Alicia Mesa Zamora ’24 MBA, ’26 MSL Recognized with Sister Mary Lou Podzimek Award

Mount Mercy University graduate Alicia Mesa Zamora '24 MBA, '26 MSL received the Sister Mary Lou Podzimek Award during the 2026 Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17. Alicia completed her Master of Strategic Leadership degree after earning her Master of Business Administration from Mount Mercy in 2024.

The Sister Mary Lou Podzimek Award is the highest honor conferred upon the graduate who-in addition to maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above-has exemplified leadership, collaboration, and integrity. The award is named for Sister Mary Lou Podzimek, who continues to be part of the Mount Mercy community after more than 70 years as a Sister of Mercy and as a former administrator, Board member emeritus, and Mount Mercy alum.

Since beginning her graduate studies in Fall 2024, Alicia has made a lasting impact on Mount Mercy's Graduate Business & Leadership Department through her leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to supporting fellow students. Over the past two years, she consistently leveraged her analytical and technical skills to help automate key departmental processes, approaching each challenge through the unique perspective of both a student and an administrator.

Her ability to bridge those perspectives resulted in solutions that were not only efficient, but intuitive and user-friendly for students and staff alike. By identifying pain points and implementing thoughtful improvements, Alicia helped streamline day-to-day operations and improve clarity for students beginning their graduate journey.

Beyond her technical contributions, Alicia also served as a mentor and advisor to many graduate students throughout their academic experience. Her dedication to helping others succeed left a meaningful impact on the Mount Mercy graduate community.

"Alicia is an outstanding student, a curious human, and a wonderful soul," one nominator shared. "Her drive to learn, willingness to collaborate, and genuine care for those around her make her an exceptional member of our Mount Mercy graduate community."

Congratulations, Alicia!