Students at the Texas A&M University – Mays Business School have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the world of mergers and acquisitions through the “Dealmakers in Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)” course.
Now in its fourth year, the course allows select MBA, undergraduate and Professional Program in Accounting students to immerse themselves in the real-world dynamics of corporate mergers and acquisitions. Throughout the course, leaders in M&A from around the country will serve as lecturers and lead students in role plays, discussions, team competitions and case studies.
The program was founded in 2013 by Drew Koecher (MBA ‘88), Mays alumni and leading M&A professional. Koecher worked closely alongside Mays Accounting Professor and Department Head James Benjamin, who helped him develop a course that would give students exposure to M&A disciplines such as transaction advisory services, private equity, investment banking and corporate deal making.
After the course’s first year, Mays alumnus and M&A professional Sean Murphy (MBA ‘94) also joined the team, welcoming a new group of M&A leaders to the program. Included in these leaders was Tim Torno, an M&A professional with more than 35 years of executive-level business experience, who took on the role of executive professor.
“This is the type of high-impact, hands-on opportunity that we try to provide for our high-achieving students in Mays,” Benjamin said in a statement. “The innovative style of team role play with actual case studies led by practicing M&A leaders, together with the academic stewardship of Tim Torno, is truly unique at Mays and among most business programs. I am confident that this course will continue to meaningfully impact the lives and professional careers of our students.”