Neha Deshmukh ’23

Neha Deshmukh is a force. The Mays Business Honors and accounting major serving as the 73rd president of Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center (MSC) brings dynamic leadership and contagious energy to campus. Described as an authentic, intentional, engaged and collaborative leader, Deshmukh embodies the Aggie Core Values in a magnetic way. Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School faculty, staff and former students collaborate to identify and nurture prospective leaders. Deshmukh fits the bill.

AT HOME WITH MAYS

Upon her high school graduation in 2019, Neha Deshmukh was confident she could thrive in Aggieland. “I knew that Texas A&M was where I could be the best version of myself,” she shared. A first-generation Aggie, Deshmukh quickly felt at ease on campus, confident she would be valued, accepted, and respected. Asked why she felt such instantaneous faith in the university, she nods to Program Manager for Business Honors and Deputy Director of Business Fellows at Mays Business School, Claire Raabe. Deshmukh described her first interaction with Raabe as validating. “Without having met me yet, she knew me, my face, and how to pronounce my name,” stated Deshmukh. “I felt right at home.”

In keeping with university-wide priorities, Mays Business School invests in leadership, working to transform tomorrow’s leaders by equipping them for growth, today. Mays staff and faculty engage intentionally. “We are working to create a culture of care at Mays, and in the Business Honors program,” shares Raabe. “We don’t just want our students to feel cared for as incoming freshmen, but valued and equipped throughout their collegiate career and beyond.” For Deshmukh, the deliberateness with which Mays pours into their students has shaped her loyalty to the university – “I recognized Mays Business School was going to value me in a different way than any school anywhere.” Now on the cusp of completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just four years– and with significant experience leading on campus– Raabe says Deshmukh is raising the bar. “Neha exemplifies the traits we desire for all Business Honors students; academic excellence, business competency, and holistic education – getting involved on campus in ways that will impact others, and ultimately shape how they step out into the world.”

A NEW LANDSCAPE

Deshmukh’s philosophy for leadership is simple, serve others, listen well, and work harder than everyone else – and she’s lived that out in the myriad ways she’s served on Texas A&M’s campus, giving back to the student body. She began planning her MSC involvement and desire to impact campus life before ever stepping foot on the grounds. The summer before her freshman year, Deshmukh attended the MSC Conway-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar in Italy. “It was 30 perfect strangers gaining valuable experience and knowledge,” described Deshmukh. Deryle Richmond, an
MSC associate director has worked closely with Deshmukh and was moved by how quickly she got involved. “Her time in Italy was an immersive experience but also gave her the opportunity to learn about leadership and opportunities for involvement on campus,” shared Richmond. “She has maintained involvement in the MSC her entire college career, since before her first day of classes.” The weeks she spent in Italy were formative and valuable. Deshmukh is a team player and one key takeaway from the seminar was how
to lead effectively by knowing when and how to depend on others. Deshmukh shared, “After those two weeks, I not only knew what it felt like to have people in my corner, but what it really meant to be present in someone else’s.”

LEANING INTO LEADERSHIP

Deshmukh leads deliberately and effectively. No place is her impact more notable than the MSC. Her path to the presidency has been unconventional – an impressive assent MSC
mentors attribute to a marriage of her tireless work ethic, raw leadership chops and the exceptional preparation for organizational management she’s cultivated at Mays.

While moving up the ranks of MSC Aggie Cinema to eventually chair that student committee, she ran the parallel path of serving on the MSC Finance Resource Team. MSC Program Manager, Mary Compton praised Deshmukh’s experience with Mays for its impact on her role with business finance. “With her business acumen and accounting background, Neha dove into the budgeting process with a confidence and understanding most students just aren’t equipped to wield.” Compton continues, “as each student committee walked through the annual budgeting process, not only did Neha understand the work at hand, but she was able to walk her fellow student leaders through the complexities of the budgeting framework in ways that made it seem simple.”

Her passion for service grew with every opportunity to collaborate with the student body, giving her the confidence and motivation to run for MSC President. “The experience and
relationships I had built within the MSC made me feel qualified to lead them and to lead them well,” Deshmukh shared. For those who work closely with her, the level of preparation and conviction Deshmukh brings to the table is no longer surprising. Richmond summarized, “she tackles projects and problems with a focus few people bring to any topic.” As one of few MSC presidents to make the leap from MSC Aggie Cinema chair to the top office, Deshmukh’s preparedness for the presidential interview process was superlative. “The quality of preparation and background work she performed in advance of her interview was truly impressive – and reflective of the professional development she’s experienced as part of Mays,” noted Richmond. “She knew how to visioncast and translate her experiences into relevant data points, painting a picture of how she could help the MSC reach its potential for student impact.” Now, working collaboratively with cross-functional teams within the MSC community, she’s leveraging her business acumen, institutional knowledge and charismatic leadership to make a difference.

MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS

Deshmukh’s chief ambitions and intentions as MSC President are to help students thrive, fulfill their potential, and to create a “home away from home. Overseeing three divisions of the MSC, Programs, Business, and Diversity, Deshmukh is determined to advance each area with the help of her team and the students on campus. “Our students are bright; let’s continue to set things in motion to support them now and in future generations,” said Deshmukh. Raabe believes Deshmukh is just the woman for the job. “Neha leads with confidence and humility, building a team for meaningful impact,” says Raabe. “She is not just vying to build a resume, but fully involved, contributing in ways that can really add value to the organizations and places she cares about.” Compton describes Deshmukh as an “authentic leader, really connecting with those she leads.” Richmond agrees. “Neha is an effective collaborator; she knows when to lean on the expertise of others – striking the balance between delegation and engagement.” Beyond the MSC, Deshmukh is notably engaged in supporting mental health initiatives for students, in partnership with other campus leaders; she advocates for increased student awareness and accessibility of urgent online counseling services through MySSP. Additionally, she sits on the Board of Directors for BUILD, a group that works to build and distribute portable medical clinics.

Deshmukh is also quick to pour back into the program that’s done so much to shape her
leadership development at Texas A&M, Mays Business Honors. Raabe is appreciative. “Neha has always been very generous about giving back and being engaged in the program, helping with prospective student events.” She continues “She’s really an important part of this community – within Mays, within Business Honors and within Texas A&M at large.”

^{Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is partnering with the My Student Support Program (MySSP) app to provide 24/7, on -demand mental health services to Aggies. By connecting students to licensed mental health professionals and a library of online resources, CAPS hopes My SSP will enable Texas A&M University to become “mental health empowered.”}

^{Texas A&M University’s Memorial Student Center (MSC) is a prominent symbol of the institution’s strong history and tradition. The MSC stands as a tribute to Aggies who gave their lives for our country and currently involves about 1,800 students in various leadership roles and committee positions.}