Dr. Sonia Tahereh Saheb Appointed Director of Menlo College Graduate Business Programs Posted on July 28, 2026 by George Retelas ATHERTON, Calif. — Menlo College has appointed Dr. Sonia (Tahereh) Saheb as Director of the School of Business Graduate Programs, where she will lead the College’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) and Master of Science in Financial Technology (MSFT) programs. The appointment recognizes Saheb’s leadership, academic expertise, and commitment to advancing innovative business education since joining Menlo College as assistant professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems. In her new role, she will oversee the continued growth and strategic direction of the College’s graduate business programs while continuing to teach and mentor students. Saheb prepares for Menlo College’s 98th Commencement ceremony on May 16, 2026, overlooking the campus quad as graduates, families, and guests gather to celebrate the Class of 2026. “Dr. Saheb has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to innovation in business education and student success,” said Melissa R. Michelson, interim chief academic officer and dean of Arts & Sciences. “I am confident that under her leadership, our graduate business programs will continue to grow and thrive.” “Our graduate business programs are centered on emerging technologies, with artificial intelligence serving as a foundation for innovation across every industry,” Saheb said. “My vision is to build on Menlo College’s strengths, including our agility, implementing future-ready frameworks, and strong industry partnerships, to make our technology-focused master’s programs a destination where academia, industry, and entrepreneurship come together. By collaborating with students, faculty, and industry leaders, we’ll prepare graduates to lead digital transformation, drive innovation, and thrive in an AI-powered economy.” Menlo College President Steven Weiner (left) and Dr. Sonia Tahereh Saheb (right) present the Graduate Student Excellence Award to Frida Schmidt during Menlo College’s Honors Convocation on April 23, 2026. The annual ceremony recognizes students for outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and service. Photo by Menlo College / Kayla Stuart. Saheb brings extensive experience in business analytics, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and information systems to the position. Prior to joining Menlo College, she served as an assistant professor at Tarbiat Modares University, an adjunct lecturer at California State University, East Bay, and a research fellow at Hult International Business School. In 2019, she founded and directed the first Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program in Digital Banking, a specialized doctoral program designed exclusively for banking industry managers and professionals. An accomplished scholar and educator, Saheb has published more than 25 peer-reviewed research papers exploring topics such as ethical AI, digital health adoption, cybersecurity, digital ecosystems, and technology-enabled innovation. Her research has appeared in leading journals including Telematics and Informatics, Information Systems Frontiers, Technology in Society, and Social Science & Medicine. Saheb visits the Atherton City Council Chambers, where she presented on the role of artificial intelligence in local government. Her presentation, “Governing with Intelligence: AI as Your City’s New Ally,” explored how municipalities can responsibly leverage AI to improve public services and decision-making. At Menlo College, Saheb has helped shape the institution’s growing leadership in artificial intelligence education. She founded and chaired the committee that developed the College’s enhanced undergraduate AI and Analytics program, helping prepare students with the technical and strategic skills needed for careers in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Her teaching spans both undergraduate and graduate programs, including courses in artificial intelligence, data analytics, information systems, privacy and cybersecurity, and strategic decision-making. Before entering academia, she advised organizations across the healthcare, banking, and public sectors on digital transformation, enterprise architecture, and technology strategy. As Director of the School of Business Graduate Programs, Saheb will lead the continued evolution of Menlo’s MSIS and MSFT programs, focusing on curriculum innovation, student success, faculty collaboration, and industry partnerships that prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape. Media inquiries: pr@menlo.edu About Menlo College Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College is a small, residential liberal arts and business college dedicated to preparing students to be Future Ready Now. Through a highly personalized educational experience that combines rigorous academics, applied learning, mentorship, and direct access to one of the world’s most innovative economies, Menlo College helps students convert education into measurable career and life outcomes. For more information, please visit our website or contact pr@menlo.edu
2022-23 Year in Review: Menlo College Students Create Community and Energize for the Future Posted on June 15, 2023January 27, 2025 by Chieri Abe Throughout the past academic year, Menlo College students came together to create new community groups on campus and advocate for innovation and change. With the College’s support, students pursued betterment through self-guided exploration, as well as betterment for the campus community and the generations to come. Living Learning Community Takes Root A group of Menlo College students formed the Living Learning Community (LLC) this year to expose themselves to new environments and organizations that value innovation. The members became a close-knit community living in the same residence hall, and supported each other personally, academically, and professionally. The LLC offers students opportunities to learn from different perspectives and backgrounds, providing a cohesive view of the many ways to innovate and develop new ideas. This year, the group visited several companies, including the Shark Tank-funded startup Truffle Shuffle, Stanford d. school, the startup accelerator BootUp Venture, and Google. This spring, the LLC met with Mukul Agarwal, the founder, and CEO of BootUp World. During the visit, Agarwal shared his personal story and the mission of his company to empower entrepreneurs and innovators. “To be successful, one must focus on mastering oneself and building positive relationships with others,” he advised the students. Agarwal encouraged them to find clarity on what success means to them, emphasizing that self-awareness is the foundation for everything else. The students described Agarwal’s advice as life-changing. Learn about student activities at Menlo! Civic Activism: Students Advocate on AICCU Day in the Capitol Diana Guardado ‘23 and Sophia Umanzor ‘25 proudly represented Menlo College at the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities Day in the Capitol student advocacy event. It was held this spring in the state capitol, Sacramento. As First-Generation Latinas pursuing their education at a private, non-profit institution, Diana and Sophia shared their inspiring personal stories with the officials present. Additionally, they emphasized the significance of being recipients of Cal Grants and requested the officials to continue support of funding for higher education based on the transformative impact it has had on their journeys. “Everyone’s story is unique and powerful but one thing we all have in common is our hunger and ambition to continue moving forward. We are the future and we are worth the investment.” – Sophia Umanzor ‘25 Learn more about Menlo’s Political Science minor Diana Guardado ’23 Named to 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll With her active participation in generating election voting among her peers this past fall, Diana Guardado ’23 was named to the 2023 ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll representing Menlo College! The honor recognizes college students leading nonpartisan voter engagement on their campuses. This year, the Ask Every Student group awarded $5,000 to the Civic Engagement Coalition of Menlo College. Guardado led the proposal with the Dean of Arts and Sciences and Professor Melissa Michelson. Coalition co-leaders Diana and Angielyn Dela Cruz ‘24 used the funds to increase nonpartisan civic learning, political participation, and voter registration through celebratory community-based events. Menlo College students, led by co-leaders Angielyn ‘24 and Diana ‘23, also held a candidate forum for the Atherton City Council, in cooperation with the League of Women Voters of South San Mateo. All four candidates joined moderators Guardado and Joshua Villalva ’23, Atherton residents, students, and employees, in conversations about affordable housing, racial profiling, and civic engagement. “Voting enables us to stand up and shape the kind of communities we want to live in. The outcomes of protests, the results of Supreme Court hearings, and the livelihood of our generation are shaped by the leaders we elect. We have the power to enact change that is for and by the people. Fortunately, under the guidance of Dr. Michelson, she enabled me to create a civic engagement coalition on campus for my peers and me to speak directly with elected officials of Atherton about our concerns regarding race-based treatment from law enforcement and the lack of transparency from the city.” – Diana Guardado ‘23 Learn more about how student voices are empowered at Menlo College Sixth Cohort of Innovation Fellows Named Four Menlo College students, Chieri Abe ‘24, Raymond Juballa ‘23, Mali Korn ‘25, and Dennis Vanin ‘24, were designated as University Innovation Fellows this academic year, after completing rigorous training. The University Innovation Fellows program, a global initiative, equips student leaders with the skills and knowledge to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, creativity, and design thinking on their campuses. By joining this esteemed group, these students had the opportunity to connect with fellows from various universities, and immerse themselves in Menlo’s vibrant innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, Menlo’s participation in this program, now in its sixth year, demonstrates the institution’s commitment to nurturing a culture of innovation and empowering its students as change-makers. Learn more about the University Innovation Fellows program About Menlo College Menlo College was established in 1927. It is a small, private, non-profit, four-year, accredited, residential college located in Atherton, California. Menlo College’s location in Silicon Valley, one of the world’s most entrepreneurial and innovative geographical areas, has enabled the college to create a valuable market niche for its students locally — as well as globally. Menlo College cultivates in its students the skills, integrity, and passion to make meaningful contributions in an innovation economy. Read More: 2022-23 Year in Review: Menlo College Students Win at Academic Competitions; Earn Awards Four Student Innovators Named to Stanford’s UIF Program All of Menlo College’s Rankings and Reviews
