As Thanksgiving approaches and campus grows quiet, Goizueta pauses to reflect on the meaning of this season within our diverse community.
Thanksgiving is a day that holds different meanings and experiences for people across the country. Even on the individual level, its significance may evolve for someone over time. For some, it’s about reinventing traditions. Take the family of first-year Michael Levin 26MBA, for example, who elected to skip the turkey in favor of prime rib roast. Then there’s Surabi Srinivasan 26MBA, who spends the holiday in pajamas with her family, enjoying Burmese food and watching movies. For others, it’s about celebrating cultural heritage, such as Andres Arabia 25MBA and his Puerto Rican family, who gather around a pernil (a slow-roasted pork dish). For Keith Johnson 25MBA, the holiday is about making memories by taking his children to Callaway Gardens’ pumpkin patch.
The challenges of recent years have highlighted the fluid nature of our circumstances and relationships, reminding us of the importance of being present, honoring the past, and giving thanks for what we have today.
Thanksgiving: A Complex Legacy
While many celebrate Thanksgiving as a time of gratitude and connection, the holiday also carries a complex history. For Native American communities, it can evoke somber reflections on the impact of colonization. Yet, some Indigenous people see the day as an opportunity to honor the earth’s abundance, a practice deeply rooted in tribal traditions that long predate the arrival of European settlers.
As we consider the complexities of Thanksgiving, we invite you to recognize Native American Heritage Day, observed annually on the day after Thanksgiving. It’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding of Indigenous cultures, starting with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, whose ancestral lands include the very ground on which Emory’s main campus stands. Displaced from this area in 1821, their history is an integral part of the story we share today.
At Goizueta, we aim to honor everyone’s unique experience of Thanksgiving. Whether it’s a time for remembrance, healing, building community, or simply enjoying carbs and company, we embrace the holiday as a moment to connect and reflect. Below, we share what Thanksgiving means to some of our faculty, staff, and students (and wade into a contentious question: which Thanksgiving pie is the best?).
Jake Jo: Assistant Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
Since moving back to Atlanta, my wife and I always run the Thanksgiving 5K in downtown Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day. It’s always neat to run past the Olympic rings with so many people!
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I’m grateful for the opportunity to teach our undergraduate business students! I’ve really enjoyed teaching in the BBA program, and my students’ enthusiasm pushes me to be a better instructor.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
This has to be pumpkin pie. In my opinion, nothing comes close the traditional, classic pumpkin pie.
Jaclyn Conner: Associate Dean, Executive MBA and Evening MBA Programs
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
Our family’s Thanksgiving is essentially a family reunion! We typically have about 60-80 attendees and we have goodie bags and t-shirts. We start the festivities on Thursday with an amazing potluck with all of the traditional foods. Then on Friday we have a family fish fry that includes fried fish, spaghetti, and games. Finally on Saturday morning there is a family breakfast before everyone hits the road and travels home. This has been happening for over 20 years on my husband’s side of the family, and I’m so grateful for this tradition.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I am grateful for my family, our health, and happiness. We have learned to appreciate every moment and not take life for granted.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
Apple pie of course! The smell of fresh apple pie with the perfectly baked crust is a holiday must have.
Tucker Balch: Professor in the Practice and Research of Finance
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
We do the opposite of what most Americans do… Instead of having a big gathering at home, we take a trip together. Hotels and airfares are usually low at this time of year. Once we went to Las Vegas, other times we went to the beach.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I’m grateful to be back in academia, and to be at Goizueta Business School.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
This one is easy: Butternut squash. Why: It is easy to cook and very tasty. It tastes much better than pumpkin pie in my opinion. Also, if you must, you can tell pumpkin pie lovers that it is pumpkin, and they won’t know the difference (except that it tastes better). Second favorite is pecan, because Georgia.
Keleen McNamara 25MBA
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
Each Thanksgiving, my nuclear family goes to three different celebrations, each with very different traditions. First, we go to the suburbs to my maternal aunt’s house for a store-bought Thanksgiving lunch. Second, we go to my stepdad’s family’s Thanksgiving where we have a ham that my dad smokes and soul food. Lastly, we go to my birth dad’s family’s house where we have an assortment of food options that meet everyone’s dietary restrictions. Each one is so different and is very representative of each family group. At my second Thanksgiving, my dad, cousin, and I always take a few minutes to throw the football around and gather to watch the games. We often break out Monopoly and partake in some healthy competition, all scheming against each other. It’s always a very busy day, but I feel full both in stomach and in heart.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
This will be my first Thanksgiving not celebrating with my family, as I chose to stay in Atlanta instead of traveling home. However, a friend of mine has invited me to join his family to celebrate this year. I am incredibly grateful to my friends here who have become like my home away from home. It’s a reminder of how much love and connection can be found, even when we’re far from our roots.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
The best Thanksgiving pie is a slice of chocolate pecan paired with a slice of cherry. The tartness of the cherry cuts through the intensity of the chocolate, and it gives you both the rich chocolate and fruity flavors together. My family takes pies very seriously at the third Thanksgiving (with all of the dietary restrictions). My cousin makes about 6-8 different pies each year, and every year we try them all to determine the best one, but I’m such a loyalist, and the chocolate and cherry combo will win me over every time.
Cattani Allen: Human Resources Associate
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
We typically go to my grandmother’s house down south. My family play board games, and we pull out old picture albums and reminisce on old times.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I am grateful for family, true friends, good health, and LIFE. I’ve lost so many people, and I am extremely grateful to be here.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
Apple Pie! I love anything apple!
Victoria Kang 26BBA
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
Although I have a Korean American background, my family thoroughly enjoys celebrating thanksgiving with a traditional thanksgiving meal: turkey, mac and cheese, and green bean casserole. I love to cook, and am the designated cook in the family so I typically spend the whole day making thanksgiving dishes but with my own twist. We then spend our evening enjoying the meal and spending quality time together.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I’m grateful for my family, every thanksgiving. I also feel more gratitude for my friends who have supported me throughout my time at Emory as well.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
Pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream! The best combination.
Vernon Smith: Senior Associate Director of Student Life & Engagement
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
I was born and raised in Mississippi, and it’s where we go every year to celebrate Thanksgiving. There’s something truly special about returning to where I grew up, gathering with family in that familiar setting. Each of my sisters brings her unique dish to the table, each adding her flavor and style, but the real magic happens in my mother’s kitchen. No matter how much we try to pitch in, she’s always the one orchestrating the whole feast, making everything from scratch with that touch only she has. From the smell of her roast turkey to the warmth of her cornbread stuffing, she makes it feel like home in every way.
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
This Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful for the time spent with each member of my family. There’s a simple but profound joy in being able to come together, share stories, laugh, and just be present with one another.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
Without a doubt, sweet potato pie is my absolute favorite. There’s just something about its flavor that’s comforting and uniquely nostalgic. With its natural, earthy sweetness balanced by the warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of vanilla, it’s like a cozy slice of Southern tradition on a plate.
Andres Arabia 25MBA
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
I am grateful for the opportunities I currently have. Having the opportunity to study for an MBA and learn new skills, my entire family is healthy, and I have an optimistic attitude towards my life post-MBA.
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
The best pie is pecan pie. This is because it has a crunchy, hard surface and a gooey consistency inside, giving two different textures and a flavor that tastes like salty chocolate to me. It is also the best pie to eat with ice cream (not apple pie, which is overrated).
Paula Zwillich: Director of Student Life and Leadership
Do you have any unique Thanksgiving traditions?
When I was younger, I was lucky enough to spend most Thanksgivings with my immediate and extended families. Many of us had a shared love of sweet potato casserole with toasted marshmallows on top (a controversial side dish for some). One year, we put the casserole in the oven and set it to broil, but forgot about it – only to be reminded when the smoke detector went off and the marshmallows were (very sadly) burnt and inedible. As time has passed, our family is now spread across different states, so we don’t often spend Thanksgiving all together. However, each year, we jokingly send a picture of our non-burned marshmallow-topped sweet potato casseroles from wherever we are!
What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
Given the stress of this year, I am especially grateful for my loving family, amazing friends, supportive colleagues—and the variety of fun playgrounds around Atlanta that help my three-year-old run out some energy on the weekends!
Which is the best Thanksgiving pie?
It might be cheating because it’s not technically pie, but I’d say that my favorite is a pecan tassie, which is basically a mini pecan pie. As someone who loves to craft “the perfect bite,” I think slices of pie don’t always have all of the parts in the right proportions. Sometimes, the bite might have too much crust or too much goo. However, a pecan tassie combines a shortbread-like crust with the ideal amount of caramel nutty filling—and can be consumed in one bite. Plus, they’re just more fun to eat when they’re mini!
Feeling grateful this holiday season? Consider making a gift to Emory’s 2O36 campaign. Together, we can bring to life an ever promising future.
