Mark Arnold, WG'05
“I have been most impressed with how the admissions committee was able to assemble such a diverse, high-powered, yet down-to-earth student body. What has made the program more enriching is getting to know the members of my study group on a deep, personal level.”
» Read more of this EMBA student perspective.
We share a commitment to bringing the best possible student body to Wharton, and we work closely with students both during the application process and throughout the program. Applications from both the East and West programs are evaluated by the same Admissions Committee. Please contact us with any questions.
Admissions Committee
- Howard Kaufold, Director
- Catherine Molony, Senior Associate Director and Director of Admissions
- John Lyon, Associate Director (San Francisco); Director, Wharton West
- Diane Sharp, Associate Director, Marketing and Admissions
- Diane Orenberg Fernandez, Admissions Counselor
- Barbara Nelles Craft, Admissions Counselor
- Suzanne Geouque, Admissions Counselor
Howard Kaufold is Director of the Wharton MBA Program for Executives and Adjunct Professor of Finance at the Wharton School. Based in Philadelphia, Professor Kaufold has academic oversight for both the East and West Coast classes and was instrumental in the start-up of Wharton West. Before joining Wharton's MBA Program for Executives in 1993, he served for eight years as associate director of Wharton's full-time MBA program. He earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from the Wharton School and completed his PhD in Economics at Princeton University. His recently published papers have dealt with valuing leveraged buyouts and re-capitalizations (Journal of Applied Corporate Finance), hedging interest and exchange rate risk of foreign bonds (Financial Management), and the interest rate risk of floating rate notes (Journal of Banking and Finance and Journal of Portfolio Management). Professor Kaufold has taught executive education programs for such corporations as DuPont, General Electric, Merck, Merrill Lynch, and Nomura. He was the 1984 and 1996 winner of Wharton's Anvil Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Catherine Molony has been Senior Associate Director and Director of Admissions for the Wharton MBA Program for Executives since 1989. She also advises students and assists with their activities, including the management of the International Seminar and Executive Speaker Series Committees. Closely involved in the start-up of Wharton West and the launch of Wharton's MBA Program for Executives in San Francisco, Cathy has an extensive background in admissions work, which includes serving as associate director of Graduate Admissions at Wharton from 1984 to 1988 and as acting director during the spring term of 1992. She served as interim chair on the Board of the International Executive MBA Council. Cathy received her BFA in Art Education from The Maryland Institute, College of Art. She is based in Philadelphia.
John Lyon has been Associate Director of the Wharton MBA Program for Executives on the West Coast since its inception in 2001. He directs all admissions and interviews for the San Francisco-based class and oversees ongoing program activities. Prior to joining Wharton, John spent eight years at New York University's Stern School of Business, most recently as director of MBA Admissions. He also spent two years at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business in the admissions and alumni relations offices. John graduated from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, with a BA in Marketing and did graduate-level work in humanities and social thought at New York University. John is based in San Francisco where he also serves as Director for Wharton West.
Diane Sharp has been with Wharton's MBA Program for Executives since September 1998. She also worked in Admissions at Wharton's full-time MBA Program from 1989 to 1991. Diane received a BA in French and Economics from the University of Nebraska and a Master of International Business degree in Human Resources from the University of South Carolina. Diane is based in Philadelphia.
Diane Orenberg-Fernandez joined the Admissions Committee in 2000. She has prior Admissions experience with Wharton's full-time MBA program from 1988 to 1991 and then with the University of Chicago. She received her BA degree from the University of Pennsylvania in International Relations. Diane is based in Philadelphia.
Barbara Nelles Craft joined the Wharton MBA Program for Executives team in January 2002. She has served as director of the Executive MBA Program at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia and director of MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Graduate School of Management, University of California, Irvine. Barbara holds a BS degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MS degree from Saint Joseph's University. Barbara is based in Southern California.
Suzanne Geouque joined the Admissions Committee in 2002. Prior to joining Wharton, Suzanne spent eight years working at a Fortune 100 financial services organization. She received her BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina and earned her Master of Business Administration degree from American University in Washington, DC. She is based in Philadelphia.