunities for underrepresented communities.
Shaw is committed to supporting future leaders at Quinlan. He is a mentor for several students and is a member of the Baumhart Center Leadership Council. There, he collaborates with other leaders to inspire social impact through business. Shaw has been a public servant as deputy chief of staff to Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. He has also held leadership positions at Civic Consulting Alliance, the People's Music School, Social Responsibility Chicago, and the African American Legacy Fund of the Chicago Community Trust.
"How are you using what you have to help others?" said Shaw. "We all have the capacity to be great, to be excellent, if we are committed to serve."